PRIZEWORTHY
Winners of The American Prize in ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE, 2014
Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competitions may be found on our blog. Please scroll down for winners and runners-up in earlier competitions.
Orchestral Performances Prizes
Conducting Prizes
Marijosius Programming Prizes
ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE PRIZES
The American Prize in Orchestral Performance—professional
The American Prize winner:
Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
David Bernard, music director
New York, NY
Since its founding in 1999, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has built a loyal following, both in New York City and worldwide through its extensive catalog of recordings on iTunes, Naxos/ClassicsOnline, Amazon and Spotify. In 2011 the orchestra toured the People's Republic of China performing in 9 cities including Beijing, Qingdao, Dalian, Chaoyang, Jinzhou, Shenzhen, Shenyang and Xi'an.
The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's performances have been acclaimed by critics nationwide.
• "Highly polished and highly disciplined performances. These readings are interpretively probing and emotionally satisfying….unconditionally recommended." – Fanfare Magazine
• "The dynamic range and attention to detail surpass any performance of these works. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony is a World-Class Orchestra" – Lucid Culture
• "David Bernard brought raw, dramatic intensity to the urgent sections, while conducting the noble transfiguration theme with utmost tenderness and lovely, sustained pacing. Balances were unusually clear, bringing out woodwind details, while the brass shined with solid, blended playing…the orchestra plays with a strong sense of style and commitment…with the depth and fervor of the old school European orchestras…. a real triumph!" – New York Concert Review
The ensemble regularly features important soloists including Carter Brey (principal cellist, New York Philharmonic), David Chan (concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), Jon Manasse (clarinet soloist) and Whoopi Goldberg (Oscar Winning Actor and Entertainer), as well as emerging artists from Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music and Mannes. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony performs at All Saints Church on the Upper East Side of NYC, with additional performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall.
Through its fundraising efforts, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has helped establish a new Scholarship Fund for students at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, as well as support The Harmony Program—a New York City organization that provides music lessons to economically disadvantaged children and is modeled after Venezuela's world-famous model of music education, "El Sistema".
Among judges' comments: "The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony exemplifies the epitome of the best of the current community orchestra scene: professional level performance of incredibly difficult repertoire."
2nd Place:
Seattle Collaborative Orchestra
Anna Edwards, music director
Seattle, WA
The Seattle Collaborative Orchestra is a dynamic, multigenerational fusion of musicians from Seattle's classical music scene, including Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonietta, Auburn Symphony, University of Washington, and local high schools.
Seattle Collaborative Orchestra Mission Statement: Seattle Collaborative Orchestra is an intergenerational, semi-professional community orchestra with a strong educational component based in collaboration. Musicians of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra largely consist of members or alumni of Seattle high schools and University of Washington music students, in addition to members of professional music ensembles in the Seattle area (i.e. Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet). It is our aspiration to spread musical enjoyment to our Seattle metropolitan community.
Among judges comments: "Prodigious achievement of style, rhythm, and articulation throughout. Bravo on your excellent, crisp rhythm."
3rd Place:
Clark College Orchestra
Donald L. Appert, music director
Vancouver, WA
Donald Appert has been Music Director/Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra since 1990. He has guest conducted orchestras in Europe, Central America, Japan and Australia. Currently he is a Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. In addition he is the Music Director/Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta and Artistic Director and Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra, both in Portland, Oregon. He received The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in 2011 for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta and an Honorable Mention in 2012. He has received the ASCAPLUS Award numerous times. Videos of his conducting and his original compostions may be seen and heard via the internet on his web site at www.maestroappert.com.
Among judges comments: "The group really shines on the Fandango to the end: effective clean strings, great balance, wonderful dynamic contrasts, technique, and articulation."
The American Prize in Orchestral Performance—college/university orchestra
The American Prize winner:
St. Olaf Orchestra
Steven Amundson, music director
Northfield, MN
The 92-member St. Olaf Orchestra is one of the premier ensembles at St. Olaf College, a four-year liberal arts college known for its excellence in music, math, and the sciences. The St. Olaf Orchestra has a 100-year plus history, and has been touring annually since 1949. For the past three decades, Professor of Music Steven Amundson has led the Orchestra on tours throughout the U.S. and in a dozen countries, most recently in China. The ensemble has been featured on NPR, PBS, at regional and national MENC (NAfME) conventions, and on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion. Recognized for its passionate and engaging performances, the St. Olaf Orchestra strives for the highest professional standards. The orchestra program at St. Olaf features two full symphonies and over 120 string students that take weekly private lessons. 65% of the students in St. Olaf Orchestra major in music. All members of this orchestra are full-time undergraduates, and they represent 25 of the 50 United States.
Among judges' comments: "Technically brilliant, exciting performances, full of life...Revueltas especially tight, with exceptional brass contributions."
Among judges' comments: "Performances by the West Piedmont Symphony exhibit elegant shape and detail, with carefully executed nuance and plenty of dynamic contrast."
2nd Place:
Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra
Jeffrey Meyer, music director
Ithaca, NY
Comprised of approximately 90 to 100 musicians, ICSO is dedicated to performing symphonic repertoire from the baroque through the twentieth century, as well as contemporary works of our time. The Symphony Orchestra is directed by Jeffery Meyer and presents 6 to 10 concerts per year. The orchestra has collaborated with many of today's most prominent composers including Jennifer Higdon, Michael Gandofli, Steven Mackey, Steven Stucky, Joan Tower, and Chen Yi. Guest soloists who have appeared with the ICSO in recent seasons include Xak Bjerken (piano), Gilbert Kalish (piano) and Steven Mackey (electric guitar). The ICSO has been distinguished with two consecutive ASCAP prizes for Adventurous Programming by the League of American Orchestras. The ensemble has performed to high acclaim in Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, the Ithaca "Light in Winter" Festival, the Troy Savings Bank Hall and New York University.
Among judges' comments: "Stunning Sacre, suave Daphnis, performed at a very high level of accomplishment."
3rd Place:
Mannes Orchestra
Taeyoung Lee, music director
New York, NY
Praised by the New York Times for its "Youthful exuberance," the Mannes Orchestra performs a comprehensive symphonic repertoire each year ranging from classical to modern, and collaborates with the Mannes Opera in two productions at the Kaye Playhouse. Guest conductors who have led concerts or readings in recent years include Kurt Masur, Philippe Entremont, Paul Nadler, Leonard Slatkin, and Mannes graduates Yves Abel and JoAnn Falletta. The Mannes Orchestra makes nine public performances every season with David Hayes, Director of Orchestral and Conducting Studies, appearing at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Salvation Army's Centennial Memorial Temple, Symphony Space, the Kaye Playhouse, and at Mannes College Concert Hall.
Among judges' comments: "Prokofiev 7 full of fire and wit, excellently played."
The field in the College/University Orchestra category was so strong this year that the judges have awarded Special Citations for Technical & Musical Excellence to the following three ensembles and their directors. In alphabetical order they are:
Special Judges' Citation for Technical & Musical Excellence, 2013
Baylor Symphony
Stephen Heyde, conductor
Waco, TX
Founded in 1946, the Baylor Symphony has been led by only two conductors, Daniel Sternberg and, since 1984, Stephen Heyde. In a typical year, 105 students from two dozen states and several foreign countries are selected by audition to perform in the ensemble. The orchestra has performed multiple times at the Texas Music Educators Convention and by invitation at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and a national convention of the American String Teachers Association, among others. In 2003, the Symphony was featured in a PBS Special that aired nationally to an estimated audience of six million viewers. The orchestra has performed with many distinguished performers and composers including Josef Gingold and Robert Shaw among others and taken international tours of Costa Rica in 2004 and Belgium in 2010. The Baylor Symphony also presents annual children's concerts for 6000 Waco area school children, an unbroken tradition for 67 years.
Among judges' comments: "Remarkable Don Juan and La Mer, fluent, and confidently performed."
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The American Prize in Orchestra Performance, 2012—Professional Division
The American Prize Winner: NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Montgomery County, Maryland
A judicious merging of the National Chamber Orchestra and Masterworks Chorus on July 1, 2003 created an ensemble with a 55-year combined history of high caliber musical performances in the local area. The mission of the National Philharmonic is to be the dynamic organization of choice providing the highest quality orchestral, choral and other musical experiences to enrich and inspire the lives of people in Montgomery County, the Washington, DC metropolitan area and beyond through concerts and educational programs for all ages. The Philharmonic serves the residents of Montgomery County, Maryland and the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area. The primary goal of the organization is to provide audiences with high quality, professional performances at a convenient location and an affordable price. The National Philharmonic also aims to appeal to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the community through its musical performances and educational initiatives at the world-class Music Center at Strathmore. With its long-standing history of reasonably priced concert tickets and free admission to all young people ages 7-17, the National Philharmonic is an accessible, enriching component in the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
2nd Place:
BOSTON CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA
Stephen Lipsitt, music director
Boston, MA
The Boston Classical Orchestra is a professional per-service chamber orchestra made up of many of the city's finest freelance instrumentalists, offering a subscription season in historic Faneuil Hall. These musicians also play with Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Ballet, and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, and teach at area schools. Founded in 1980, the orchestra recently concluded its 30th-anniversary season with its first-ever performance of Schumann's Symphony No. 2, prompting The Boston Globe to observe: "Schumann's symphony was completely persuasive...The music seemed to soar on its own wings...one of the city's lesser-known gems capped its 30th anniversary season with a magnificent success...this orchestra & Lipsitt are capable of taking on big challenges."
3rd Place:
OCONOMOWOC CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Roberta Carpenter, music director
Oconomowoc, WI
The Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra, a parent organization with two orchestras (Professional & Avocational), a Music Appreciation Series, and a historical instrument project, is in it's third season, preceeded by a year of planning. The Community Orchestra (LCO) performs 4 concerts per year, and The Score Came Second… series is a Music Appreciation/Performance program, featuring guest artists. The OCO's Debut Concert featured two compositions for Lake Country, a brilliant Paganini Violin Concerto, Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The concert was recorded and recently released (CD and DVD) incorporating video, photographic, aerial, and artistic images.
*****
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance, 2012—Community Division
The American Prize Winner: PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY
David Bernard, music director
New York, NY
Since its founding in 1999, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has built a loyal following, both in New York City and worldwide through its extensive catalog of recordings on iTunes, Naxos/ClassicsOnline, Amazon and Spotify. Most recently, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony performed a 9 city concert tour of the People's Republic of China. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony's performances are acclaimed by New York Critics as "Triumphant...polished…exquisite…with a strong sense of style and commitment…with the depth and fervor of the old school European orchestras."
The ensemble regularly features important soloists including Carter Brey (principal cellist, New York Philharmonic), David Chan (concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), Jon Manasse (clarinet soloist) and Whoopi Goldberg (Oscar Winning Actor and Entertainer), as well as emerging artists from Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music and Mannes. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony performs at All Saints Church on the Upper East Side of NYC, with additional performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall.
Through its fundraising efforts, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has helped establish a new Scholarship Fund for students at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, as well as support The Harmony Program—a New York City organization that provides music lessons to economically disadvantaged children and is modeled after Venezuela's world-famous model of music education, "El Sistema".
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2nd Place:
LOS ANGELES MUSICIAN'S SYMPHONY
Guido Lamell, music director
Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles Musician's Symphony is a newly formed ensemble under the Music Directorship of Guido Lamell comprising many of the finest musicians in the Los Angeles Area who have come together voluntarily to raise money for various worthy causes. It was formed specifically in May of 2011 to organize and perform a benefit concert to raise money to help the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, 2011. The orchestra in now planning a benefit concert to help victims in the United States of the many Tornadoes which have struck so recently in many of the central states regions of the US.
3rd Place:
SPRINGFIELD-DRURY CIVIC ORCHESTRA
Christopher Koch, music director
Springfield, MO
The Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra (SDCO) is southwest Missouri's regional community orchestra. Founded in 2005, the 100-member ensemble comprises a combination of Drury students, students from most of our region's universities, professional performers and educators, and dedicated community members (ages 15-75). Now beginning its 7th season, the SDCO presents a yearly 3-concert season of orchestral masterworks—all free and open to public.
*****
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance, 2012—College/University Division
The American Prize Winner: UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Tonu Kalam, music director
Chapel Hill, NC
The UNC Symphony Orchestra is a 100-member ensemble which rehearses twice weekly and performs four major concerts each year. Enrollment is open by audition to music majors, non-majors, graduate students in any field, and recent graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Led by its Music Director and Conductor, Tonu Kalam, the orchestra often presents faculty and student musicians as concerto soloists and has regularly collaborated with UNC opera and choral ensembles. Concert repertoire is selected to provide the musicians with a wide perspective of major orchestral works spanning the 18th through 21st centuries.
2nd Place:
LAMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Lawrence Golan, music director
Denver, CO
The Lamont Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is the resident orchestra of the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music. It performs 7 symphonic concerts and 2 fully-staged opera productions each year. Under the leadership of its Music Director and Conductor Lawrence Golan, the LSO has won an ASCAP Award for the Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music 6 out of the last 8 years. In addition, Golan and the LSO have won Downbeat Magazine's award for Best College Symphony Orchestra twice, in 2003 and 2012.
3rd Place:
WHEATON COLLEGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Daniel Sommerville, conductor
Wheaton, IL
The Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra of the Wheaton Conservatory of Music is an all-undergraduate ensemble with a typical membership of 75-80 (45-50
string players). Most recently the orchestra was invited and played for the 2012 College Orchestra Directors Association national conference at Northwestern University. The orchestra performed in Orchestra Hall, Chicago in 2011, and in 2006 it was the orchestra for the Conductors Guild national conducting workshop. The orchestra regularly performs with Maestro John Nelson, on such works as Britten¹s War Requiem, Berlioz¹s Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn¹s Elijah, and Brahms' German Requiem. Daniel Sommerville is their conductor.
*****
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance, 2012—Youth Orchestra Division
The American Prize Winner: ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Daniel Alfred Wachs, music director
Orange County, CA
The Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, now in its 42nd season, is the official youth orchestra of Orange County. Conducted by Music Director Daniel Alfred Wachs, the non-profit OCYSO provides the highest level of pre-professional orchestral training for young musicians in Southern California. OCYSO's mission, to introduce great music into the lives of young people, is fulfilled in part through its highly acclaimed "Concerts for Fifth Graders," in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Additionally, OCYSO presents a concert series in the historic Memorial Auditorium at Chapman University.
2nd Place:
HOUSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY
Michael Webster, conductor
Houston, TX
Houston Youth Symphony was founded in 1947 and now serves approximately 300 students in four orchestras. Michael Webster has been Artistic Director since
1997, and has led the Symphony, its most advanced orchestra, at the inauguration of Houston mayor Lee Brown, the 2002 National Youth Orchestra Festival and at Carnegie Hall. HYS is the national first prize winner of the Foundation for Music Education's Mark of Excellence competition in 2008/9/10/11 and the American Prize in 2010/11.
3rd Place:
DUBUQUE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Thomas Taylor Dickey, conductor
Dubuque, IA
The Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra (DYSO), founded in 1968, is an honors youth orchestra for students living in the Dubuque area. Musicians in the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra gain experience performing standard classical repertoire in a full orchestra setting. The DYSO is conducted by Thomas Taylor Dickey.
*****
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance, 2012—High School Division
The American Prize Winner: ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PHILHARMONIA
Jonathan Handman, conductor
La Grangeville, NY
Arlington High School is located in LaGrangeville, NY and Philharmonia is the most advanced of the four orchestras in the school and was the grand champion winner of the ASTA National Orchestra Festival in March 2012. The program consists of one ninth grade string orchestra and three symphonic orchestras for students in grades 10-12, of which Ms. Elizabeth Handman and Mr. Jonathan Handman are the directors. In total, the program has over 250 string students and 75 wind/percussion members that join the strings every other day as their second ensemble in addition to the band program that they are members of. Arlington Central School District's High School Principal is Dr. Brendan Lyons.
2nd Place:
MIDWAY PHILHARMONIC
Beau Benson, conductor
Waco, TX
The Midway Philharmonic is the most advanced orchestral ensemble offered by the Midway Independent School District. Primarily a string ensemble, the orchestra often collaborates with the MHS Wind Symphony to perform challenging literature from the symphonic repertoire. Since its beginning, the Midway Philharmonic has earned consistent sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest, and has been featured as a demonstration ensemble twice at the Texas Music Educators Association annual convention. In addition, the orchestra has collaborated with nationally and internationally recognized soloists and clinicians, and has twice been selected as a finalist for the TMEA Honor Orchestra competition.
CONDUCTING PRIZES, 2012:
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—Professional Division
The American Prize Winner:
Dirk Meyer, music director,
Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra,
Duluth, MN
Dirk Meyer (DMA) holds the position of Associate Conductor to the Sarasota Orchestra. Meyer's current season includes debuts with the Toronto Symphony, the Duluth Superior Symphony and the Springfield Symphony, as well as return engagements with the Orlando Philharmonic. Other engagements included the Naples, Mason and Traverse Symphony Orchestras as well as the Florida Orchestra and the Missouri and Jackson Symphony Orchestras. Possessing a passionate interest in the music of our time, Meyer published his book Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Repertoire. A Catalog of Modern Music in 2011. He is actively involved in the commissioning and performance of new music.
2nd place:
Stefano Sarzani
Born in Italy (1984), Mr. Sarzani has been working on the educational projects of Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana. In 2011, he was finalist at the 1st Memphis SO Conducting Competition and at the 18th Capuana Competition, ranking respectively among the top five and the top three. He attended in the Masterclass of B.Haitink in Lucerne, studied at Accademia Chigiana, Siena, with G.Gelmetti and studied at Monteux School. He served as Assistant Conductor, Musical and Diction Coach at Indiana University from 2009 to 2011. He holds masters from Conservatorio Rossini, Pesaro, and from Indiana University, where he studied with David Effron and Athur Fagen.
3rd place: There was a tie.
Lawrence Golan, music director,
Yakima Symphony Orchestra,
Yakima, WA
Lawrence Golan, 3-time Global Music Award winner, is currently in his second season as the Helen N. Jewett Music Director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he is a tenured full professor at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music where he is Music Director and Conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre. Golan guest conducts professional orchestras, opera, and ballet companies in the United States and around the world. Having conducted in 25 U.S. states and 16 countries, recent engagements include performances in Boulder, Macon, Memphis, Tucson, China, Czech Republic, Italy, Korea, and Taiwan.
3rd place: There was a tie.
Steven Lipsitt, music director,
Boston Classical Orchestra,
Boston, MA
Steven Lipsitt is recognized for his technically and expressively balanced interpretations. The New York Times' Allan Kozinn described his work as "compelling" while The Boston Globe's Richard Dyer called it "an impressive demonstration of talent and discipline."
Now in his thirteenth season as Music Director of the Boston Classical Orchestra, Lipsitt has conducted orchestras in Russia, Greece, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, Canada, and the U.S., as well as Scottish Opera, the Kennedy Center Opera House, Boston Lyric Opera, the Boston Pops, and Boston Ballet.
Lipsitt won first prize at the inaugural "Dimitri Mitropoulos" International Conducting Competition, and first prize at the Marienbad "Georg Tintner" Mastercourse.
*****
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—Community Orchestra Division
The American Prize Winner:
David Bernard, music director,
Park Avenue Chamber Symphony,
New York, NY
Music Director of New York City's Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, DAVID BERNARD has performed in more than 20 countries on four continents. His incisive performances have been heard in many of the city's most prestigious venues, among them Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts' Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall and The Riverside Church, as well as on radio stations WNYC and WQXR and telecast on WCBS. He and his work have been profiled in Symphony Magazine, PlaybillArts.com, The Juilliard Journal, New York's Daily News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. David Bernard led the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony on a nine-city tour of the People's Republic of China and has appeared as a guest conductor with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble and the Putnam Symphony. David Bernard's discography includes 17 albums spanning music from Vivaldi to Copland, and released on Amazon.com, iTunes, Napster and Rhapsody.
David Bernard is a pianist and harpsichord/continuo player, and often leads Baroque works from the keyboard and performs in the dual role of soloist and conductor. He has also prepared a new edition of Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 1 and written a textbook of music theory, The Structural Principles of Music. Mr. Bernard lectures on musicology, music history and musicianship, most recently "Musicianship in Performance," an exploration of the decisions made when creating performances.
Devoted to the music of our own time, David Bernard has presented world premières of scores by Bruce Adolphe, Chris Caswell, John Mackey and Ted Rosenthal, while distinguished concert collaborators include Carter Brey, David Chan, Catherine Cho, Pedro Días, Bart feller, Whoopi Goldberg, Judith Ingolfsson, Christina Jennings, Jessica Lee, Jon Manasse, Todd Phillips and James Archie Worley.
Prior to the 1999 founding of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, David Bernard served as Music Director of the Stony Brook University Orchestra, the Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island and Theater Three. He also held the post of Assistant Conductor of both the Jacksonville and Stamford symphony orchestras.
David Bernard is an alumnus of The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Stony Brook University, The Tanglewood Music Center and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and studied with Sergiu Celibdache, David Lawton, Roger Nierenberg and Arthur Weisberg.
2nd place:
Lois Ferrari, music director,
Austin Civic Orchestra,
Austin, TX
Lois Ferrari is celebrating her tenth year as Music Director of the Austin Civic Orchestra. She is also Professor of Music at Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and has been a member of the faculty since 1993. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where she received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting, Dr. Ferrari was a recipient of a full doctoral fellowship and was appointed Assistant Conductor of the renowned Eastman Wind Ensemble. She also earned Masters and Bachelors degrees from the Ithaca College School of Music. Her mentors include Donald Hunsberger, Rodney Winther, David Effron, and Donald Neuen.
3rd place:
Robert Helmacy, music director,
South Orange Symphony,
Orange, NJ
Robert Helmacy holds degrees from Baldwin Wallace College, Juilliard, Boston University; and studied trumpet with William Vacchiano, Mel Broiles, Bernard Adelstein, conducting with Jorge Mester, George Poinar and Walter Susskind, and performance practice with Arthur Weisberg and James Chambers. He has conducted the South Orange Symphony for 40 years, conducted all orchestras and brass ensembles for Eastern Music Festival 1970-94, and founded Northern Tier Symphony (2010). He performed principal trumpet for the North Jersey Wind Symphony where he premiered the Hovhaness Trumpet Concerto, with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, and the South Orange Symphony. He has taught at Susquehanna University, Wilkes University and Caldwell College.
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—College/University Orchestra Division
The American Prize Winner:
Gemma New, assistant conductor,
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, GEMMA NEW makes several guest-conducting debuts this season, including concert appearances with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Symphonique de Trois-Rivières in Canada. She is initiator and conductor of the Baltimore-based LUNAR Ensemble—a group of talented singers and instrumentalists who specialize in the performance and promotion of contemporary music. Originally from New Zealand, New worked with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Southern Opera and Christchurch Youth Orchestra before moving to the States in 2009. A recent graduate of the Peabody Institute, New studied with Gustav Meier, and Markand Thakar.
2nd place:
Yorgos Kouritas, Music Director,
Boise Philharmonic Youth Symphony,
Boise, ID
Yorgos Kouritas is currently the Music Director of the Boise Philharmonic Youth Symphony and from next year he will also be the Assistant and Cover Conductor of the Boise Philharmonic. While pursuing his DMA at Eastman School of Music, he was also the Music Director of the New Horizons Orchestra and the Associate Conductor of Brighton Symphony. He previously had the position of Cincinnati Symphony Conducting Assistant and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra Assistant Conductor. In summer 2010, he was chosen by Lorin Maazel as a Conducting Fellow for his festival in Virginia and he received great reviews. Other masterclasses he has been chosen to participate in are the Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar (twice), the Winnipeg Symphony Conducting Symposium and the Richmond Symphony Conducting Workshop.
3rd place:
David Rudge, Director of Orchestras and Opera,
SUNY—Fredonia, NY
Dr. David Rudge is currently Director of Orchestras and Opera at the State University of New York at Fredonia, and Music Director of the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted orchestras and operas in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South and Central America. He was a Senior Fulbright Fellow, an International Artistic Ambassador with the U.S. State Department, a two-time winner of the International Opera Conductors' Competition in the Czech Republic, and has worked with such soloists as Mark O'Connor and Yo Yo Ma. He has taught conducting in Guatemala, Syria, Taiwan and at the Bard College Conductor's Institute.
*****
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—Youth Orchestra Division
The American Prize Winner:
Michael Webster, music director,
Houston Youth Symphony,
Houston, TX
Michael Webster is professor of music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music and artistic director of the Houston Youth Symphony. Formerly principal clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, Webster has appeared with many orchestras, string quartets and festivals spanning North America, South and Central America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He has been on the clarinet and conducting faculties of Eastman, New England Conservatory, and the University of Michigan.
2nd place:
James Feddeck, music director,
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra
James Feddeck is currently in his third season as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra. In June 2012 he will be leading the youth orchestra on their first international tour to Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg. He made his debut with The Cleveland Orchestra in August 2009 at the Blossom Music Festival and in March 2011, stepped in at the last minute to conduct the Zurich Opera's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni in Cleveland to critical acclaim. Recent conducting engagements include the orchestras of Atlanta, St. Louis, Charlotte, Toledo, Omaha, Grand Rapids, and the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he was admitted in four areas: piano, oboe, organ and conducting.
3rd place:
Beau Benson, Strings Coordinator,
Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Beau Benson currently serves as Principal Conductor for the Dallas-based Metroplex Opera Company, as well as Assistant Conductor/Strings Coordinator for the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra and Director of Orchestras for the Midway Independent School District in Waco, Texas. Prior appointments include Music Director/Conductor for the Mason Orchestral Society (Michigan), Music Director for the Texas A&M University Orchestra, Assistant Conductor for the Flower Mound Symphony, and Assistant Conductor for The Living Opera Company. He received his bachelors and masters degrees at Southern Methodist University and his DMA at Michigan State University.
*****
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—Special Citation for Excellence in Music Education
The American Prize Winner:
Jonathan Handman, Artistic Director,
Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley,
Poughkeepsie, NY
Jonathan Handman, conductor and cellist is a co-founder and Artistic Director of the Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley and is an orchestra director at Arlington High School in Poughkeepsie, NY. At Stringendo, he directs two orchestras, Vivace and Mazurka, and at Arlington he is the conductor of two symphony orchestras and directs an extensive chamber music program. In each program, his orchestras have won the Grand Champion prize at the ASTA National Orchestra Festival. Mr. Handman was Oberlin Conservatory's invited guest speaker, representing the decade of the 1990's, celebrating its 100th year anniversary of Music Education. Jonathan's studies include The Eastman School of Music (Trombone performance), The Oberlin Conservatory (B.A. in Music Education, Cello) and an M.A in orchestral conducting from SUNY Fredonia.
The American Prize in Conducting, 2012—Special Citation for Excellence in Music Education
The American Prize Winner:
Christopher T.F. Hanson, artistic director,
SMART Orchestra,
San Marcos, TX
Conductor, violinist, composer, pedagogue and musicologist, Hanson enjoys performing with a large and eclectic group of ensembles in the state of Texas and abroad. Recently, Hanson received his third Masters in Music theory from Texas State University. Hanson completed his first two Masters Degrees in Music History and Composition at Texas State in 2009. His research and performance engagements as a violinist afford him an array of opportunities across Texas and abroad. Hanson currently works as the orchestra conductor for San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District and the artistic director for the SMART Orchestra in San Marcos, TX.
The American Prize in Orchestral Programming, 2012—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award
For more about the Vytautas Marijosius Award, please click this link.
From David Katz, chief judge: "The second annual contest for The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Maestro Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award, attracted some of the country's most persuasive and creative music directors—individuals who would be no more likely to program a concert with a standard overture followed by a standard concerto, followed by a standard intermission, followed by a standard symphony as they would be to conduct standing on their heads. These are music directors who recognize program-planning as central to the growth of their ensembles, the enrichment of their audiences and the future of the art.
For nearly thirty five years Director of Orchestral Activities at the Hartt School, Vytautas Marijosius programmed concerts that were alive in every sense—not programming for novelty's sake alone, nor neglecting the great masters of the past—but always bringing to the awareness of his students and his audiences great composers of the current time and potential masters of the future. I believe he would be pleased in different ways with each of this year's honorees." —DK
The American Prize in Orchestral Programming, 2012—Maestro Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award
The American Prize Winner:
Lawrence Golan, music director,
Yakima Symphony Orchestra,
Yakima, WA for "A Titanic Season"
Lawrence Golan, 3-time Global Music Award winner, is currently in his second season as the Helen N. Jewett Music Director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he is a tenured full professor at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music where he is Music Director and Conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre. Golan guest conducts professional orchestras, opera, and ballet companies in the United States and around the world. Having conducted in 25 U.S. states and 16 countries, recent engagements include performances in Boulder, Macon, Memphis, Tucson, China, Czech Republic, Italy, Korea, and Taiwan.
2nd place:
Tara Towson Villa, music director
Lee County Community Orchestra,
Sanford, NC for "The Elements"
Tara Towson Villa is in her ninth season as music director of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in Davidson, North Carolina, and in her third season with the Lee County Community Orchestra in Sanford, North Carolina. Villa has conducted various orchestras across the southeast, including the Union Symphony Orchestra, Macon Symphony Orchestra, and Hot Springs Music Festival Orchestra. Abroad, Villa has worked with several orchestras across Europe and in Brazil. She has won conducting competitions and contests in Bulgaria and Germany with the help of grants from the Global Partners Project and the League of American Orchestras.
3rd place:
Timothy Hutto, music director,
New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble,
New York, NY for "Mahler: Aspects"
Timothy Hutto was appointed the music director of the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season. His New York conducting debut came with NYSAE in 2000, and subsequently he appeared annually as a guest conductor. Raised and educated in Texas, he holds degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University, the University of North Texas, and Sam Houston State University. From 1996-97, he was music director of the Huntsville Texas Youth Orchestra. In 2000, he was a fellow at the Conductors Institute at Bard College, where his teachers included Harold Farberman and Leon Botstein.
Honorable Mention:
Ken Selden, music director,
Portland State University Symphony Orchestra,
Portland, OR for 2010-11 Season
In the fall of 2006, Ken Selden was appointed Conductor and Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra at Portland State University. Since arriving in Portland, he has appeared as guest conductor of the Oregon Symphony, Third Angle New Music Ensemble, Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Newport Symphony. Most recently, his recording of Mahler and Debussy arrangements with the newly established Martingale Ensemble was released on MSR Classics.
Honorable Mention:
Richard Chiarappa, founding music director,
West Hartford Symphony Orchestra,
West Hartford, CT for 2010-11 Season
Richard Chiarappa is the founding music director and conductor of the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra of Connecticut (2002). As a composer, he completed his first opera in August, 2011, titled The Miraculous Staircase. His work prior to that was "Uncle Sal's Cello," a piece for orchestra and narrator. That was preceded by "The Gettysburg Address" for orchestra and narrator, published by Robert Wendel Music of New York City. Chiarappa studied orchestral conducting with Vytautas Marijosius at The Hartt School. Since 1979 he has been a faculty member at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford. His music can be heard at www.cmpub.com.
Honorable Mention:
Donald Appert, music director,
Oregon Sinfonietta,
Portland, OR for 2010-2011 Season
Donald Appert has been Music Director/Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra since 1990. He has guest conducted orchestras in Europe, Central America, Japan and Australia. Currently he is a Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. In addition he is the Music Director/Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta in Portland, Oregon. He received The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in 2011 for his work with the Oregon Sinfonietta. He has received the ASCAPLUS Award numerous times. His music may be heard via the Internet on his web site at www.maestroappert.com.
Honorable Mention:
Alyze Dreiling, artistic director/conductor,
YPO Philharmonic String Orchestra and Soloist Ensemble,
San Diego, CA for 2010-11 Season and Bartok Birthday Celebration
Ms. Dreiling is honored to have been awarded second prize in The American Prize Competition for her conducting of the YPO Philharmonic String Orchestra and Soloist Ensemble in the 2011 Competition. Presently Ms. Dreiling is on the faculty at University of San Diego and USD Chamber Music Festival and is violinist with Trio Licenza, the piano trio, in residence at USD,she also performs a violinist with Quartetto Sorrento ,and she is the violinist with The California Consort, founded by legendary contrabassist, Bertram Turetzky. Violinist, Alyze Dreiling was born in Detroit, Michigan. She began her studies with Mischa Mischakoff. Ms. Dreiling graduated from Indiana University where she studied with Josef Gingold. Since then she has appeared as soloist with the Detroit Symphony, Philharmonica Hungarica at the Vienna Summer Festival, the Florida Chamber Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, Knoxville Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Dreiling was founding Artistic Director/ Conductor of Classics for Kids. Alyze served as the Violinist/Conductor of the International Chamber Players at USIU. She has played concertmaster for Donna Summers, Smoky Robinson, Dionne Warwick and Tom Scott, to name a few and for shows at the Old Globe, Civic Auditorium, LaJolla Playhouse, Lawrence Welk and Starlight Theater. She has also played with San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Hutchins Consort.
SPECIAL CITATION for UNIQUE PATRIOTIC SERVICE through MUSIC:
Victor Wahby, music director,
Musical Medical Group Chorale and Symphony Orchestra,
Washington, DC "Veterans Commemoration—Healing for the Nations"
Victor Wahby, MD, Ph.D., FACP is a Renaissance man. Trained in medicine and music, he studied conducting with Joseph Sissi, the Vienna-trained conductor of the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. At Mayo Clinic he conducted the Mayo Medical Chorale and Orchestra, and while on Yale Medical School faculty he conducted the Yale Medical Musical Group, the forerunner of the current national group he founded. The Washington Post praised Dr. Wahby for his "sincere interpretations of music." Dr. Wahby composed the award-winning Veterans Hymn. He is the recipient of many recognitions, a Congressional Tribute and, dearest to his heart, awards by various veterans organizations.
*****
PRIZEWORTHY
Winners of the American Prize Spring 2011 Competitions
For winners of the 2010 competitions, please click here.
Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competiations may be found on our blog.
Orchestral Performances Prizes
Conducting Prizes
Marijosius Programming Prizes
Citations
ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE PRIZES
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—professional division
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Peter Rubardt, music director
Pensacola, FL
Founded in 1926, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the longest continually-operating professional orchestra in Florida. Under the direction of Maestro Peter Rubardt since 1997, PSO has continued to achieve artistic excellence in bringing live symphonic music to the Pensacola community. To fulfill its mission today, the Symphony performs Masterworks and Pops concerts in the historic Saenger Theatre, has open dress rehearsals, free family concerts, and extensive music education programs in partnership with public schools. www.pensacolasymphony.com
Among judges comments: “clearly an orchestra that has strength in all sections and a quality of belief and excitement about the music it plays.”
2nd place:
Edison Symphony
Judith Morse, music director
Edison, NJ
www.edisonsymphony.com
3rd place:
Western Piedmont Symphony
John Ross, music director
Hickory, NC
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—community division
THE PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY
David Bernard, music director
New York, NY
Founded in 1999, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony is a classical symphony orchestra that serves New York City communities by producing orchestral and chamber music concerts of the highest artistic level. In its performances, PACS features world class artists, such as Carter Brey, David Chan, Jon Manasse and Whoopi Goldberg, as well as providing exposure and experience to emerging young artists at the beginning of their careers. The ensemble regularly performs at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage of Carnegie Hall, and at the Alice Tully and Avery Fisher Halls of Lincoln Center. PACS has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS News Sunday Morning and on WQXR radio. www.chambersymphony.com
Among judges comments: “a highly musical Rachmaninoff 2nd...suitably dramatic and tender by turns.”
2nd place:
Central Jersey Symphony
Michael Avagliano, music director
Metuchen, NJ
3rd place:
Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey
Robert Butts, music director
Rockaway, NJ
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—college/university division
*UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Kenneth Kiesler, conductor
Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s leading student orchestras, has recently won two ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, and the Grammy Award for Best Classical CD. Led by Kenneth Kiesler since 1995, the USO presents a wide repertoire in eight programs and opera annually, and has recordings on Naxos, Equilibrium, and Dorian. The 2008 tour included music of Mahler and Evan Chambers at Oberlin, Cornell, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Hall.
*Among judges comments: “an outstanding performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 6...played with great technical ability.”
2nd place:
University of Memphis Symphony Orchestra
Pu-Qi Jiang, conductor
Memphis, TN
3rd place:
Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra
Jeffrey Meyer, director of orchestras
Ithaca, NY
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—youth orchestra division
HOUSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY
Michael Webster, conductor
Houston, TX
Houston Youth Symphony was founded in 1947 and now serves over 300 student in four orchestras. Michael Webster has been Artistic Director since 1997, and has led the Symphony, its most advanced orchestra, at the inauguration of Houston mayor Lee Brown, the 2002 National Youth Orchestra Festival and at Carnegie Hall. HYS is the national first prize winner of Choice Music Events' Mark of Excellence competition in 2008/9/10 and The American Prize in 2010. www.houstonyouthsymphony.com
Among judges comments: “Exceptional repertoire played with a level of technical and musical proficiency that is rare in players so young.”
2nd place:
Vivace of the Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley
Johnathan Handman, conductor and artistic director
LaGrangeville, NY
www.stringendoweb.org
3rd place:
Philharmonic String Orchestra and Soloist Ensemble
Alyze Dreiling, conductor
San Diego, CA
http://home.earthlink.net/sdypo
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—high school orchestra division
Arlington High School Philharmonia
Jonathan Handman, conductor
LaGrangeville, NY
Arlington High School is located in LaGrangeville, NY and Philharmonia is the most advanced of the four orchestras in the school. The program consists of one ninth grade string orchestra and three symphonic orchestras for students in grades 10-12, of which Ms. Elizabeth Handman and Mr. Jonathan Handman are the directors. In total, the program has over 250 string students and 75 wind/percussion members that join the strings every other day as their second ensemble in addition to the band program that they are members of. Arlington Central School District’s Music Coordinator is Mr. Joseph Szabo and the High School Principal is Dr. Brendan Lyons.
Among judges comments: “Spirited, energetic and committed performances at a fine technical level...”
2nd place:
Horace Mann High School String Sinfonietta
Darin Lewis, conductor
Bronx, NY
CONDUCTING PRIZES:
The American Prize in Conducting—professional division
CHRISTOPHER ZIMMERMAN
music director
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Fairfax, VA
Christopher Zimmerman is currently in his 2nd year as Music Director of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, having been appointed from an international pool of over 250 applicants. Previous posts include the Music Directorships of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Bangor Symphony and the City of London Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Zimmerman has also served on the conducting faculty at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and at the Hartt School as Head of Orchestral Studies. www.christopherzimmerman.net
Among judges’ comments: “At one with the music. Memorized, excited and involved.”
2nd place:
Travis Jurgens
Music Director/Conductor
Philharmonia of Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
3rd place:
Benjamin Rous
Associate Conductor
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Portsmouth, VA
The American Prize in Conducting—college⁄university orchestra
*KENNETH KIESLER
conductor
University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
Ann Arbor, MI
Kenneth Kiesler is an inspiring mentor to generations of conductors, through his teaching in Berlin, Moscow, Paris, England’s Royal Academy of Music, and his positions as Professor at University of Michigan, and Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Conducting Program and Conductors Retreat at Medomak. He has conducted a dozen acclaimed recordings, many premieres by major composers and leading orchestras including the Chicago, Detroit, Utah, New Jersey, Jerusalem, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and many others.
*Among judges comments: "an astonishingly impressive, exciting, and convincing performance."
2nd place:
Jeffery Meyer
Director of Orchestras
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY
3rd place:
Taeyoung Lee
Mannes College of Music
New York, NY
The American Prize in Conducting—community orchestra division
CHRISTOPHER RAMAEKERS
Principal conductor
Ravenswood Community Orchestra
Chicago, IL
Christopher Ramaekers currently conducts the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s, the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, and the Ravenswood Community Orchestra in Chicago. He has appeared with the Kalamazoo Symphony, North Shore Chamber Orchestra, Alice Millar Brass Ensemble, and the Palomar Ensemble. With the Chicago Opera Vanguard, Chris has conducted works by Mark-Anthony Turnage, Eric Reda, and Augusta Read Thomas. Chris holds a Masters Degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Victor Yampolsky.
Among judges comments: "Clear, expressive, devoid of distracting mannerisms."
2nd place:
David Bernard
music director
The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
New York, NY
3rd place:
David Leibowitz
music director
New York Repertory Orchestra
New York, NY
The American Prize in Conducting—youth orchestra division
Michael Webster
artistic director
Houston Youth Symphony
Houston, TX
Michael Webster is professor of clarinet at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and artistic director of the Houston Youth Symphony. Formerly principal clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, Webster has appeared with many orchestras, string quartets and festivals spanning North America, South and Central America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. He been on the clarinet and conducting faculties of Eastman, New England Conservatory, and the University of Michigan. www.houstonyouthsymphony.com
Among judges comments: "an outstanding educator, able to elicit musical and technical excellence from his young charges..."
2nd place:
Alyze Dreiling
conductor
Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
San Diego, CA
3rd place:
Nathaniel Meyer
founding conductor
Belmont Summer Music Festival Orchestra
Belmont, MA
The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award
For more about the Vytautas Marijosius Award, please click this link.
DONALD L. APPERT
Musical director/conductor
Oregon Sinfonietta
Portland, OR
Donald Appert has been Music Director/Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra since 1990. He has guest conducted orchestras in Europe, Central America, Japan and Australia. Currently he is a Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. In addition he is the Music Director/Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta in Portland, Oregon and the Sanctuary Choir Director for the First United Methodist Church of Vancouver, Washington. www.cmsomus.org
Among judges comments: “A conductor who takes courageous chances, giving over large portions of his programs to unusual (but not necessarily new) repertoire...”
2nd place:
David Leibowitz
music director
New York Repertory Orchestra
New York, NY
3rd place:
Jeffery Meyer
director of orchestral activities of the Ithaca College Orchestras
Ithaca, NY
Honorable Mention:
Peter Freisinger
music director and conductor
Freisinger Chamber Orchestra
Boston, MA
CONDUCTING CITATIONS:
Citation for Excellence in Music Education, Enrichment and Outreach:
ROBERT BUTTS
music director of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey and Opera at Florham
Rockaway, NJ
Maestro Butts brings musicology and conducting skills together with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey. His concerts are the most varied in the state, featuring concertos for flute, oboe and bassoon as well as for violin and piano. His concerts feature music from the 17th through the 21st centuries. Maestro Butts edits oratorios and concertos by Baroque and Classical composers for modern day premieres, composes music for the ensemble, and interprets the great works of orchestral literature. www.robertbutts.com
Among judges comments: “A conductor who takes courageous chances, giving over large portions of his programs to unusual (but not necessarily new) repertoire...”
Young Conductor Citation:
JASON LIM
Freelance conductor
Denton, TX
Jason Lim born in Malaysia, received his formal training in conducting in Canberra, Australia, serving as apprentice with the Canberra Youth Orchestra and assistant conductor with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra in Sydney. Jason added to his awards and achievements the New South Wales Ministry of Arts Conducting Scholarship. In 2000 Jason led the NOVA Ensemble in its first commercial recording in under the auspices of the “Equilibrium” label, conducting the world premier performance of Brian Bavelander’s Distant Visions for orchestra and pre recorded tape. Jason was Music Director and Conductor for two years. In 2005, Jason conducted the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra Classical subscription concert and conducted the Abilene premier of Michael Remson’s opera, Sibanda with Hardin Simmons University Opera. www.youtube.com/JasonTGLim
Among judges comments: “displays burgeoning leadership skills, in evidence both in rehearsal and performance, in a broad array of repertoire.”
***
*Because I have a "professional relationship with one or more of the candidates" in the competitions for orchestra and conductor in the college/university divisions, and as the rules governing The American Prize judges dictate, I recused myself from ranking or evaluating finalists or assisting in the selection of winners in these categories, who were chosen separately by judges working independently in different parts of the country. —DK
PRIZEWORTHY
Winners of the American Prize Spring 2010 Competitions
Orchestral Performances Prizes
Conducting Prizes
Conducting Citations
Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competiations may be found on our blog.
ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE PRIZES
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—professional division
LANCASTER FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Lancaster, OH
Gary Sheldon, music director
The Lancaster Festival Orchestra was founded by conductor Gary Sheldon in 1988. With sixty musicians from around the world, the orchestra members perform symphony, opera, ballet and chamber music at Ohio University and other venues in Lancaster, Ohio every summer. Distinguished American composers in residence at the festival have included William Bolcom, Leslie Burrs, Kirke Mechem, Gang Situ, Augusta Reade Thomas and Joan Tower. http://lancasterfestival.org/festival_orchestra.htm
The judging panel praised the LANCASTER FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA for performances "excellently prepared interpretively and very well executed."
2nd place:
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
Annapolis, MD
Jose-Luis Novo, conductor
3rd place:
Western Piedmont Symphony
Hickory, NC
John Ross, conductor
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—community division
MERCURY ORCHESTRA
Cambridge, MA
Channing Yu, music director
Founded in 2008, the 97-member Mercury Orchestra (Channing Yu, Music Director and Conductor; Justin Albstein, General Manager) has a mission to bring great works of the symphony orchestra repertoire to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in live performances of the highest quality; to bring amateur orchestral musicians together in the Cambridge area to play challenging repertoire; and to educate new audiences about the rich traditions of classical music. http://www.mercuryorchestra.org/press.html#prize
The judging panel praised the Mercury Orchestra for "obviously careful and thoughtful preparation...excellent interpretations."
2nd place:
Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra
West Windsor, NJ
Chiu-Tze Lin, conductor
3rd place:
Auburn University/Community Orchestra
Auburn, AL
Howard Goldstein, conductor
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—college/university division
TEXAS CHAMBER GROUP ORCHESTRA
Austin, TX
Wesley Schulz, music director
The Texas Chamber Group was founded in 2007 by conductor Wesley Schulz for the purpose of giving chamber sized orchestral concerts to the community of Austin, Texas. Featuring works from across the orchestral spectrum the ensemble has given successful performances of Mozart's Symphony No. 41, Milhaud's Creation of the World, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Torke's Adjustable Wrench, and Stephen Frost's Concerto for Bassoon, among others.
The judging panel praised the TEXAS CHAMBER GROUP ORCHESTRA for a performance of Rite of Spring "excellent...astonishingly good...extremely impressive in almost every detail."
2nd place:
Oxford Chamber Orchestra
Miami, OH
Ricardo Averbach, conductor
3rd place:
Cornell Symphony Orchestra
Ithaca, NY
Chris Kim, conductor
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—youth orchestra division
HOUSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY
Houston, TX
Michael Webster, conductor
Houston Youth Symphony was founded in 1947 and now serves over 300 student musicians in four orchestras. Michael Webster has been the Artistic Director since 1997, and has led the Symphony, its most advanced orchestra, at the inauguration of mayor Lee Brown, the 2002 National Youth Orchestra Festival, and at Carnegie Hall. HYS has been named the national first prize winner of Choice Music Events Mark of Excellence competition in both 2008 and 2009. http://www.houstonyouthsymphony.com
The judging panel praised the Houston Youth Orchestra. "Strings have gorgeous tone and excellent musicality...an outstanding performance of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5."
2nd place:
Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra
Rockford, IL
Daniel Black, conductor
The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—high school division
LONGMEADOW HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Longmeadow, MA
Michael Mucci, conductor
The Longmeadow High School Symphony Orchestra is comprised of the 55 strings of the String Orchestra and the 44 wind players of the select Wind Ensemble. The Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform, on three occasions, at the National Orchestra Festival, held at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Symphony Orchestra has also performed at the National Orchestra Gold Festival at Boston Symphony Hall and has appeared numerous times at the Massachusetts Music Educators All State Convention. The Longmeadow High School Music Department has recently received three Grammy Signature Awards from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences. http://www.thereminder.com/localnews/longmeadow/symphonyorchestraw/
The judging panel praised the Longmeadow High School Orchestra: "strings play with confidence and beautiful sonority...intonation is extraordinarily good...an exciting, cohesive sound."
2nd place:
Stevenson H.S. Patriot Orchestra
Lincolnshire, IL
Clark Chaffee, conductor
CONDUCTING PRIZES:
The American Prize in Conducting—professional division
GARY SHELDON
Lancaster Festival Orchestra
Lancaster, OH
Gary Sheldon conducts the Lancaster Festival Orchestra which he founded in 1988. He is also principal conductor at the Festival at Sandpoint and he was recently appointed principal conductor of the Miami City Ballet. He is former music director of the Marin Symphony where he established the orchestra's first educational concerts, symphony chorus, composers competition and annual composers symposium. He is a native of Bay Shore, New York and a graduate of the Juilliard School.
http://www.gsheldon.com/
The American Prize in Conducting—college⁄university division
RICARDO AVERBACH
Oxford Chamber Orchestra
Oxford, OH
Ricardo Averbach, DMA is Director of Orchestral Studies at Miami University and President of the College Orchestra Directors Association, Northeast Division. Previously he was Music Director of the Echternach Festival Orchestra in Luxembourg, the University of Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and the São Paulo Municipal Symphony Orchestra in Brazil. His discography includes several world premiere recordings, which have already sold more than half a million copies around the globe.
http://arts.muohio.edu/school-fine-arts/news-events/news-center/maestro-ricardo-averbach-win-american-prize
The American Prize in Conducting—community division
CHANNING YU
Mercury Orchestra
Cambridge, MA
American conductor Channing Yu is Music Director of the Mercury Orchestra in Cambridge, MA, a post he has held since 2008. Maestro Yu also serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Lowell House Opera, the oldest opera company in New England, where he has conducted over thirty fully staged opera performances with orchestra. He has appeared frequently as guest conductor with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra in Greensburg, PA.
http://www.mercuryorchestra.org/press.html
The American Prize in Conducting—Career Incentive Award
TONG CHEN
Tong Chen, a native of Shanghai, China, has worked as an assistant conductor at the Shanghai Opera House since 2004 and is now working as the assistant and fellowship conductor under the tutelage of Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar at The Peabody Institute. Ms. Chen has been an assistant conductor at the Central City Opera House, has worked at the Crabillo Festival with Marin Alsop and was a conducting fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Institute.
CONDUCTING CITATIONS:
The American Prize in Conducting—Excellence in Music Education Citation
CLARK CHAFFEE
Stevenson H.S. Patriot Orchestra
Lincolnshire, IL
Clark Chaffee is Senior Director of Orchestras, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire IL and Vice President / head of the Orchestra Division for Illinois Music Educators Association. He holds a Diploma from Interlochen Arts Academy a BME from the University of Michigan and an MME from Northern Illinois University. A student of Elizabeth Green & Margaret Hillis, he was Principal Timpani - Chicago Civic Orchestra, Elgin Symphony.
BEVERLY EVERETT
Bemidji Symphony Orchestra
Bemidji, MN
The 2009/2010 season begins Everett's sixth as Music Director of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra and her second as Music Director of the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony. Everett previously served as Music Director of the Muscatine Symphony, and held associate conducting positions with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, the Britt Music Festival, and the Hot Springs Music Festival. Everett holds degrees from Baylor University and the University of Iowa. She also studied at the Aspen Music Festival.
