The American Prize

Last updated

The American Prize is a set of annual nonprofit national competitions in the performing arts which recognizes and rewards commercial and noncommercial recorded performances of classical music in the United States based on submitted applications. There is no live competition. [1] The award is bestowed at professional, college/university, community, and high school levels in a number of areas including composition, piano, voice, chamber music, conducting, and ensemble performance. [2] [3] The jury consists of well known performing artists in each area, with the conductor and composer David Katz serving as chief judge. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Artists and ensembles self-nominate through an application process or are nominated by a teacher, parent, board member or colleague. [11] Evaluation is a key component of the competition; applicants who reach finalist status or higher receive a written evaluation from a member of the judging panel. Among judges are composer Judith Lang Zaimont, pianist Jeffrey Biegel, and Metropolitan Opera soprano Sharon Sweet. [12] Winners of each category receive a cash award.

Top prize winners

Winners of the first prize award by year in all professional categories. [13]

Composition

OrchestraChoralChamber MusicBandOpera / Theater / Film / Dance
2011Jesse AyersTed Vivesnot awardednot awardednot awarded
2012Michael GatonskaBrian Holmesnot awardednot awardednot awarded
2013Alessandra SalvatiJonathan SantoreMichael DeakAleksander Sternfeld-Dunnnot awarded
2014Gregg Wramage Dominick DiOrio Piotr SzewczykLaurence BitenskyTodd Goodman
2015Angelique PoteatTravis Alfordtie: David Garner /

Judith Lang Zaimont

David Avshalomov Yiguo Yan
2016Jennifer Bellor Lansing McLoskey Justin Dello Joio Miguel Roig-Francolí Justin Dello Joio
2017Brian Ciach(pending)instrumental: Ching-chu Hu /

choral: (pending)

Robert Denham Jocelyn Hagen
2019 Nilo Alcala Eric W. Sawyer
2019-20Tyler Goodrich Whitemajor works: John Muehleisen /

shorter works: Donald Skirvin

instrumental: Jakub Polaczyk /

vocal: William Vollinger

Shawn Okpebholo Zach Redler

Piano

SoloConcerto
2011Lin-Yu Wangnot awarded
2012Nathanael MaySarah S. Chan
2013 Petronel Malan Anthony Michael Cornet
2014 Nassib Nassar Kasandra Keeling
2015Michael AngelucciBill John Newbrough
2016Jeremy SamoleskyThomas Yee
2017 Roberto Plano Richard Bosworth
2019-20Lei WengAnna Dmytrenko

Voice

Opera / Operetta (women)Opera / Operetta (men)Art Song / Oratorio (women)Art Song / Oratorio (men)
2011 Laura Strickling Jonathan Beyer Christine SteyerBlake Friedman
2012 Suzanne Vinnik Christian Ketter Sharin ApostolouMatthew Garrett
2013 Suzanne Vinnik Christian Ketter Emily MarvoshDarren Chase
2014 Megan Marino Mitchell Hutchings Sarah DavisLeo Rado
2015 Aundi Marie Moore Peter Lightfoot Tania CoambsJorell Williams
2016Samantha BrittKeith BrownMargaret LiasStephen Lancaster
2017-18Meredith MecumRyan Francis BurnsKristina BachrachJustin John Moniz
2018-19Jacqueline PiccolinoLogan TannerEmily Yocum BlackJustin John Moniz
2019-20Madison Marie McIntoshLeo RadosavljevicAnn CraveroBryan Pinkall

Chamber music

2014 Atlanta Chamber Players
2015 The New Consort
2019-20Eason-Seregow Duo

Orchestral

Orchestral performanceConducting
2010Lancaster Festival OrchestraGary Sheldon, Lancaster Festival Orchestra
2011Pensacola Symphony OrchestraChristopher Zimmerman, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
2012National PhilharmonicDirk Meyer, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra
2013not awardednot awarded
2014 Park Avenue Chamber Symphony not awarded
2015 Western Piedmont Symphony Olivier Ochanine, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
2016
2018 Allentown Symphony Orchestra
2019 Symphony Number One David Bernard
2019-20Cape Cod Chamber OrchestraMarkand Thakar

Choral

Choral performance
2010 Roomful of Teeth
2011 Washington Bach Consort
2012not awarded
2013not awarded
2014not awarded
2015 Houston Chamber Choir
2019-20co-winners: Dallas Chamber Choir /

mirabai

College/university prize winners

Winners of the first prize award by year in college/university categories. [13]

Composition

OrchestraChoralChamber MusicBandOpera / Theater / Film / Dance
2013Roberto KalbJoshua Fishbeinnot awardednot awardednot awarded
2014Texu KimSaunder ChoiRodrigo Bussadnot awardednot awarded
2015Patrick O’MalleyKyle RandallDerek Davidnot awardednot awarded
2016Jihyun KimMatthew RecioLara PoeDerek JenkinsGeorgi Dimitrov (student division)
2017Antonio Juan Marcos(pending)instrumental: Olga Amelkina-Vera /

choral: (pending)

Tyler BouqueMichele Cheng
2023(pending)Frank Duarte(pending)(pending)(pending)

Voice

Opera / Operetta (women)Opera / Operetta (men)Art Song / Oratorio (women)Art Song / Oratorio (men)
2015Sarah BauerGaleano SalasPaulina Nastasha Yeungnot awarded
2016Natalie LoganQuinn BerneggerSamantha SchmidQuinn Bernegger
2017tie: Sarah Cooper / Kellie MotterBen M. ReisingerLauren Elizabeth WalkerDavid John Davani

Orchestral

Orchestral performanceConducting
2010Texas Chamber Group OrchestraRicardo Averbach, Oxford Chamber Orchestra
2011 University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra Kenneth Kiesler, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra
2012University of North Carolina Symphony OrchestraGemma New, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
2013not awardednot awarded
2014St. Olaf Orchestranot awarded
2015 Baylor Symphony OrchestraBoon Hua Lien, Eastman Philharmonia

Choral

Choral performance
2010 Washington & Jefferson College Camerata Singers
2011 Mansfield University Concert Choir
2012 East Carolina University Chamber Singers
2013 Iowa State Singers
2014 The University of North Dakota Concert Choir
2015 USC Thornton Chamber Singers

Community prize winners

Winners of the first prize award by year in community categories. [13]

Choral

Choral performance
2010 Choral Arts
2011 Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union
2012Ensemble Companio
2013Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble
2014Choral Arts Initiative
2015Peninsula Women's Chorus

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olga Neuwirth</span> Austrian composer

Olga Neuwirth is an Austrian contemporary classical composer, visual artist and author. She gained fame mainly through her operas and music theater works, which often deal with topical and decidedly political themes of identity, violence and intolerance.

David Sartor is an American composer, conductor, and educator, and is the founder and music director of the Parthenon Chamber Orchestra.

Constantine Koukias is a Tasmanian composer and opera director of Greek ancestry based in Amsterdam, where he is known by his Greek name of Konstantin Koukias. He is the co-founder and artistic director of IHOS Music Theatre and Opera, which was established in 1990 in Tasmania's capital city, Hobart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Tin</span> American composer

Christopher Chiyan Tin is an American composer of art music, often composed for film and video game soundtracks. His work is primarily orchestral and choral, often with a world music influence. He won two Grammy Awards for his classical crossover album Calling All Dawns.

The Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music is the music and performance arts school of Northwestern University. It is located on Northwestern University's campus in Evanston, Illinois, United States.

Brett Dean is an Australian composer, violist and conductor.

Gabriela Lena Frank is an American pianist and composer of contemporary classical music.

Peng-Peng Gong, formerly known as his stage name Peng Peng, is a Chinese classical composer and pianist born on July 3, 1992. Described by The Washington Post as an artist "with the confidence of a weathered veteran and a welcome unbridled quality to his playing", he has established himself as one of the most gifted young artists of his generation. At 18, he has become an internationally active concert pianist and a six-time American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers National Award-winning composer in consecutive years since 2006. He was among the youngest pianists to be officially signed to the artist roster of the renowned Opus 3 Artists in 2007 at age 14, and the youngest composer to be signed by the [Lauren Keiser Music Publishing] in 2009 at age 16. Since 2005, he concertized and toured intensely in the North America, South America, Europe, and China, appearing in over a hundred solo and orchestral engagements. He was invited twice, on personal request, by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to perform for the United States Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy López Bellido</span>

Jimmy López Bellido is a classical music composer from Lima, Peru. He has won several international awards and has been nominated to a Latin Grammy Awards. Pieces composed by him have been performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Peru, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Gewandhaus Leipzig, and during the 2010 Youth Olympic games in Singapore. His music has been featured in numerous festivals, including Tanglewood Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Grant Park Music Festival, Darmstadt International Course for New Music, and Donaueschingen Music Festival.

Svetlana Nesterova is a Russian composer and violinist. Since 2002 she has served on the musical instrument faculty at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.

Michael Schelle, born January 22, 1950, in Philadelphia, is a composer of contemporary concert music. He is also a performer, conductor, author, and teacher.

The New York International Piano Competition (NYIPC) in New York City is a biennial piano competition open to pianists of all nationalities ages 16–21. No contestant is eliminated during the competition's four rounds. A cash award is also presented to each of the contestants not receiving a major prize. The NYIPC has been held at the Manhattan School of Music since its inception in 2002, with opening ceremonies at Steinway Hall. Steinway and Sons is the official piano of the competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Kwan Loucks</span> American musician

Kevin Kwan Loucks is a Korean–American classical pianist, arts entrepreneur, and nonprofit executive. In September 2021, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Chamber Music America in New York City. He previously served as Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, a presenting organization in residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA, and also served as Director of Innovation and Program Development at Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. He co-founded Chamber Music | OC, an arts organization headquartered in Lake Forest, California, and is a founding member and current pianist of the award-winning piano trio, Trio Céleste.

Hannah Kendall is a British composer currently based in New York.

Rory Boyle is a Scottish composer and currently Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Norman</span> American composer (born 1979)

Andrew Norman is an American composer of contemporary classical music whose texturally complex music is influenced by architecture and the visual arts. His string trio The Companion Guide to Rome (2010), was a runner-up for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music. While composer-in-residence for the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, he first gained international attention for the orchestral work Play (2013), which was nominated for the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and won the 2017 Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. He received another Grammy nomination for the orchestral work Sustain (2018), a commission from the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Other noted works include the fantasy for piano and orchestra Split (2015) and the opera A Trip to the Moon (2017). Since 2020, Norman has been on the composition faculty of the Juilliard School.

Lidiya Yankovskaya is a Russian-American opera and symphonic conductor and the Music Director of Chicago Opera Theater.

Matthew Ricketts is a Canadian composer of contemporary classical music. He is a 2019 Guggenheim Fellow as well as the recipient of the 2020 Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the 2016 Jacob Druckman Prize from the Aspen Music Festival, the 2015 Salvatore Martirano Memorial Composition Award, a 2013 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and eight prizes in the SOCAN Foundation's Awards for Young Composers. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judit Varga (composer)</span>

Judit Varga is an Erkel Ferenc Prize and Béla Bartók - Ditta Pásztory Award winner composer, pianist and university lecturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansing McLoskey</span> American composer (born 1937)

Lansing McLoskey is an American composer of contemporary classical music. His Zealot Canticles: An Oratorio for Tolerance was a winner of the 61st Annual Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance by the ensemble The Crossing. McLoskey serves as a Professor of Music at the Frost School of Music in Miami, Florida. Among McLoskey's numerous commissions are those from Guerilla Opera, Copland House, The Fromm Foundation, The Barlow Endowment, N.E.A., The Crossing, ensemberlino vocale, New Spectrum Foundation, Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion, Passepartout Duo, the Boston Choral Ensemble, and Kammerkoret NOVA.

References

  1. "The American Prize rewards the best-recorded performances by individual artists and ensembles in the U.S." MidlandsBiz, Columbia, SC, October 8, 2014.
  2. Eiseman, Lee. "National Prize Recognizes Local Composer." The Boston Musical Intelligencer, September 24, 2014.
  3. "Michael Angelucci Wins the American Prize in Piano," The Peabody Post, November 16, 2015.
  4. Lewis, John. "Tom Hall & Choral Arts Win American Prize Awards." Baltimore, October 22, 2014.
  5. "UNLV Opera director wins American Prize." Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 21, 2014.
  6. "Tara Curtis places second in The American Prize in Voice." KCMetropolis, Kansas City, KS, September 16, 2014.
  7. "Nashville composer Daniel Elder shines in the American Prize." ArtsNash, Nashville, TN, September 26, 2014.
  8. "Crane director wins 'The American Prize in Opera Performance' for Menotti's opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors." North Country Now, Potsdam, NY, January 2, 2013.
  9. "SSYO Places Third Nationally in the American Prize Competition." Saratoga Today, Saratoga Springs, NY, October 18, 2013.
  10. "Composer Michael Gatonska Awarded The American Prize in Composition." June 11, 2012, www.ascap.com, accessed November 1, 2022
  11. "FAQs". www.theamericanprize.org. Retrieved Sep 11, 2019.
  12. "Judges 2017-18". www.theamericanprize.org. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  13. 1 2 3 "The American Prize". theamericanprize.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.