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.
