The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has given its Adventurous Programming Awards for 2000 to a host of innovative orchestras and chorale groups including the Cleveland Chamber Symphony and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

The awards recognize American orchestras whose concert programs prominently feature orchestral works composed since 1975.

"This is the only area of music where music that's 25 years old is still considered new," Fran Richards, ASCAP's vice president of concert music, said jokingly. "But seriously, it's a living art form and every generation has to contribute its share of the legacy, and every year we go out and thank those people who decide what to play for doing a wonderful job."

"There's a lot of American music that needs performing and playing," Edward London of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony said. "In some sense of the word it's nice to be awarded, but it's sad that there isn't more of it going on. It's not only the music we make, but the young people are making great music out there."

The American Composers Orchestrawon its award for its innovative program in which it brought composers from Joe's Pub at New York's Joseph Papp Theater and had them compose and/or perform with the orchestra.

The Westchester Philharmonic introduced an educational program this year in which they brought music of young composers to schools around New York and had students vote on which they liked best. The winner was awarded a commission and performed with the orchestra.

"I grew up in New York City, and as a kid I grew to love music at Bernstein's Young People's concerts," said Paul Lustig Dunkel, music director and conductor of the Westchester Philharmonic — and one of the founders of the American Composers Orchestra.

"As a young student I regularly attended his rehearsals and concerts, and as a young musician performed with him and later shared the podium with him at Carnegie Hall, so for me it is a tremendous thrill and a great honor to win a prize named for Leonard Bernstein, an inspiring musician and educator," he said.

The winners:

John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music

Cleveland Chamber Symphony

Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming

American Composers Orchestra

Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming

Westchester Philharmonic

ASCAP Award for Programming of American Music on a Foreign Tour

Peninsula Youth Symphony

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Orchestras With Annual

Operating Expenses More Than $10.9 Million

Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Orchestras With Annual Operating Expenses More Than $4 to $10.9 Million

Colorado Symphony Association, Louisville Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Orchestras With Annual Operating Expenses More Than $1.35 to $4 Million

Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Orchestras With Annual Operating Expenses More Than $300,000 to $1.35 Million

Alabama Symphony Orchestra, The Women's Philharmonic, Eos Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Orchestras With Annual Operating Expenses of $300,000 or Less

Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Collegiate Orchestras

Manhattan School of Music Symphony Philharmonia Chamber Sinfonia, Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Youth Orchestras

Orange County Junior Orchestra, Orange County High School of the Arts Chamber Orchestra, Vermont Youth Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Festival Orchestras

Cabrillo Music Festival Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra

Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music Choral Ensembles

San Francisco Girls Chorus, Kansas City Chorale, I Cantori di New York

In addition, the Plymouth Music Series received a special citation in recognition of its outstanding commitment to the performance of contemporary music.