Elmer Bernstein received the highest honor bestowed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) at a gala dinner held April 24, 2001 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Hosted by Academy Award-winning lyricist, President and Chairman of ASCAP, Marilyn Bergman, The Maestro was personally saluted by composer David (“Laura”) Raksin, lyricist Johnny Mandel, directors Edward Norton and Bill Duke. Composer James Newton Howard gave the moving keynote address. Upon accepting the award, Bernstein noted, “While recently in Spain following conducting a concert in Barcelona, I was quietly contemplating the true meaning of my work at a quaint, outdoor country cafe. At that moment, a little girl put a coin in a mechanical horse that began to play my theme from ‘The Magnificent Seven.’ It was an epiphany.”