COMPOSER semi-finalists, 2013: band and chamber music

The American Prize is pleased to announce composer semi-finalists for 2013 in the band and chamber music categories.

(For choral and orchestra semi-finalists, please scroll down to the previous post.)

"A significant number of candidates in each division made the preliminary cut," commented chief judge David Katz. "As we begin to move towards selecting finalists, and ultimately the winners and runners-up in each division, it will surely prove to be a very tight and exciting race, and a difficult final choice for our judges. The depth of talent on display is truly impressive."

To know the exact day and time when finalists will be announced, please "like" our Facebook page, where the information will be posted. 

The American Prize in Composition—Band, Professional Division
    
David Avshalomov   Santa Monica CA
Jesse Ayers   Canton OH
Sy Brandon   Cottonwood AZ
Samuel A. Livingston   Hopewell NJ
Daniel McCarthy   Akron OH
Lansing McLoskey   Miami FL
Darren Mitchell   Kirkland WA
David P. Sartor   Hermitage TN
Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn   Wichita KS
George Sweet   Piedmont SC


The American Prize in Composition—Band, Student Division
    
Viet Cuong   Marietta GA
Jae Lee Johns   Creek GA
David Clay Mettens   Covington KY
Maya  Nag  Saratoga CA
    

The American Prize in Composition—Chamber, Professional Division
    
David Avshalomov   Santa Monica CA
Greg  Bartholomew   Seattle WA
Jeremy Beck   Louisville KY
Sy Brandon   Cottonwood AZ
Oliver Caplan   Somerville MA
Luke Cissell   Memphis IN
I'Lana S. Cotton   Medford OR
Michael Deak   Gig Harbor WA
Nicholas DeMaison   Brooklyn NY
Nancy Bloomer Deussen   Mountain View  CA
Duilio Dobrin   Traverse City MI
Matthew H. Fields   Ann Arbor MI
Tan Hainu   Boston MA
Christopher T.F. Hanson   San Marcos TX
David Heuser   Potsdam NY
Doron Kima   Albany CA
Joseph Koykkar   Madison WI
Patricia  Leonard   New York NY
Samuel A. Livingston   Hopewell NJ
Patricia Elizabeth Martinez   Buenos Aires Argentina
Daniel McCarthy   Akron OH
Lansing McLoskey   Miami FL
William Popp   Loveland CO
William Price   Birmingham AL
Blake Ragghianti   Pittsburgh PA
Clement Reid   Tacoma WA
David P. Sartor   Hermitage TN
Andrew Sigler   Austin TX
Richard S. Silverman   Brooklyn NY
Bradley Sowash   Columbus OH
Greg A. Steinke   Depoe Bay OR
Noah D. Taylor   Louisville KY
Waddy Thompson   New York NY


The American Prize in Composition—Chamber, Student Division
    
Cody  Brookshire   Gainesville GA
Trevor Bumgarner   Newton NC
Rodrigo Bussad Cesar   Miami FL
Chin Ting Chan   Kansas City MO
Alex Cooke   Cleveland Heights OH
Peter Neil Dayton III   Terrace Park OH
Melissa  Dunphy   Philadelphia PA
Joseph Gregorio   West Chester PA
Tan Hainu   Boston MA
John Hennecken   Marinez GA
Gleb Kanasevich   Sykesfille MD
Seul-Ki Kim   Atlanta GA
Shuying Li   Hartford CT
Yangzhi Ma   New York NY
Tudor Dominik Maican   Bethesda MD
Arash Majd   Northridge CA
Gillian Menichino   Manchester UK
Elizabeth Nonemaker   Baltimore MD
Rongxin Peng   New York NY
Liza  Sobel   Cresskill NJ
Scott Steele   Kansas City MO
Kyle Vanderburg   Norman OK
Yiguo Yan   Waltham MA
   

COMPOSER semi-finalists, 2013: orchestra and chorus

The American Prize is pleased to announce composer semi-finalists for 2013 in the orchestra and choral categories.

"A significant number of candidates in each division made the preliminary cut," commented chief judge David Katz. "As we begin to move towards selecting finalists, and ultimately the winners and runners-up in each division, it will surely prove to be a very tight and exciting race, and a difficult final choice for our judges. The depth of talent on display is truly impressive."

To know the exact day and time when finalists will be announced, please "like" our Facebook page, where the information will be posted. 


The American Prize in Composition—Orchestra, Professional Division
    
Lee Actor   Monte Sereno CA
Adrienne Albert   Los Angeles CA
Donald L. Appert   Vancouver WA
David Avshalomov   Santa Monica CA
Jesse Ayers   Canton OH
Jeremy Beck   Louisville KY
Ofer Ben-Amots   Colorado Springs CO
Robert W. Butts   Rockaway, NJ
Mark Dal Porto   Portales NM
Matthew H. Fields   Ann Arbor MI
Jack Gallagher   Wooster OH
Arthur Gottschalk   Houston TX
David Heuser   Potsdam NY
Kris Johnson   Ferndale MI
Darin Lewis   Stamford CT
Luke Mayernik   Pittsburgh PA
Daniel McCarthy   Akron OH
Blake Ronald   Ragghianti Pittsburgh PA
Alessandra  Salvati   Miami FL
David P. Sartor   Hermitage TN
Len Savoie   Bethel CT
Kyle Simpson   Pittsburgh PA
Andrew  Smith   Boston MA
Robert Tomaro   Beloit  WI
Michael Glenn Williams  Newbury Park CA
    

The American Prize in Composition—Orchestra, Student Division
    
Christopher Chandler   Rochester NY
James Craft   San Francisco CA
Kyle Duffee   Pueblo West CO
Michael-Thomas Foumai   Ann Arbor MI
Joseph Gregorio   West Chester PA
Sahil Jindal   Dover NJ
Shuying Li   Hartford CT
Ian Ng   New York NY
Elizabeth Nonemaker   Baltimore MD
Peter F. Nostrand   Mason Neck VA
Geoffrey Pope   Denver CO
Liza  Sobel   Cresskill NJ
Youngwoo Yoo   Champaign IL
    

The American Prize in Composition—Choral, Professional Division
    
Jonathan Adams   Jonesboro AR
Adrienne Albert   Los Angeles CA
David Avshalomov   Santa Monica CA
Greg  Bartholomew   Seattle WA
Doug Brandt   New York NY
B.J. Brooks   Canyon TX
Oliver  Caplan   Somerville MA
I'Lana S. Cotton   Medford OR
David Crowe   Lee MA
Rachel DeVore Fogarty   Nashville TN
Raphael  Fusco   North Bergen NJ
Joseph J. Giallombardo   Glenview IL
Brian Holmes   San Jose CA
Chiwei (Jerry) Hui   Madison WI
Mary Ann Joyce-Walter   Airmont NY
Ryan Keebaugh   Stephens City VA
Frank La Rocca   Oakland CA
Susan  LaBarr   Cleveland TN
Elise Letourneau   Orleans, ON Canada
Darin Lewis   Stamford CT
David Lipten   Tallahassee FL
Christopher Marshall  Orlando FL
Luke Mayernik   Pittsburgh PA
Daniel McCarthy   Akron OH
Kathleen McGuire   San Francisco CA
Margaret S. Meier   Claremont CA
John Muehleisen   Mukilteo WA
Stephen Murray   Richmond MA
Sean Pflueger   Burke VA
William Popp   Loveland CO
Kathleen Ready   Westwood MA
Richard Rice   Alexandria VA
Paul John Rudoi   Minneapolis MN
Jake Runestad   Minneapolis MN
Jonathan Santore   Plymouth NH
Ted  Vives   Los Alamos NM
Deanna Witkowski   New York NY
    

The American Prize in Composition—Choral, Student Division
    
Jiyoun Chung   Kansas City MO
Ezra Donner   Bloomington  IN
Luke  Flynn   Dubuque IA
Joseph Gregorio   West Chester PA
John Hennecken   Marinez GA
Elizabeth  Lim   New York NY
Brian Mark   Holbrook NY
Gillian Menichino   Manchester UK
Elena Desmond Nickel   Fairfax VA
Timothy Roy   Mission KS
Steven Serpa   Coventry RI
Liza  Sobel   Cresskill NJ

CHICAGO ORATORIO AWARD FINALISTS, 2013

The American Prize is pleased to announce the 2013 finalists for the Chicago Oratorio Award. Four of the listed individuals, one each of soprano, alto (mezzo), tenor and bass (baritone) will appear under the baton of Maestro David Katz in concert with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, performing Bruckner's Te Deum on May 15, 2013 at St James Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago.

Mr. Katz expects to complete the selection process early next week; winners will be contacted individually by email to accept their selection. After all four have responded positively, the winners will be announced on this blog. 

This is the second year that the CBASO has used TAP to help select its vocal soloists, a process that is independent from the rest of The American Prize judging. You can read more about the CBASO, the unique musical ensemble made up entirely of members of Chicago's legal community, now in its 27th season: http://cbasymphonyandchorus.blogspot.com/

Semi-finalists for The American Prize Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards, 2013, will be announced here shortly.

2013 finalists for the Chicago Oratorio Award:
  
Rebekah Auyeung    Frisco    TX  
Alyssa Bowlby    Norwalk    CT  
Joan Marie Dauber    Chicago    IL    
Joanna Dionis    Brooklyn    NY  
Kristen Frost    St. Louis     MO  
Annie Gill    Baltimore    MD   
Rosalind Lee    Oak Park    IL
Areitha Lockhart,   Decatur  GA
Natalie Mann    Moreno Valley    CA       
Emily Marvosh    Cambridge    MA            
Courtney Miller    Jamaica Plain    MA       
Nacole Palmer    New Canaan    CT           
Joanna Porackova    Lexington    MA       
Erin Roth    Plano     TX       
Claire Stadtmueller   Westport, CT
Christine Steyer   Oak Park   IL
Josefien Stoppelenburg   Evanston   IL  
Lilla Heinrich Szasz    Princeton    NJ        
Suzanne Vinnik    New York    NY  
H. Conor Angell    Houghton    NY      
Wesley Dunnagan    Wabash    IN      
Christian Ketter    Chicago    IL           
Michael Orlinsky    Chicago    IL   
Brendan Sliger    Hagerstown    MD  

Congratulations! 

CORRECTED: Chicago Oratorio Award SEMI-FINALISTS

Due to a minor computer error, several names were inadvertently left off the list of 2013 semi-finalists for The American Prize Chicago Oratorio Award. The corrected list is below. We apologize for the error.

We expect to announce finalists for the Chicago Oratorio Award later this week. The exact date and time of the announcement will be published first to our facebook page.

Four of the listed individuals, one each of soprano, alto (mezzo), tenor and bass (baritone) will appear under the baton of Maestro David Katz in concert with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, performing Bruckner's Te Deum on May 15, 2013 at St James Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago.

This is the second year that the CBASO has used TAP to help select its vocal soloists, a process that is independent from the rest of The American Prize judging. You can read more about the CBASO, the unique musical ensemble made up entirely of members of Chicago's legal community, now in its 27th season: http://cbasymphonyandchorus.blogspot.com/

Congratulations!

Amaya Arberas    New York    NY  
Rebekah Auyeung    Frisco    TX  
Alyssa Bowlby    Norwalk    CT  
Jessica Louise Coe    Chicago    IL  
Bonnie Cutsforth-Huber    Hollidaysburg    PA  
Joan Marie Dauber    Chicago    IL  
Nancy Anne Davis    Kenosha     WI  
Joanna Dionis    Brooklyn    NY  
Kristen Frost    St. Louis     MO  
Annie Gill    Baltimore    MD   
Laura Ann Heckmann    Brookfield    CT  
Rosalind Lee    Oak Park    IL  
Areitha Lockhart,   Decatur  GA
Natalie Mann    Moreno Valley    CA       
Emily Marvosh    Cambridge    MA       
Sarah McIntyre    Chicago    IL       
Courtney Miller    Jamaica Plain    MA       
Nacole Palmer    New Canaan    CT       
Erin Philleo    Boynton Beach    FL     
Joanna Porackova    Lexington    MA       
Erin Roth    Plano     TX       
Meghan Ryan    West Hartord    CT       
Heidi Sauser    New York    NY       
Jennifer Sin    New York    NY       
Megan Slack    Cincinnati    OH       
Claire Stadtmueller   Westport, CT
Kimberly States    Jamaica Plain    MA   
Christine Steyer   Oak Park   IL
Josefien Stoppelenburg   Evanston   IL  
Lilla Heinrich Szasz    Princeton    NJ       
Shahrzad Tavakol    Irvine    CA       
Suzanne Vinnik    New York    NY  
Anneliese vonGoerken    Port Hadlock    WA       
Ariana Wehr    Lafayette    LA       
H.Conor Angell    Houghton    NY      
Wesley Dunnagan    Wabash    IN      
Christian Ketter    Chicago    IL      
Thomas Alaan Lipsmeyer    Chicago    IL      
Michael Orlinsky    Chicago    IL   
Brendan Sliger    Hagerstown    MD   

WHY do so MANY people apply, and then apply AGAIN, to win The American Prize?

One of the most gratifying but unexpected trends in the growth of The American Prize is the number of individual artists and ensembles who apply to the competitions, and then, in another year, apply again.  (There is never a prohibition against winners reapplying.)

Not just winners, but runners-up, finalists and semi-finalists are among those who have submitted materials to be evaluated two, three or even four years in a row. "Certainly, individuals and groups apply to win," said David Katz, chief judge of the competitions, "but I think there are many more reasons than that, and they point to why The American Prize has become such a unique and valued national arts competition."

Here are some of the reasons many contestants apply, and apply again.

LOCAL, REGIONAL and NATIONAL RECOGNITION that truly makes a difference: When an individual artist or ensemble is honored by The American Prize for excellence, whether as a winner, runner-up, finalist, or even semi-finalist, they receive national validation difficult to achieve elsewhere. Contestants tell us that visibility in the competitions drives local attention and appreciation for individual artists, for ensembles and conductors, and can help lead to larger audiences, additional recognition, better recruitment and even larger donations.

Here are some thoughts from recent TAP laureates:

Donald Appert

"Winning the American Prize has generated an increased interest in all the concerts of my orchestras. Our audiences are larger and more generous (since the concerts are free, we accept donations at the door). It has encouraged all of my orchestras to excel in their performances and raised the level of their participation in the ensembles."

Donald L. Appert, DMA
Music Director/Conductor - Clark College Orchestra
Music Director/Conductor - Oregon Sinfonietta
Artistic Director and Conductor – Jewish Community Orchestra
Music Department Chair & Professor of Music - Clark College
writer member of ASCAP
2011 Winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Programming - Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award

***  

Daniel Sommerville

"Receiving third place in The American Prize in Orchestra Performance—College/University Division in 2012 was indeed an honor for the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra (IL) and myself. 

It was not only a privilege to have been adjudicated and chosen by distinguished judges, but the award has garnered much recognition and praise for the orchestra in the local press and from alumni, administration and faculty through its mention in college publications.  

The award has been a significant affirmation of our orchestra program."

Daniel Sommerville
Associate Professor and Orchestra Conductor
Conservatory of Music, Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois

***

Roberta Carpenter

"Your award means a great deal and is very timely to our organization (Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra), which is young and establishing our presence. We have two orchestras, an avocational group and a professional ensemble. The American Prize Award helped us gain recognition in a way that we simply couldn't do ourselves, and the community noticed. For our board, it made them aware that we are one a correct path, and that what we do in a small community can have a place in our larger world. Professionally, it is extremely fulfilling to have others in the field recognize the work. I am deeply impressed.

I am certain the national awareness of your program will continue to grow, as you are reaching into many communities to help them grow! We at OCO look forward to helping your Award be visible in our community for years to come."

Roberta Carpenter
OCO Music Director

***

UNBIASED FEEDBACK: All applicants to The American Prize who achieve finalist status or higher receive written evaluations from one or more of the distinguished judges on our panel. These individuals are persons as varied in skills and training as we hope the winners of The American Prize will be. They bring real-world experience to their task, knowing the complexites, rewards and challenges individual artists, conductors and ensembles face in 21st century America. Each is charged to provide evaluations that we hope the contestants themselves will deem respectful, perhaps insightful, and of real value.

FAIRNESS: "As I watch the applications arrive each competition season from all across the country, I never have any idea who the ultimate winners will be," commented Maestro Katz. "There is always sense of discovery—of finding a gem of an ensemble or a tremendously talented individual artist or music director in an unexpected place, or a group or conductor in a major city achieving extraordinary results. When a familiar name crosses my desk because they have applied before, there is that added excitement to see and hear what they are up to this season—how good they will be be, how much they have achieved, what repertoire they have tackled—and, in the back of my mind the most interesting question: "how will my fellow judges rank their submission this year in relation to all the others?"

LONGEVITY: Although The American Prize is awarded annually, the benefits of success in the competitions do not expire with the turning of the calendar. Many TAP winners, runners-up, finalists and semi-finalists continue to trumpet their placement in the contests for years after the original result. Often, the TAP logo remains on their website long after the competition year, a real "seal of approval," —and success in the contests continues to be highlighted prominently in their publicity.  The American Prize means that much.

And should an individual artist, conductor or ensemble apply and place highly a second or third year, that recognition points to a level of ongoing quality that can be a career boon throughout the community, regardless of where the artists are based geographically.

CERTIFICATES: Every contestant who achieves semi-finalist status or higher in the competitions of The American Prize receives a individualized certificate, suitable for framing. Now that The American Prize has found a vendor to provide frames personalized to the needs of the contestant, we expect that many more will be hanging in offices, studios, rehearsal locations, lobbies and board rooms all across the country.

(Information about how to purchase 2013 TAP Gifts will be published soon.)

CASH PRIZES: A single cash award in each category is presented. Cash prizes range from $100 to $500, depending on the year, the competition, and the number of entrants. As the contests and our fund-raising efforts grow, we expect to be able to award larger prizes in more categories. (The American Prize has awarded more than $10,000 in prize money since 2010.) Winning cash is fun, of course, but it is clear that the benefits of The American Prize extend to far more than dollars.