The American Prize in Conducting, 2024-25
The American Prize in Conducting recognizes and rewards the best orchestral, choral, band/wind ensemble, opera and musical theater conductors in America, based on submitted recordings. There is no live competition.
The American Prize also awards the annual Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming and the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music (see links below). In conducting divisions we accept performances made within the last five years.
PRELIMINARY DEADLINE: Tuesday, May 28, 2024, with extensions available by email request. Questions? Email: theamericanprize@gmail.com
WHAT CONTESTANTS WIN:
The American Prize is more than monetary. The Prize grew from the belief that a great deal of excellent music being made in this country goes unrecognized and unheralded, not only in our major cities, but all across the country...in schools and churches, in colleges and universities, and by community and professional musicians. Laureates of The American Prize at all levels of achievement derive local, regional and national recognition to help generate jobs, build audiences and sustain careers. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners are announced to national arts media and on our websites, where winners are profiled. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners earn the right to use The American Prize logo and official seal on printed programs and other documents, and on the web. Thousands of artists have derived benefit from their participation in the contests of The American Prize.
SEMI-FINALISTS: All semi-finalists receive official certificates.
FINALISTS and RUNNERS-UP: All finalists receive certificates and short comments about their audition. Runners-up receive certificates and written, unbiased evaluations from our distinguished national panel of judges. When winners are announced on The American Prize blog, RUNNERS-UP are also profiled with photos, biographies and website links.
WINNERS: A single winner in each category and/or division is selected. Winners receive certificates, written evaluations, personalized press releases sent by us to local media and other contacts you provide as part of your application, and cash prizes up to $500, depending on the year, the category and the number of entrants. Only with your explicit permission, excerpts of winning performances may be posted to The American Prize channel on YouTube.
The judges reserve the right to award citations and honorable mentions as warranted, and to combine categories when necessary. The decision of the judges is final.
CLICK the competition names below for APPLICATION FORM and REQUIREMENTS.
Conducting—Orchestra
categories: professional, community or faith based, college/university, secondary school, youth orchestra
Conducting—The Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming
categories: professional, community, college/university
Conducting—The Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music
categories: professional, community, college/university, secondary
This contest for orchestras, choruses, bands, conductors, composers and individual artists recognizes the finest performances of American Music from any age and in practically any style.
Conducting—The Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting
categories: professional, community or faith based, college/university, secondary school, youth chorus, children's chorus
Conducting—Wind ensemble/concert band
categories: professional, community or faith based, college/university, secondary school, youth wind ensemble
Conducting—Opera/Operetta
categories: professional, community or faith based, college/university
Conducting—Musical Theater
categories: professional, community or faith based, college/university, secondary school