Out of nine CSUN ensemble entries, Decker's "The Spell of Matter" for flute, oboe, clarinet, viola and piano has been chosen to be CSUN's official entry. The composition has earned Decker a $2000 award for being selected as an outstanding young composer for instrumental ensemble work.

Cal State Northridge is one of six universities, including USC, Cal Arts, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Los Angeles, invited to submit an instrumental ensemble work to compete for a $5,000 award and an opportunity to play the winning composition at the Ojai Festival in 2000. This will provide the young composer an important platform to showcase the prize-winning work.

Decker's accomplishment will be recognized at the Music Department's Honors Convocation on Tuesday, May 18, at noon in the Music Recital Hall.

The official award presentation for all the participating young composers will take place at the Ojai Festival on June 6.

The Gould Family Foundation supports programs that promote education through experiential learning and/or exposure to arts.

For more information, call Rose Mathias at (818) 677-3180.