<p>The BMI Student Composition Award is one of the most prestigious for student composers of classical music. For the 2012 year over 700 works were submitted for judging. Laura M. Kramer, who is studying at the USC Thornton School of Music, was the only woman selected out of nine winners.</p>
<p>Her composition was for baritone and guitar. Ms. Kramer has been the recipient of numerous fellowships and has studied under Frank Ticheli and Brian Shepard.</p>
<p>In the 2011 competition two Thornton students were selected out of 11 awardees, Eric Guinivan and David Werfelmann.</p>