SEMI-FINALISTS: composers—pops/light music division

The American Prize is pleased to announce 2017-18 SEMI-FINALIST composers in the pops / light music division. Congratulations!

The American Prize in Composition—Pops / Light Music, is a new contest this year; there were only a few applicants. The three advanced to the semi-final round are listed below. The contest will be held again in 2018-19, open to composers of works for band, chorus, or orchestra written in a pops / light music style.

As the contests unfold, finalists, runners-up and winners will be selected from this list. To know the exact date when finalists will be announced, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

All contestants are reminded they are responsible for the viability of their online links to audition materials. Those links must remain active until complete results in the contest are announced officially. Questions, or to make us aware of any misprints in the listings below, please email: theamericanprize@gmail.com

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog. A sample announcement may be found at the end of the post.


The American Prize in Composition—Pops / Light Music

Delvyn Case   Quincy MA
    Rocket Sleigh

Huei Li Lam   Brooklyn NY
    The Unknown Bell

Gregory Yasinitsky   Pullman WA
    Jazz Concerto for Piano and Orchestra


***

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog.

Here is a sample announcement:

"Great News! I've just been selected as a semi-finalist in the (blank) division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: (copy link here). The American Prize will be announcing finalists in my division later this year. You can learn more about this prestigious national competition here: www.theamericanprize.org or follow the news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728 or Twitter: https://twitter.com/americanprize "

Please feel free to modify or expand this announcement to suit your needs.

Congratulations to all semi-finalists.

SEMI-FINALISTS: composers for band / wind ensemble, 2017-18

The American Prize is pleased to announce an impressive listing of 2017-18 SEMI-FINALIST composers for band / wind ensemble in both professional and student divisions. Congratulations!

As the contests unfold, finalists, runners-up and winners will be selected from this list. To know the exact date when finalists will be announced, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

All contestants are reminded they are responsible for the viability of their online links to audition materials. Those links must remain active until complete results in the contest are announced officially. Questions, or to make us aware of any misprints in the listings below, please email: theamericanprize@gmail.com

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog. A sample announcement may be found at the end of the post.

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


The American Prize in Composition—Band / Wind Ensemble (professional division)

 Robert Denham   La Mirada CA
    Gregory Blues (concert band)

Gregory Fritze   Daytona Beach Shores FL
    Concertino for Euphonium and Band; Con-Tse-To; An American in Valencia

Gregory Fritze   Daytona Beach Shores FL
    Trombonico; Magallon Instrumento de Civilizaciones

Gregory Fritze  Daytona Beach Shores FL
    Vadit Super Pozolum; Excursions; Cancion

Warren Gooch   Kirksville MO
    Cellgames 2.0

Jonathan Graybill   Willow Street PA
    Route Potomac - concert band

B.P. Herrington   Conroe TX
    Verses from the Thicket

Michael S. Horwood   Tucson AZ
    Andromeda, for wind ensemble

Jennifer Jolley   Delaware OH
    The Eyes of the World Are Upon You

Huei Li Lam   Brooklyn NY
    The Unknown Bell

Daniel McCarthy   Akron OH
    KraftHammer, Symphonic Winds (Band)

Curtis Melton   Las Vegas NV
    The Genesis Effect, Forever Through The Fire

Craig Thomas Naylor   Kalispell MT
    Kiai!  

Mark W. Phillips   Athens OH
    Breaking News

William Vollinger   Woodcliff Lake NJ
    "It Takes a Long Time to Grow Up in New Jersey"

Judith Lang Zaimont   Maricopa AZ
    GROWLER


The American Prize in Composition—Band / Wind Ensemble (student division)

 Tyler Bouque   Troy MI
    Love Speaks

Ian Evans Guthrie   Washougal WA
    Olympus Mons

Christopher Lowry   Antioch TN
    "A Cypress Prelude Opus 16a" "Celebration Overture, Opus No.1"

Siby Suriyan   Memphis TN
    Dead, but Still Breathing

Seth M. Wright   Oklahoma City OK
    Divergent Winds



***

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog.

Here is a sample announcement:

"Great News! I've just been selected as a semi-finalist in the (blank) division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: (copy link here). The American Prize will be announcing finalists in my division later this year. You can learn more about this prestigious national competition here: www.theamericanprize.org or follow the news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728 or Twitter: https://twitter.com/americanprize "

Please feel free to modify or expand this announcement to suit your needs.

Congratulations to all semi-finalists.

SEMI-FINALISTS: composers—opera/theater/film/dance, 2017-18

The American Prize is pleased to announce 2017 SEMI-FINALIST composers in the OPERA/THEATER/FILM/DANCE division. Congratulations!

As the contests unfold, finalists, runners-up and winners will be selected from this list. To know the exact date when finalists will be announced, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

All contestants are reminded they are responsible for the viability of their online links to audition materials. Those links must remain active until complete results in the contest are announced officially. Questions, or to make us aware of any misprints in the listings below, please email: theamericanprize@gmail.com

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog. A sample announcement may be found at the end of the post.

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

The American Prize in Composition—OPERA/THEATER/FILM/DANCE, professional division, 2017

Jesse Ayers   Canton OH
    Beneath Suspicion 

Jennifer Bellor   Las Vegas NV
    From My Doleful Prison 

Basil Considine   Minneapolis MN
    The Frat Party (comic opera) 

William David Cooper   Cambridge MA
    Hagar and Ishmael

Karim Elmahmoudi   Los Angeles CA
    Nightfall Suite 

Paul Geraci   West Lafayette IN
    The Cask of Amontillado 

Amos Gillespie   Chicago IL
    The Squeeze 

Jocelyn Hagen   Plymouth MN
    Test Pilot 

Eva Conley Kendrick   Millis MA
    American Flag 

Frank LaRocca   Oakland CA A
    Rose in Winter—the Life of St. Rita of Cascia

Sean Pflueger   Springfield VA
    Do Not Disturb, a comic opera 

William Vollinger   Woodcliff Lake NJ
    Duck Girl (an imaginary interview) 


The American Prize in Composition—OPERA/THEATER/FILM/DANCE, student division, 2017

Olga Amelkina-Vera   Plano TX
    All That Glitters 

Michele Cheng   San Jose CA
    To Be Heard X Unheard—An Interdisciplinary Experimental Music Theatre

Lucas Marshall Smith   New London OH
    A Psalm of Silence: An Opera in One Act


***

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog.

Here is a sample announcement:

"Great News! I've just been selected as a semi-finalist in the (blank) division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: (copy link here). The American Prize will be announcing finalists in my division later this year. You can learn more about this prestigious national competition here: www.theamericanprize.org or follow the news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728 or Twitter: https://twitter.com/americanprize "

Please feel free to modify or expand this announcement to suit your needs.

Congratulations to all semi-finalists.

Tenor CAMEO HUMES is winner of The American Prize Chicago Oratorio Award, 2017

Chicago tenor CAMEO HUMES will solo with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and CBA Chorus in Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's once world-famous cantata, "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," under the baton of music director (and TAP chief judge) David Katz, as the winner of The American Prize Chicago Oratorio Award, 2017. The performance at St James' Episcopal Cathedral, Chicago, is Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm. Mr. Humes was chosen from a field of more than a dozen vocalists from all over the country who applied for the opportunity. A bio of the artist is below.

Cameo Humes

CAMEO HUMES is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after tenors in the operatic and concert repertoire. He has performed with Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Hilton Head Choral Society, Gainesville Civic Chorus, and the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’International Chamber Ensemble in Italy. His most recent engagement included a debut with Teatro alla Scala in the roles of Peter, Crab man, Mingo and Robbins in their production of Porgy and Bess. Other operatic credits include the title role in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, Ottavio (Don Giovanni) with Operafestival di Roma, Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Gastone (La Traviata), Prunier (La Rondine), Peter (Porgy and Bess) with Lyric Opera of Chicago (cover), Dayton Opera and Skylight Music Theatre of Milwaukee, Crab man (Porgy and Bess) with The Princeton Festival, Nelson (Porgy and Bess) with Cincinnati Opera, Ballad Singer (Of Mice and Men), and Ensemble (Show Boat) with Houston Grand Opera. Mr. Humes has also performed regularly in the chorus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2014-15 season. He has performed as tenor soloist for the world premiere of Mozart’s Requiem staged with the Cincinnati Ballet, a performance that he repeated in the spring of 2015. Other recent concert engagements include Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Bach Society of Dayton, Bach St. John Passion and Mass in B minor, and The Seven Last Words of Christ by Théodore Dubois. He has recorded the lead role in Richard Thompson’s The Mask in the Mirror, a modern opera based on the life of Paul Laurence Dunbar; a role that Mr. Humes successfully portrayed on the stage with Trilogy Opera of New Jersey in 2014. A lover and avid performer of the Negro spiritual, he has toured Spain, France and Ireland with the world renown American Spiritual Ensemble, and has served as Adjunct Professor of Voice and Opera workshop at Central State University. Mr. Humes completed his undergraduate studies at Stetson University and earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Florida.

TICKETS are available here, or at the door.

SEMI-FINALISTS: women in art song & oratorio, 2017-18—The Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Awards

The American Prize is pleased to announce SEMI-FINALIST women in art song and oratorio for 2017 in all divisions. Congratulations! (Please note that semi-finalists in the Community Division include artists in both art song and opera.)

In the professional category, we list an extensive grouping of semi-finalists, an extraordinary showing of talent, musicality, excellent repertoire and poise. 

As the contests unfold, finalists, runners-up and winners will be selected from these lists. To know the exact date when finalists will be announced, please like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

All contestants are reminded they are responsible for the viability of their online links to audition materials. Those links must remain active until complete results in the contest are announced officially. Questions, or to make us aware of any misprints in the listings below, please email: theamericanprize@gmail.com

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog. A sample announcement may be found at the end of the post.


The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—professional art song and oratorio division (women), 2017

Tamara Acosta   Ithaca NY 

Michelle Areyzaga   Rolling Meadows IL 

Melanie Ashkar   Arlington VA 

Kristina Bachrach   La Grange IL 

Veronica Bell   Studio City CA 

Elizabeth Ann Benson   Auburn AL 

Ashlee Bickley   Fort Wayne IN 

Diana Cantrelle   Columbia MD 

Anna Christofaro   Excelsior MN 

Joan Marie Dauber   Chicago IL 

Sarah Eastman   Allston MA 

Savannah Etter   Lexington MO 

Jessica Fishenfeld   Great Neck NY 

Annie Gill   Baltimore MD 

Anna Christine Hersey   Minnetonka MN 

Michele Elizabeth Kennedy   Astoria NY 

Thea Lobo   Medford MA 

Sarah Lonsert   Mission Viejo CA 

Elisabeth Marshall   Portland ME  

Stacey Mastrian   Seattle WA 

Ann Moss   Richmond CA 

Elizabeth Ducey Moss   Abiline TX 

Alissa Rose   Wellsboro PA 

Penelope Shumate   Macomb IL 

Loralee Songer   Cedar Rapids IA 

Christine Steyer   Oak Park IL 

Emilie Storrs   New York NY 

Katie Walders    La Mesa CA 

Raquel Winnica Young   Pittsburgh PA 



The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—college/university art song and oratorio division (women), 2017

Jamie Balter   Baltimore MD 

Lieve Buzard   Chicago IL 

Sarah Cooper   Lincoln MA

Clare Demer   Tucson AZ 

Stephanie Greene   Highland Park IL 

Rachel Eve Holmes   Athens GA 

Hailey McAvoy   Natick MA 

Zoe-Elizabeth McCray   Alexandria VA 

Myka Murphy   Roswell GA 

Nicolette Nazarowski   Chicago IL 

Veronica Richer   Bryan OH 

Lauren Elizabeth Walker   Bloomington IN 

Julia Katherine Walsh   Munich Germany 

Ciera V. Williams   Detroit MI 

Mengyuan Yuan   Athens OH



The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—high school art song and oratorio division (women), 2017

Sarah Aaldering   Los Gatos CA 

Mary Elizabeth Adler   Bellevue WA 

Monika Cachro   Lake Zurich IL 

Katelynn Cherry   Trappe MD 

Amalia Crevani   Milford NJ 

Alexandra Taylor   Naples FL 

Caroline Wolfe   Dallastown PA  



The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—community division (women in art song, oratorio and opera), 2017

Shana Evans Bassett   Atlanta GA 

Deborah M. Connelly   Stratford CT 

Samantha Isabell Gay   Oak Park IL 

Nancie Grossman   Mission Viejo CA 

Montana Monet Jaeger   Farmington MN

Luisa Kay Reyes   Tuscaloosa AL 
 


***

We invite semi-finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on their facebook page, tweeting the news, and including a link to this announcement on their website or blog.

Here is a sample announcement:

"Great News! I've just been selected as a semi-finalist in the (blank) division of The American Prize national non-profit competitions in the performing arts. Here's the link: (copy link here). The American Prize will be announcing finalists in my division later in this year. You can learn more about this prestigious national competition here: www.theamericanprize.org or follow the news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728 or Twitter: https://twitter.com/americanprize "

Please feel free to modify or expand this announcement to suit your needs.

Congratulations to all semi-finalists.