PRIZEWORTHY
Winners of The American Prize in Vocal Performance - Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards, 2011



The American Prize in Vocal Performance—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, honors the memory of the greatest Wagnerian baritone of his age, Friedrich Schorr, who commanded the operatic stage between the world wars, and his wife, Virginia Schorr, who taught studio voice at the Manhattan School of Music and the Hartt School of Music for nearly fifty years.


For more about Friedrich & Virginia Schorr and the original Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize in Voice international competition, follow this . Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competitions may be found on our .


Opera Prizes

Art Song Prizes


 
The American Prize in Vocal Performance (OPERA)—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, 2011




PROFESSIONAL DIVISION (WOMEN):







The American Prize winner:
Laura Strickling, soprano,

Alexandria, VA



Soprano Laura Strickling’s operatic roles include Mimi, Dinorah, Elvira, Josephine, Mabel, Belinda, Countess, Gretel, Micaëla, and Pamina. Concert engagements include Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Beethoven’s Mass in C, and Handel’s Messiah. Winner of the Vocal Arts Society and Baltimore Music Club competitions, she was a finalist in the NATSAA and the Washington International competitions. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and the Moody Bible Institute, she studies with Elizabeth Daniels and lives in Alexandria, Virginia.


Among judges' comments: "...expressive & believable, versatile & able to match demands of performance practice, lots of control, free voice, lacks tension..."


2nd Place:




Greer Davis, soprano,

Chicago, IL







3rd Place:




Tami Petty, soprano,
New York, NY




 


PROFESSIONAL DIVISION (MEN):





The American Prize winner:
Jonathan Beyer, baritone,

Philadelphia, PA


Jonathan Beyer is a baritone who has performed with opera companies in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Austin, Chicago, Fort Worth, Santa Barbara, and Aix-en-Provence among others. He has also appeared with the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baton Rouge, Vermont, and Indianapolis Symphonies. He was the 1st Place Winner at the Marian Anderson, McCammon, Cooper, DuPont, Verismo, American Opera Society, and Bel Canto Competitions. He has degrees from the Curtis Institute and Roosevelt University.  Upcoming engagements include Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Knoxville, Dallas, Austin, Chicago Symphony, and Carnegie Hall.


Among judges' comments: "His sound, a joy to listen to, is highly influenced by
his attention to text, is presented with care through specific interpretative choices,
and carries an innate passion that is palpable to its audience."


2nd Place:




John Concepcion,
tenor,
Homewood, IL






3rd Place:




Jonathan Blalock,
tenor,
Sunnyside, NY


 

 

 

 

*****

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION (WOMEN):







The American Prize winner:
Maren Weinberger,
soprano,

Houston, TX



Maren Weinberger is a senior vocal performance major at Oklahoma City University and studies with Larry Keller and vocal coach Jan McDaniel. Last summer she participated in "Si Parla, Si Canta", an opera program in Urbania, Italy under Benton Hess, director of opera at Eastman School of Music, and worked with esteemed faculty including Bob Cowart (The Metropolitan Opera). She has also been seen in Light Opera Oklahoma's '09 summer season in My Fair Lady, The Gondoliers, and A Little Night Music. Her OCU credits include: Violetta in La Traviata, The Consul (as Anna Gomez), Too Many Sopranos (as Jeanette), and Bat Boy.

 

Among judges' comments: "...tone was gorgeous...impressive control and vowel uniformity."


2nd Place:




Rebecca Patrick Flaherty,
soprano,
Pooler, GA






3rd Place:




Sara Antunovich,
soprano,
Brooklyn, NY







COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION (MEN):






The American Prize winner:
Casey B. Finnigan,
tenor,

Houston, TX



The second place winner of the 2010 Classical Singer competition, Mr. Finnigan is currently working on his MM in vocal performance at the University of Houston. Recent performances include Rodolfo in La Boheme at Sherrill Milnes' "Voice Experience" program. Upcoming engagements include the role of Pablo Neruda in Daniel Catan's new opera Il Postino at the University of Houston. Mr. Finnigan received his BM in voice performance from the University of North Texas in 2009.

 

Among judges' comments: "...ringing, exciting high notes and a full, rich Italianate sound..."



2nd Place:




Luke Scott,
baritone,
West Hartford, CT

 







3rd Place:




Philip Stoddard,
baritone,
New York, NY




 

 

*****

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION (WOMEN):

There were co-winners in the High school division in 2011. Each receives the same honors.





The American Prize winner:
Laura Corina Sanders,
soprano,

Hillsborough, CA


Laura Sanders is a student at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. She has performed in numerous productions including as Cis in the SF Opera Merola Program production of Albert Herring; Mary in the Lamplighters Music Theatre's The Secret Garden; Laurie in Oklahoma!; and principal and ensemble roles in Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof; Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, Yeomen of the Guard, Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Gondoliers, Ruddigore, and A Christmas Carol.


Among judges' comments: "...beautiful, flowing and natural vocal tone, ideally suited to her age."




The American Prize winner:

Emily Tworek-Helenbrook,
soprano,
Alexander, NY


Emily Tworek-Helenbrook, 16 year old, lyric coloratura soprano, was showcased on the CBS Morning Show with Renee Fleming. Emily was awarded first place at the Schmidt Vocal Competition and Classical Singer's Mannes College and Boston Conservatory, Marvin Hamlisch BPO Contest, and Rochester Oratorio Classical Idol. Emily performed at the Kosciuszko Foundation, NYC as winner of the Barry Alexander International Voice Competition She performed as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Viva Vivaldi Festival (four years), Rochester Philharmonic, Genesee Symphony, and Cheektowaga Orchestra.

 

Among judges' comments: "...beautiful voice...expressive...clear diction..."



 
The American Prize in Vocal Performance (ART SONG)—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award, 2011



PROFESSIONAL DIVISION (WOMEN):






The American Prize winner:
Christine Steyer,
soprano,

Oak Park, IL




 

Chicagoan Christine Steyer received major awards at the Altamura/Caruso International Competition and National Opera Association Competition. Roles include Pamina with Tulsa Opera, Abigail in The Crucible, the Marschallin and Violetta and has performed numerous roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago. Upcoming engagements include Butterfly, Four Last Songs and Mother in Amahl. She is featured on Caroline Myss' Voices of the Sacred and founded Bellissima Opera Outreach which brought free music to 9,000 schoolchildren in 2010.

 

Among judges' comments: "...really fine voice for Russian literature...consistent timbre quality...with richness and articulate diction throughout the registers."

2nd Place:




Karen Lupton,
soprano,
Atlanta, GA





3rd Place:





Brandie Sutton,
soprano,
New York, NY







PROFESSIONAL DIVISION (MEN):

There were co-winners in the Professional division in 2011. Each receives the same honors.





The American Prize winner:
Blake Friedman,

tenor,
New York, NY

 




“Fresh Lyric Tenor” (OperaNews Online) Blake Friedman, is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Praised for his “climactic high notes” by Q on Stage, Mr. Friedman was named Honorable Mention in the 2010 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition and was a Finalist in The New York Lyric Opera Theatre Vocal Competition of 2010. Mr. Friedman’s performance credits include opera, oratorio, solo and choral engagements, most notably: Cover of Tenor 6, “The Prince.” in Conrad Susa’s Transformations as guest artist at The Juilliard School.



Among judges' comments: "...he knows of what he sings and embodies that in his clear diction, nuanced command of his instrument, and overall musical presentation."





The American Prize winner:
Jonathan Beyer,

baritone,
Philadelphia, PA

 

Jonathan Beyer is a baritone who has performed with opera companies in Dallas, Pittsburgh, Austin, Chicago, Fort Worth, Santa Barbara, and Aix-en-Provence among others. He has also appeared with the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Baton Rouge, Vermont, and Indianapolis Symphonies. He was the 1st Place Winner at the Marian Anderson, McCammon, Cooper, DuPont, Verismo, American Opera Society, and Bel Canto Competitions. He has degrees from the Curtis Institute and Roosevelt University.  Upcoming engagements include Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Knoxville, Dallas, Austin, Chicago Symphony, and Carnegie Hall.

 

Among judges' comments: "His sound, a joy to listen to, is highly influenced by his attention to text, is presented with care through specific interpretative choices, and carries an innate passion that is palpable to its audience."

 

2nd Place:




Mischa Bouvier,
soprano,
Shirley, NY









3rd Place:




Darren Chase
tenor,
New York, NY








*****

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION (WOMEN):





The American Prize winner:
Georgia Duan,

soprano,

Bronx, NY




Soprano Georgia Duan is a rising talent with a keen interest in the Italian and Austrian operatic styles. She made her German debut as the Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte) with the Mittelsächsisches Theater Freiberg and has sung Mabel with Opera San Luis Obispo. In December, she returns to San Francisco to sing Giulia in Rossini’s La scala di seta. Georgia holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Stanford University.

Among judges' comments: "...lovely voice, good flexibility, excellent choices of repertoire. English diction especially good and easy to understand..."




2nd Place:




Megan Welker,
soprano,
Evanston, IL






3rd Place:




Leah Kaye Serr,
mezzo-soprano,
Shippensburg, PA







COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY DIVISION (MEN):








The American Prize winner:
Jeffrey Hill,
tenor,

Annandale on Hudson, NY




Jeffrey Hill, 25, tenor. Featured young artist at both Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Music Academy of the West. Carnegie Hall recital debut last spring. He has already made recital debuts in Paris and New York, and has won several competitions, including the Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition. Featured in reviews as “a force to be reckoned with, [a voice] that sounds effortless but absolutely commands the listener’s attention,” “impressively rich and full-bodied” and “Authoritative.”

Among judges' comments: "...he sings with beautiful musicality and artistry..."


2nd Place:




Thomas Florio,
bass-baritone,
Bloomington, IN







3rd Place:




Jeffrey Grayson Gates,
baritone,
Oklahoma City, OK



 

 

*****

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION (WOMEN):





The American Prize winner:
Emily Tworek-Helenbrook,
soprano,

Alexander, NY


Emily Tworek-Helenbrook, 16 year old, lyric coloratura soprano was showcased on the CBS Morning Show with Renee Fleming. Emily was awarded first place at the Schmidt Vocal Competition and Classical Singer’s Mannes College and Boston Conservatory, Marvin Hamlisch BPO Contest, and Rochester Oratorio Classical Idol. Emily performed at the Kosciuszko Foundation, NYC as winner of the Barry Alexander International Voice Competition She performed as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Viva Vivaldi Festival (four years), Rochester Philharmonic, Genesee Symphony, and Cheektowaga Orchestra.

Among judges' comments: "...beautiful voice...expressive...clear diction..."


2nd Place:




Ava Borowski,
soprano,
Wilmington, DE