PRIZEWORTHY
Winners of the American Prize Spring 2010 Competitions


Orchestral Performances Prizes

Choral Performance Prize

Conducting Prizes

Conducting Citations


To download a complete list of Spring 2010 The American Prize winners, citation recipients, runners-up and finalists, with photos and short biographies of each ensemble or conductor, click here.


To hear excerpts of winning performances, please visit The American Prize channel on .



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.


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.


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.


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.


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






CHORAL PERFORMANCE PRIZES


The American Prize in Choral Performance—professional division





ROOMFUL OF TEETH
Williamstown, MA
Brad Wells, founder and artistic director


Roomful of Teeth is an eight-voice vocal ensemble that embraces the full spectrum of vocal practices and, through an on-going commissioning project, develops new compositions using the fullest possible range of vocal techniques. Launched in 2009, the ensemble of young, classically-trained singers studies with international experts in vocal techniques ranging from Tuvan throat singing to yodeling. The ensemble commissions composers to write music utilizing their ever-expanding palette of vocal colors.


The judging panel praised ROOMFUL OF TEETH for "accurate pitch/intonation...with seamless transitions...really unique...stunning."


2nd place:




VOX—The Rob Seible Singers
Houston, TX
Rob Seible, conductor








The American Prize in Choral Performance—community division





CHORAL ARTS
Seattle, WA
Rob Bode, music director


Choral Arts was founded in 1993 and since then, has received local, national and international acclaim for its mastery of style, language, and genre. The ensemble performs up to four concert series each season in the Seattle area. Guest appearances have included: Mark Morris Dance Company, International Music Festival of Seattle, Northwest Sinfonietta’s 5th Anniversary Gala Concert, Arts West Music Series, Puget Sound Music Society, and Seattle Symphony’s Christmas Singalong Concert at Benaroya Hall. The choir participated in the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf Germany, where they placed fourth overall out of 300 international choirs and received a special recognition award. Choral Arts has four recordings available through the Loft/Gothic label.


The American Prize judging praised Choral Art's performance: "first-rate...great colors and impeccable intonation."


2nd place (tie):




Seattle Pro Musica
Seattle, WA
Karen Thomas, conductor









Atlanta Sacred Chorale
Atlanta, GA
Eric Nelson, conductor







3rd place (tie):




Sacramento Choral Society
Sacramento, CA
Donald Kendrick, conductor









Calvin College Alumni Choir
Grand Rapids, MI
Pearl Shangkuan, conductor







The American Prize in Choral Performance—college⁄university division





WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE CAMERATA SINGERS
Washington, PA
Susan Medley, conductor


The Washington & Jefferson College Camerata Singers is the premiere vocal ensemble at W&J. The group is comprised of sixteen singers who, in the liberal arts tradition, represent a wide range of majors including biochemistry, psychology, biology, chemistry, economics, English, German, music, and theater. The Camerata Singers have appeared at the state conference of the Pennsylvania Music Education Association, the MENC Eastern Division Conference, and as featured performers at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.


The American Prize judging panel commented on selections by the Washington & Jefferson College Camerata Singers: "choir has a lovely sound...excellent sense of shaping and phrase in this performance."


2nd place:




LBCC Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir
Albany, OR
James Reddan, conductor





3rd place:




NW Oklahoma University Chorale
Alva, OK
Stephen Kingsbury, conductor





The American Prize in Choral Performance—youth choir division





NEW WORLD SINGERS
Columbus, OH
Sandra Mathias, director


The New World Singers is the top ensemble of the Columbus and Central Ohio Children’s Chorus Foundation, formed as a non-profit foundation in 1995. The choir has toured in the U.S., Russia, Eastern Europe, and Canada. They have performed with the National Repertory Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. In 2007 they were selected to perform at the national conferences of the American Choral Directors’ Association and the Organization of American Kodály Educators.


The American Prize judging panel commented on selections by the New World Singers: "most impressed with the choir’s intonation...with the uniformity of tone quality...diction is very clear...exceptional repertoire."


2nd place:




Rhode Island Children's Chorus Chamber Choir
Harrisville, RI
Christine Noel, director








3rd place:




Salem Youth Chorus
Salem, OH
John Simsic, director










The American Prize in Choral Performance—high school division





HSPVA MADRIGAL SINGERS
Houston, TX
Rob Seible, director


The Madrigal Singers has been a top vocal ensemble at The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas, since the school's inception 38 years ago. The 16 singers, all juniors and seniors, perform acapella music from all periods and are versatile in many musical styles. The Madrigal Singers are best known as representatives of the school during the Christmas season, when they perform innumerable concerts throughout Houston, dressed in Renaissance costume.


Among the Madrigal Singers' outstanding qualities to receive comment by The American Prize judging panel were "good core of well-trained voices...diction is almost always natural and well-controlled...good listening...attention to details..."


2nd place:




Traverse City West Senior High School Chorale
Traverse City, MI
Russ Larimer, conductor








3rd place:




Burley Middle School Young Women's Chorus
Charlottesville, VA
Craig Jennings, conductor







4th place:




Olympia High School Chorale
Stanford, IL
Debbie Aurelius-Muir, director






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.






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.



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.


The American Prize in Conducting—community division




ERIC NELSON
Atlanta Sacred Chorale
Atlanta, GA

Eric Nelson: B.M.-Houghton College, M.M.-Westminster Choir College, D.M.-Indiana University. Currently Director of Graduate and Choral Studies at Emory University, Minister of Music at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church and Artistic Director of Atlanta Sacred Chorale. Recent past-president of Georgia ACDA and recipient of Emory’s Crystal Apple Award for Teaching Excellence. Emory’s Concert Choir and Atlanta Sacred Chorale have both performed at recent ACDA conventions. Memberships include ACDA, GMEA, AGO, and Chorus America.



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 Carbillo 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.





JEREMY FAUST
International Orange Chorale
San Francisco, CA

Jeremy Faust (b. 1979) is founder of the International Orange Chorale, hailed as “spot-on-spectacular” (San Francisco Classical Voice). World and regional premieres include works by Thomas Adès, Jake Heggie, Georgia Stitt, and others with publications by G. Schirmer/Hal Leonard. Jeremy has conducted performances by Frederica von Stade, the Yale Glee Club and the Parthenia Consort of Viols and serves as assistant conductor for the Canticum Novum Singers under Harold Rosenbaum in New York City.






HOWARD GOLDSTEIN
Auburn University/Community Orchestra
Auburn, AL

Howard Goldstein is Associate Professor of Music at Auburn University and Music Director of the Auburn Community Orchestra. He is a regular guest conductor with the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra in Birmingham and the Assistant Conductor of the Columbus (GA) Symphony, and has conducted orchestras in New York, Baltimore, Rochester, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. He holds degrees from UCLA and Peabody, and has certificates in conducting from the Conductors Institute and the Salzburg Mozarteum.






KATHLEEN MCGUIRE
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
San Francisco, CA

With an impressive career spanning 30 years, Australian-born McGuire has directed the 200-voice San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus since 2000. She also conducts the Community Women’s Orchestra and has worked with numerous opera companies. She earned a DMA at the University of Colorado (Boulder), and a Masters degree in the UK as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Fellow. McGuire is also a renowned CD producer and music arranger, with works published by Shawnee Press.






CHRISTINE NOEL
Road Island Children's Chorus Chamber Choir
Harrisville, RI

Christine Noel, Founder and Artistic Director of the RI Children’s Chorus, is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Conducting at Boston University, where she also completed a Master of Music. Ms. Noel serves as Director of Choral Activities at Clark University (Worcester, MA), Artistic Director of the Carillon Women’s Chorus of RI, and Assistant Conductor of the Providence Singers. She has conducted the RI Children’s Chorus Chamber Choir at ACDA and MENC conventions.






JAMES REDDAN
LBCC Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir
Albany, OR

James Reddan, Professor of Music & Director of Choral Activities at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon. Ensembles under Reddan’s direction have performed in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Reddan is currently a Doctoral Student at Boston University pursuing a DMA in Music Education. He received the MM in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the University of Oregon, and BA in Music Education from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.



The American Prize in Conducting—Young Conductor Citation





NADEZHDA POTEMKINA
Memphis, TN

Nadezhda Potemkina, native of Saint Petersburg, Russia (BA in viola pedagogy, Herzen State Pedagogical University, St. Petersburg, Russia; MM in viola performance, University of Northern Iowa; MM in orchestral conducting, Ball State University), is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Memphis under the direction of Dr. Pu-Qi Jiang and conducts the newly founded Mid-South Young Peoples Symphony Orchestra in Memphis, TN.