COMPOSER FINALISTS: orchestra

The American Prize is very pleased to announce 2014 FINALIST composers in the orchestra division. Congratulations! All finalists receive written evaluations from a member of The American Prize judging panel.

To know the exact date when WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP will be announced in July or August, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Composition—Orchestra (professional division)

Lee Actor  Monte Sereno CA
   Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra
Steven Amundson  Northfield MN
   Handprints
Gary Aubry  Cudahy WI
   Affirmation
David Avshalomov  Santa Monica CA
   Elegy 
Nancy Bloomer Deussen   Mountain View CA
   Central Coast Concerto
Arthur Gottschalk  Houston TX
   Fantasy Variations
Kenneth A. Jacobs  Knoxville TN
   Approaching Northern Darkness
Fredrick Kaufman  Miami Beach FL
   Guernica Piano Concerto
Darin Lewis  Stamford CT
   Oboe Concerto/Clarinet Concertino
Paul Lombardi  Vermillion SD
   Piano Concerto
James Joseph Ogburn  Wenatchee WA
   Singularity: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
David P. Sartor  Hermitage TN
   Reveries, Black Ball Counts Double
Michael Sidney Timpson  Atherton CA
   Outlier: Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Orchestra
Julius P. Williams  Boston MA
   Myths of History
Gregg Wramage  Atlantic Highlands NJ
   La tristesse durera
Yoko Wylegala  Suquamish WA
   B isst Eis

The American Prize in Composition—Orchestra (student division)

Rodrigo Bussad Cesar  Miami FL
   Depois da Chuva (after the rain)
Texu Kim  Bloomington IN
   Toccata Inquieta
Texu Kim  Bloomington IN
   Monastic Sceneries
Stefanie Lubkowski  Cambridge MA
   Bliss Whispers
Patrick O'Malley  Auburn IN
   Superimpose
Zachary Sheets  Norwich VT
   Stata and the Dancing House
Jamie Whitmarsh  Tallahassee FL
   For Many Chairs

COMPOSER FINALISTS: Chorus

The American Prize is very pleased to announce 2014 FINALIST composers in the choral music division. Congratulations! All finalists receive written evaluations from a member of The American Prize judging panel.

To know the exact date when WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP will be announced in July or August, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com


The American Prize in Composition—Choral (professional division)

Mark Dal Porto  Portales NM
   Spring, the Sweet Spring
R. Michael Daugherty  Jacksonville NC
   selected works
Dominick DiOrio  Bloomington IN
   selected works
Daniel Elder  Nashville TN
   Three Themes of Life and Love
William P. Gorton  Decatur IL
   Prayer to the Mother World, The Lord is My Shepherd, 
   The Night Whispers Fair
Jocelyn Hagen  Minneapolis MN
   Sanctus
Samuel R. Hazo  McMurray PA
   GLORIFICARE: Newtown Requiem
Zebulon M. Highben  New Concord OH
   selected works
Elise Letourneau  Orleans ON
   selected works
Timothy S. McDonnell  Immokalee FL
   Sub tuum praesidium, Gaudete
Rebecca Oswald  Eugene OR
   Pied Beauty, Reciprocity, Wise Words of Love
Sheena Phillips  Los Gatos CA
   selected works
Wayland Rogers  Chicago IL
   selected works
Robert Wendel  New York NY
   This is Chanukah

The American Prize in Composition—Choral (student division)

Saunder Choi  Cambridge MA
   selected works
Edward F. Davis  Chicago IL
   My Sun and Song and Spring, Requiem AEternam, 
   Silver Bells
Brian Mark  Holbrook NY
   Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum
Zachary J. Moore  Wind Lake WI
   I Will Lift My Eyes

COMPOSER FINALISTS: band/wind ensemble

The American Prize is very pleased to announce 2014 FINALIST composers in the concert band/wind ensemble division. Congratulations! All finalists receive written evaluations from a member of The American Prize judging panel.

To know the exact date when WINNERS and RUNNERS-UP will be announced in July or August, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Composition—Band (professional division)

David Avshalomov  Santa Monica CA
   The Last Stand
Jesse Ayers  Canton OH
   Jericho
Laurence Bitensky  Lancaster KY
   Fearsome Critters
Gregory Fritze  Sharon MA
   Flor De Azahar
Kyle Kindred  Humble TX
   Variations on a Tango
John Mayrose  Oshkosh WI
   Bending Light
David P. Sartor  Hermitage TN
   Veni Emmanuel-Fantasy of Abstractions
Kevin Wilt  Boca Raton FL
   Nevermore

The American Prize in Composition—Band (student division)

Weijun Chen  Buffalo NY
   Distance
Theodore King-Smith  Kansas City MO
   Manhattan: I. Grand Central II. Central Park
Matthew LaRocca  Sommerville MA
   Arctic Voices
Shuying Li  Ann Arbor MI
   Slippery Slope
Patrick O'Malley  Auburn IN
   Trees Without Leaves, Against the Cloudy Sky

STAGE DIRECTOR SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST stage directors for 2014. Congratulations! To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Directing

Heather Davidson   Augusta, GA  
   Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School
Daniel Ellis   Minneapolis, MN  
   Project Opera
Kristina Keener Ivy   Covina, CA  
   Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy  
Linda Lister   Las Vegas, NV  
   UNLV Opera
Rick Piersall   Abilene, TX  
   ACU Opera
Rolando Sanz   Bethesda, MD  
   Young Artists of America

ORCHESTRAL PROGRAMMING SEMI-FINALISTS announced

Vytautas Marijosius

The American Prize is pleased to announce 2014 SEMI-FINALISTS in Orchestral Programming, the Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award. Congratulations! To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming honors the memory of the great Lithuanian conductor, Maestro Vytautas Marijosius, music director of the Lithuanian State Opera, and for nearly thirty-five years Director of Orchestral Activities at the Hartt School of Music. The Prize recognizes and rewards the best achievement in the unique field of orchestral programming, where the selection of repertoire by knowledgeable, creative and courageous music directors builds orchestras and audiences, educates young people and adults, and enriches the community. 

The American Prize in Orchestral Programming
Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award 

Donald L. Appert   Vancouver, WA  
   Clark College Orchestra
Donald L. Appert   Portland, OR  
   Oregon Sinfonietta
Robert W. Boardman   South Bend, IN  
   South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra
Kevin M. Geraldi   Greensboro, NC  
   UNCG Symphony Orchestra
Thomas E. Rainey   Round Rock, TX  
   Williamson County Symphony Orchestra
Collin G. Heade   Cannon Beach, OR  
   North Oregon Coast Symphony
Tara Villa Keith   Sanford, NC  
   Lee County Community Orchestra
Tara Villa Keith   Davidson, NC  
   Davidson College Symphony Orchestra
Chris Younghoon Kim   Ithaca, NY  
   Cornell Orchestras
Andrew Koehler   Kalamazoo, MI  
   Kalamazoo Philharmonia
Steven Larsen   Rockford, IL  
   Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Jaemi Blair Loeb   Danville, KY  
   Centre College Orchestra
Tian Hui Ng   South Hadley, MA  
   Mount Holyoke Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Bryce Seliger   Forest Grove, OR 
   Pacific Philharmonic
Nan Harrison Washburn   Plymouth, MI  
   Michigan Philharmonic

OPERA CONDUCTING SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce an extensive list of 2014 SEMI-FINALIST conductors in many categories. Congratulations! To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Conducting (Opera Division)

Beau Gabriel   New Haven, CT  
   Opera Theatre of Yale College/ Tiny Baroque Orch.of Pierson College    
Walter Morales   Pittsburg, PA  
   Undercroft Opera
Kira Omelchenko   Burgas, Bulgaria  
   Bulgarian State Opera Company
Steven Ward   Abilene, TX    
   ACU Opera
Maria Sensi Sellner   Pittsburg, PA  
   Resonance Works Pittsburgh
Lidiya  Yankovskaya   Boston, MA      
   Juventas New Music Ensemble
Lidiya  Yankovskaya   Cambridge, MA  
   Lowell House Opera, Harvard Univ.

CHORAL & BAND CONDUCTING SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce an extensive list of 2014 SEMI-FINALIST conductors in many categories. Congratulations! To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Conducting (College/University Choral Division)

Kevin L. Baker   Cedar City, UT 
   Southern Utah Univ. Concert Chamber Choir
Meredith Bowen   East Lansing, MI 
   Meredith Bowen Recital Choir
Dominick DiOrio   Bloomington, IN 
   NOTUS: Contemporary Vocal Ensemble
Deanna Joseph   Atlanta, GA 
   Georgia State University Singers
Timothy S. McDonnell   Naples, FL 
   Ave Maria Univ. Combined Choirs
Colleen Phelps   Cincinnati, OH 
   CCM Chamber Singers
Dr. John William Trotter   Wheaton, IL 
   Wheaton College Concert Choir

The American Prize in Conducting (Community/Youth Choral Division) 

Brandon Elliott   Orange County, CA 
   Choral Arts Initiative
Tom Hall   Baltimore, MD 
   Baltimore Choral Arts Society
Reona Ito   New York, NY 
   The Reona Ito Chamber Orchestra and Chorus
Susan McMane  San Francisco, CA 
   Young Women's Chorus of San Francisco
Robert Bode   Seattle, WA 
   Choral Arts

The American Prize in Conducting (Band/Wind Ensemble Division)

Charlie G.(Trae) Blanco III     Bloomington, IN
   Indiana U. Wind Ensemble Symphonic Band
Jaclyn Hartenberger   Athens, GA    
   Univ. of Georgia Wind Symphony
Joseph E. Higgins   Evanston, IL  
   Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble
Brian Hughes  Davenport, IA  
   Quad City Wind Ensemble
Kristin Lin   Fairfield, OH  
   Fairfield Freshman Band
Corey Seapy   Ithaca, NY    
   Ithaca College Wind Ensemble
Thanapol Setabrahmana   Cincinnati, OH
   CCM Wind Orchestra/Chamber Players
Teren Shaffer   Santa Ana, CA  
   Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble

ORCHESTRAL CONDUCTING SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce an extensive list of 2014 SEMI-FINALIST conductors in many categories. Congratulations! To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Conducting (Professional Orchestra Division) 

Jonathan Griffith   New York, NY 
   Distinguished Concerts Orchestra
Alyze Dreiling   San Diego, CA 
   Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra
Reona Ito   New York, NY 
   The Reona Ito Chamber Orchestra
Jason Lim   Frisco, TX 
   Odysseus Chamber Orchestra
Paul Mauffray   Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic 
   Hradec Kralove Philharmonic
Miran Vaupotich   Pecs, Hungary 
   Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra
Julius P. Williams 
   Dvorak Symphony

The American Prize in Conducting (College/University Orchestra Division)

Tiffany Chang   Boston, MA 
   New England Repertory Orchestra
Jason Hong   Austin, TX 
   Univ. of Texas University Orchestra
Chris Younghoon Kim   Ithaca, NY 
   Cornell Orchestras
Jeffrey Donald Klefstad   Pittsburgh, PA
   All Univ. Orchestra—Carnegie Mellon Univ.
Yutaka Kono   Burlington, VT 
   The Univ. of Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Ching-Chun Lai   Potsdam, NY 
   Crane Symphony Orchestra
MeeAh Lo   Denton, TX 
  Univ. of North Texas Symphony
Joel Neves   Houghton, MI 
   Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra
Kevin Sutterlin   Memphis, TN 
   Univ. of Memphis Symphony Orchestra

The American Prize in Conducting (Community Orchestra Division)

David Bernard   New York, NY 
   Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
Reuben Blundell New York, NY 
   The Chelsea Symphony
Thomas Dickey   Platteville, WI 
   UW Platteville Symphony Orchestra
Anna Edwards   Seattle, WA 
   Seattle Collaborative Orchestra
Lois Ferrari   Austin, TX 
   Austin Civic Orchestra
Thomas E. Rainey   Round Rock, TX 
   Williamson County Symphony Orchestra
Tara Villa Keith   Davidson, NC 
   Davidson College Symphony Orchestra
Edward Leonard   Pittsburgh, PA 
   Pittsburgh Philharmonic
Kira Omelchenko   Tampa, FL 
   The University of Tampa Orchestra
Dr. Bryce Seliger   Forest Grove, OR 
   Pacific Philharmonic
Toru Tagawa   Tucson, AZ 
   Tucson Repertory Orchestra

The American Prize in Conducting (Youth & High School Division)

Thomas Dickey   Dubuque, IA 
   Dubuque Symphony Youth Orchestra
Alyze Dreiling   San Diego, CA 
   YPO Soloist Ensemble
Angel Velez   Santa Monica, CA 
   Santa Monica HS Symphony
Michael Webster   Houston, TX 
   Houston Youth Symphony

OPERA & MUSICAL THEATER ENSEMBLE SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST opera and musical theater ensembles for 2014 in all categories. Congratulations!

To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Opera Performance (professional division)

Vicki Fogel Mykles   Fort Collins, CO  
   Opera Fort Collins
Maria Sensi Sellner   Pittsburg, PA  
   Resonance Works Pittsburgh
Lidiya  Yankovskaya   Boston, MA  
   Juventas New Music Ensemble

The American Prize in Opera Performance (college/university division)

Beau Gabriel   New Haven, CT  
   Opera Theatre of Yale College
Tracelyn Gesteland   Vermillion, SD  
   University of South Dakota Opera
Rebecca Renfro Grimes   Huntsville, TX  
   Sam Houston State University
Linda Lister   Las Vegas, NV  
   UNLV Opera
Dawn Padula   Tacoma, WA  
   Univ. of Puget Sound Opera Theatre
Rick Piersall   Abilene, TX  
   ACU Opera

The American Prize in Opera Performance (community division)

Mary Beth Sederburg   Pittsburgh, PA  
   Undercroft Opera
Lidiya  Yankovskaya   Cambridge, MA  
   Lowell House Opera, Harvard Univ.
 
The American Prize in Musical Theater Performance

Heather Davidson   Augusta, GA  
   Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School
Kristina Keener Ivy   Covina, CA  
   Top Billing Entertainment Performance Academy  
Rolando Sanz   Bethesda, MD  
   Young Artists of America

CHORAL ENSEMBLE SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST choruses for 2014 in all categories. Congratulations!

To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Choral Performance (college/university)

Kevin L. Baker   Cedar City, UT 
   Southern Utah Univ. Opus Chamber Choir
Dr. Joshua Bronfman   Grand Forks, ND 
   Univ. of North Dakota Concert Choir
Patrick K. Freer   Atlanta, GA 
   Georgia State Univ. Choral Union
David Holdhusen   Vernillion, SD 
   Univ. of South Dakota Chamber Singers
Deanna Joseph   Atlanta, GA 
   Georgia State U. University Singers
Karen Kenaston-French   Arlington, TX 
   Univ. of Texas at Arlington A Cappella Choir
Dr. Amanda Quist   Princeton, NJ 
   Westminster Choir College Kantorei
James Reddan   Albany, OR 
   Linn-Benton Comm. College Concert Choir
James Reddan  Albany, OR 
   Linn-Benton Comm. College Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir      
Jeffrey R. Sandborg   Salem, VA 
   Roanoke College Choir
Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe   Los Angeles, CA 
   USC Thornton Chamber Singers
Dr. John William Trotter   Wheaton, IL 
   Wheaton College Concert Choir
Lisa Wong   Wooster, OH 
   Wooster Chorus from the College of Wooster

The American Prize in Choral Performance (community)

Emilie Amrein   Chicago, IL 
   Peregrine Vocal Ensemble
Ryan Brandau   Princeton, NJ 
   Princeton Pro Musica
Becky Durham   Salt Lake City, UT 
   Utah Chamber Artists
Brandon Elliott   Orange County, CA 
   Choral Arts Initiative
Tom Hall   Baltimore, MD 
   Baltimore Choral Arts Society
Nancy Menk   South Bend, IN 
   South Bend Chamber Singers
Robert Bode  Seattle, WA 
   Choral Arts

The American Prize in Choral Performance (youth & high school)

Patrick Ryan   Great Falls, MT 
   The Delphian Choir
Susan   McMane  San Francisco, CA 
   Young Women's Chorus of San Francisco
Kayla Werlin   Longmeadow, MA 
   The Accidentals
Kayla Werlin   Longmeadow, MA  
   Lyrics

BAND & WIND ENSEMBLE SEMI-FINALISTS announced

The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST bands for 2014 in all categories. Congratulations!

To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Performance (college/university)

Daniel A. Belongia   Normal, IL 
   Illinois State University Wind Symphony
Jaclyn Hartenberger   Athens, GA 
   Univ. of Georgia Wind Symphony
Jaemi Loeb   Danville, KY 
   Centre College Wind Ensemble
Louis A. Menchaca   Mequon, WI 
   Concordia Univ. Wisconsin Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Dr. Chad R. Nicholson   Newark, DE 
   University of Delaware Wind Ensemble
Stephen Peterson   Ithaca, NY 
   Ithaca College Wind Ensemble
Scott Weiss   Columbia, SC 
   Univ. of South Carolina Wind Ensemble

The American Prize in Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Performance (community)

Harvey H. McIntyre   Hot Springs Nat'l Park, AR 
   Hot Springs Concert Band
Ted Vives   Los Alamos, NM 
   The Los Alamos Community Winds
King Wiemann   Binghamton, NY 
   Southern Tier Concert Band

The American Prize in Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Performance (high school)

Len Lavalle Pittsburgh, PA 
   North Hills High School Wind Ensemble
Stephen Meyer   League City, TX 
   Clear Creek Wind Ensemble
Teren Shaffer   Santa Ana, CA 
   Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble

ORCHESTRA SEMI-FINALIST ensembles announced

CORRECTED: The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST orchestras for 2014 in all categories. Congratulations!

To know the exact date when finalists will be announced in July, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

Please make us aware of any misprints in the listings below by emailing: theamericanprize@gmail.com

The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (professional division)

Jason Lim   Frisco, TX
   Odysseus Chamber Orchestra  
Nan Harrison Washburn   Plymouth, MI
   Michigan Philharmonic  
Diane Wittry   Allentown, PA
   Allentown Symphony Orchestra

The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (college/university division)

Reuben Blundell   New York, NY
   The Hunter Symphony
Tiffany Chang   Boston, MA
   New England Repertory Orchestra
Stephen Heyde   Waco, TX
   Baylor Symphony Orchestra
Chris Younghoon Kim   Ithaca, NY
   Cornell Symphony Orchestra
Ruth Lin   St.Peter, MN
   Gustavus Symphony Orchestra
Jaemi Loeb   Danville, KY
   Centre College Orchestra
Hajime Teri Murai   Baltimore, MD
   Peabody Concert Orchestra
Robert H. Olson   Kansas City, MO
   Conservatory Orchestra, UMKC
Bruce Uchimura   Kalamazoo, MI
   Western Michigan U. Symphony Orchestra

The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (community orchestra division)

Donald L. Appert   Vancouver, WA
   Clark College Orchestra
Donald L. Appert   Portland, OR
   Oregon Sinfonietta
David Bernard   New York, NY
   Park Avenue Chamber Symphony  
Youngkey Chung   Detroit, MI
   Detroit Medical Orchestra
Thomas  Dickey   Platteville, WI
   UW Platteville Symphony Orchestra
Anna Edwards   Seattle, WA
   Seattle Collaborative Orchestra
Lois Ferrari    Austin,TX
   Austin Civic Orchestra
John B. Gordon   Round Rock, TX
   Williamson County Symphony Orchestra
Howard  Hsu   Valdosta, GA
   Valdosta Symphony Orchestra
Ivan Shulman   Los Angeles, CA
   Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra
Charles Salembier   Waynesboro, VA
   Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Bryce Seliger   Forest Grove, OR
   Pacific Philharmonic
Toru Tagawa   Tucson, AZ
   Tucson Repertory Orchestra
Janet Wagner   Ithaca, NY
   Ithaca Community Orchestra
Zoe Zeniodi   Miami, FL
   Alhambra Orchestra
Zoe Zeniodi   Fort Lauderdale, FL
   Broward Symphony Orchestra

The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (high school orchestra division)

David DeVoto   Allen, TX
   Allen High School Orchestra
Jonathan Handman   LaGrangeville, NY
   Arlington HS Philharmonia
Dr. Shira Katsman   Bellevue, WA
   Interlake HS Chamber Orchestra
Ryan Ross  Plano, TX    
   Jasper HS Legacy Orchestra

The American Prize in Orchestral Performance (youh orchestra division)

Suzette Battan   Tucson, AZ
   Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra
Thomas Dickey   Dubuque, IA
   Dubuque Symphony Youth Orchestra
Alyze Dreiling   San Diego, CA
   YPO Soloist Ensemble
Jonathan Handman   Poughkeepsie, NY
   Vivace of Sringendo
Ralph T. Jackson
   Bridle Park/Montgomery Select String Ensemble
Michael Webster   Houston, TX
   Houston Youth Symphony