The American Prize winner:
Mariusz Smolij
Acadiana Symphony Orchestra
Lafayette LA
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| Mariusz Smolij |
MARIUSZ SMOLIJ - frequent recording artist for NAXOS International, he has been consistently gaining international critical acclaim including praises by the New York Times for “compelling performances”. Maestro Smolij led over 130 orchestras in 28 countries on five continents appearing in some of the most prestigious concert halls of the world. In North America he conducted the Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Orchestra of the Chicago Lyric Opera, St. Louis Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, New Orleans Philharmonic, Hartford Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia. Internationally, he enjoys notable reputation appearing with important orchestras of Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, Israel, South Africa, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Poland. He holds Doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music and was professor at Northwester University School of Music in Evanston, IL. Maestro Smolij served previously as Resident Conductor of the Houston Symphony, associate conductor of the New Jersey Symphony, Artistic Director of Wrocław Lutosławski Philharmonic and Toruń Symphony in Poland. He is currently Music Director of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Louisiana, Riverside Symphonia in New Jersey as well Artistic Director of International Lipiński Violin competition and Festival in Toruń, Poland.
The American Prize 2nd Place:
Ho-Yin Kwok
Eastern Festival Orchestra
Greensboro NC
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| Ho-Yin Kwok |
Described by Classical Voice of North Carolina (CVNC) as an “impressive conductor…outstanding in his attention to detail and his command of the big picture”, Hong Kong-born conductor Ho-Yin Kwok is the winner of 2017-2018 Vincent C. LaGuardia, Jr. Conducting Competition. He cocurrently serves as artistic director and conductor of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, assistant conductor of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and director of the Duluth Superior Youth Symphony, and visiting director of orchestra at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Previously, Ho-Yin served as visiting director of orchestra at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is a DMA candidate at the University of Minnesota. Ho-Yin has previously studied with Gerard Schwarz, Cristian Măcelaru and Colin Metters. Ho-Yin obtained a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Iowa. His principal conducting teachers are Mark Russell Smith and William LaRue Jones.
The American Prize 3rd Place:
David Rahbee
National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia
Monteux Heritage Orchestra
Yerevan, Armenia / New York, NY
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| David Rahbee |
David Alexander Rahbee is currently Senior Artist in Residence at the University of Washington School of Music in Seattle, where he is Director of Orchestral Activities and teaches conducting. He is recipient of the American- Austrian Foundation's 2003 Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors, the 2005 International Richard-Wagner-Verband Stipend, and the Acanthes Centre in Paris in 2007. He has recently worked with the Seattle Symphony, Orchesterakademie der Bochumer Symphoniker, the Seattle Modern Orchestra, National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, Guernsey Symphony and Orquesta Sinfónica de Loja. He participated in masterclasses with Kurt Masur, Sir Colin Davis, Jorma Panula, Zdeněk Mácal, Peter Eötvös, and Zoltán Peskó. His principal conducting teachers were Charles Bruck and Michael Jinbo at the Monteux School. He holds degrees from Indiana University, New England Conservatory, and University of Montreal. He also studied at Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Vienna.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Tigran Shiganyan
The National Symphony Orchestra of
Tashkent Uzbekistan
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| Tigran Shiganyan |
Dr. Tigran Shiganyan has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a conductor, violinist, and educator. He appeared as a soloist and conductor in America, Europe, and Asia with Uzbekistan National Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin, Tashkent Opera Orchestra, Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra “Turkistan”, The Academy of Soloists, Chamber Orchestra “Camerata of Michigan”, and the International Chamber Soloists. He is a prizewinner of numerous international violin and conducting competitions including William C. Byrd Young Artists International Competition, Pittsburgh Symphony Concerto Competition, Five Towns Music Art Foundation Competition in New York, International Competition Palma D’Oro in Italy, Akademia Music Awards in Los Angeles, Global Music Awards, and Winner of IMKA International Conducting Competition.
Dr. Shiganyan conducted many first performances music of American composers in Uzbekistan, that way making culture bridges between two countries, and given world premieres of works of his mother, a world-renowned composer Dilorom Saidaminova. Dr. Shiganyan has been invited to conduct and perform at prestigious festivals around the world, such as the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Moscow Autumn” in Russia, Utah Festival Opera, and International Orchestra Music Festivals "Golden Autumn" and “Bahor Nafasi” in Uzbekistan. He made his conducting debut with Duquesne Wind Symphony at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh, and with Gloria Youth Orchestra at Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York. He holds B.M, M.M. and D.M.A. diplomas with highest distinction from Tashkent State Conservatory, Artist Diploma and M.M. degrees from Duquesne University, and D.M.A. from Michigan State University.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Luis Viquez
Orquesta Sinfonica de Heredia
Heredia Costa Rica
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| Luis Viquez |
Costa Rican native Dr. Luis Víquez enjoys an internationally-recognized career both as a clarinetist and as an orchestral, band and opera conductor, having performed throughout the United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, England and Taiwan. He serves as the Director of Orchestral Activities and Clarinet Professor at the University of South Dakota, where he recently was the laurate of the 2019 Presidential Award for Creative Research. At USD, he also conducts the annual opera production and oversees the graduate program in orchestral conducting. Dr. Vìquez is the former principal clarinetist of the Heredia Symphony, and was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the Cartago Symphony, and the World Youth Wind Orchestra. Recently, he released his first album conducting the Heredia Symphony Orchestra titled “Costa Rica desde Afuera” (2019 – Musitica Records), and performed as a soloist with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the San Jose National Wind Ensemble and the Heredia Symphony. Dr. Víquez appears as a clinician and as an adjudicator on a high demand throughout the United States and Central America, and regularly publishes academic articles regarding Latin American symphonic music and instrumental ensembles rehearsal pedagogy. He is a clarinet artist for the brand D’Addario Woodwinds.
The American Prize in Conducting (orchestra—college/university division), 2021
The American Prize winner:
Filippo Ciabatti
Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra
Hanover NH
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| Filioppo Ciabatti |
Filippo Ciabatti is the Music Director of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Interim Music Director of Dartmouth’s two choral ensembles. Recent guest conducting engagements include the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Opera North (NH), the Martha Graham Dance Company, the Universidad Central Symphony Orchestra (Bogota, Colombia), and the University of Illinois’ Lyric Theatre, where he conducted a production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, directed by and featuring American opera star Nathan Gunn. In 2018, he was named a Conducting Fellow at the Aurora Music Festival in Stockholm, under the direction of Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and selected to conduct the final concert. Also in 2018, he led the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra in an Italian tour in collaboration with the Orchestra Toscana dei Conservatori and including an invited performance, part of the Puccini Days festival in Lucca. Ciabatti also serves as Music Director of the Scuola Italia per Giovani Cantanti Lirici and Opera Viva (Italy). Website: www.filippociabatti.com
The American Prize 2nd Place (there was a tie):
Adam Bodony
Purdue Philharmonic Orchestra
West Lafayette IN
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| Adam Bodony |
Adam M. Bodony is currently serving as Assistant Professor and Director of Orchestras at Purdue University, Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra in Indianapolis, and Artistic Director of the Wabash Valley Youth Symphony in West Lafayette, IN. As an avid supporter of music education, Mr. Bodony also serves as an educational consultant for Music For All, a national organization based in Indianapolis dedicated to the advocacy of music education for all people. Additionally, Mr. Bodony serves as a festival coordinator for Music For All’s annual Orchestra America National Festival. Mr. Bodony's previous posts include Associate Conductor of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra’s Hot Summer Nights Music Festival, Artistic Director of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, and Cover Conductor and Pre-Concert Lecturer for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
The American Prize 2nd Place (there was a tie):
Ho-Yin Kwok
University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra
Minneapolis MN
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| Ho-Yin Kwok |
Described by Classical Voice of North Carolina (CVNC) as an “impressive conductor…outstanding in his attention to detail and his command of the big picture”, Hong Kong-born conductor Ho-Yin Kwok is the winner of 2017-2018 Vincent C. LaGuardia, Jr. Conducting Competition. He cocurrently serves as artistic director and conductor of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, assistant conductor of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and director of the Duluth Superior Youth Symphony, and visiting director of orchestra at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Previously, Ho-Yin served as visiting director of orchestra at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He is a DMA candidate at the University of Minnesota. Ho-Yin has previously studied with Gerard Schwarz, Cristian Măcelaru and Colin Metters. Ho-Yin obtained a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Iowa. His principal conducting teachers are Mark Russell Smith and William LaRue Jones.
The American Prize 3rd Place:
Maurice Cohn
Eastman School Symphony Orchestra
Rochester NY
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| Maurice Cohn |
A 2020 recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Maurice Cohn is Music Director of the New Horizons Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia. Recent engagements include returning to conduct Oberlin Conservatory’s Contemporary Music Ensemble and serving as cover conductor for the Atlanta Symphony, assisting Music Director Robert Spano. Maurice also regularly conducts the Chicago-based contemporary ensemble Zafa Collective. He served as Assistant Conductor of the National Music Festival for two seasons and was the co-Artistic Director of the Arts@Ascension Music Festival. A 2019 conducting fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Maurice was awarded the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize and will return in 2021. Maurice holds an M.M. in conducting from the Eastman School of Music, a B.M. in cello performance from Oberlin Conservatory, and a B.A. from Oberlin College, where he studied history and mathematics. More information at www.mauricecohn.com.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Edo Frenkel
Ossia: New Music
Rochester NY
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| Edo Frenkel |
Edo Frenkel is a "feisty" (LA Times) young conductor, composer, and pianist, quickly gaining attention on the international stage for his "performances of both intimacy and intensity” (Opera Magazine). His work encompasses the western cannon, opera, improvised, electronic, and experimental music, seeking to grapple with the socio-political implications of art in society and to unearth new possibilities for art creation, presentation, and organization. Dr. Frenkel has conducted many notable orchestras and ensembles throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North America. He has performed in Aldeburgh and Lucerne Festivals and was a featured Festival Artist at the 2019 Ojai Festival. Dr. Frenkel served as Barbara Hannigan’s rehearsal pianist on the Satie: Socrate project at the Ruhrtriennale Festival and Park Ave Armory. He performed in the Philadelphia Orchestra's SoundLAB in the Barnes/Stokowski Festival. He served as répétiteur, coach, and keyboard player for the LUDWIG European/US tour. In 2021 he will begin his tenure as JPYAP Assistant Conductor of the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Jeffrey Klefstad
McGill Symphony Orchestra
Montreal Quebec
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| Jeffrey Klefstad |
Jeffrey Klefstad is Music Director and Conductor of the All University Orchestra (AUO) at Carnegie Mellon University. He has led orchestras throughout North America and Europe, including the Aurora Festival Orchestra (Sweden), the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic), McGill Symphony Orchestra (MGSO) and Contemporary Ensemble (MCE). He has collaborated with the saxophone quartet, Quasar, and worked with the Meitar Ensemble (Israel) under the guidance of Pierre-André Valade. Previously, Klefstad served as assistant conductor for Resonance Works (Pittsburgh), was guest conductor in residence for l’Orchestre du Conservatoire de la Montérégie (Montreal), and cover conductor for the Pittsburgh, Akron and Edgewood Symphony Orchestras, and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. He has worked with acclaimed conductors and composers, Leif Segerstam, Kurt Masur, Manfred Honeck, Steve Reich, Jennifer Higdon, Roberto Sierra, and Samuel Jones, among others. www.jeffreyklefstad.com
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Nicoletta Moss
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Symphony
Greensboro NC
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| Nicoletta Moss |
Nicoletta Moss is a versatile Greek-American orchestral conductor of classical and contemporary music. From 2018-2020, Nicoletta was an Assistant Conductor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she conducted the Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia, and Casella Sinfonietta. In 2020, she became the cover conductor and score reader for the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, where she prepares scores and video cues for Masterworks and Pops performances. From 2015-2018, Nicoletta was the Music Director of the James Madison University Club Orchestra. During her tenure, Nicoletta led the orchestra through a period of substantial growth, increasing membership from 11 to 50+ members. Recent engagements include positions with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, Greensboro Symphony OrKIDStra Program, UNCG Summer Music Camp, JMU Spring String Thing, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Primary conducting mentors include Kevin Geraldi, Rebecca MacLeod, Robert McCashin, Victor Yampolsky, Erin Freeman, and Stephen Bolstad. Discover more at nicolettamoss@weebly.com.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Keun Oh
Arizona Symphony
Tucson AZ
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| Keun Oh |
A musician of dynamic performance and diverse repertoire, Dr. Keun Oh is a conductor, composer and pianist. He was a finalist at the 53rd Besançon International Conducting Competition, France, and a semi-finalist at the 2015 Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition, Budapest, Hungary.He served as an assistant conductor for Maestro Ronald Zollman at Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic and Symphony, and for Maestro Dr. Thomas Cockrell at the Arizona Symphony and Opera in the Ozarks. Keun studied composition under the tutelage of Sungho Ji and Daniel Asia, and he has had his choral and chamber works performed in various venues. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at Carnegie Mellon University, and a Doctorate degree in Orchestral & Opera Conducting at the University of Arizona. https://www.keunoh.com/
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Pyeongkang Park
Georgia State Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta GA
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| Pyeongkang Park |
Expressing the emotions and colors of music, a native Korean conductor, Pyeongkang Park is vigorously performing 50th Anniversary of Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta Festival as Executive Director and Conductor; 100th Anniversary Independence Movement Day of March 1st; 100th Anniversary Korean Movie Music concert; Happy New Year’s Concert at the Bacolod City Hall, Philippines among many others. Mr. Park, one of the winners of the 17th International Conducting Workshop & Competition (ICWC) in Georgia, has participated in 23rd Conductors Retreat at Medomak as the first conductor received a full scholarship by Kenneth Kiesler; 25th Long Island University Chamber Music Festival by which he was awarded 'Conducting Award'. His mentors have included Mark Cedel, Michael Palmer, Philip Greenberg. Holding BM (Music Education) from Konkuk University and MM and Artist Certificate (Conducting) from Georgia State University, he is pursuing DMA (conducting) at University of Georgia. He is Music Director of Atlanta Sinfonia.
The American Prize in Conducting (orchestra—community division), 2021
The American Prize winner:
John Masko
Wellesley Symphony Orchestra
Wellesley MA
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| John Masko |
Rhode Island native John Masko is a rapidly rising conductor who works with professional and semi-professional orchestral ensembles around the U.S. He is currently music director of the Providence Medical Orchestra and Coro Dante in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and associate conductor of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra. He frequently serves as an assistant and cover conductor with orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Boston Ballet, and Symphony New Hampshire. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped found and music directed the National Virtual Medical Orchestra, an online ensemble of medical professionals from around the country. John holds a master’s degree in conducting from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Dr. Eric Dudley. He has also studied conducting with Charles Peltz at New England Conservatory. John has conducted in masterclasses led by Sian Edwards, Paavo Järvi, and Jorma Panula, and has assisted conductors including Michael Tilson Thomas, Krzysztof Urbanski, and Osmo Vänskä. In 2021, he was conducting fellow at the Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, Maine. Outside of music, he fancies himself as maker of the best gumbo north of the Mason Dixon Line and is a devotee of the novels of Thomas Hardy. Johnmasko.com
The American Prize 2nd Place:
Hannah Schendel
Bethel Philharmonic Community Orchestra
Arden Hills MN
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| Hannah Schendel |
Hannah Schendel currently serves on faculty at Bethel University where she is Director of Orchestras (Philharmonic Community Orchestra, and Chamber Orchestra), and Director of String Activities. Previous positions include Conductor of the South of the River Youth Orchestras, Conductor of Headwaters Youth Orchestras, and Conductor of the Columbia Community Orchestra. Guest conducting appearances include the New Symphony Orchestra, Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, Brevard Philharmonic, Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra, and the Northeast Orchestra. Hannah is grateful for the many people over the years who have sparked inspiration. Notable conducting mentors include Beverly Everett, Kenneth Kiesler, Elliot Moore, Donald Portnoy, Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, Henry Charles Smith, and Diane Wittry. Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of South Carolina. To learn more, please visit www.hannahschendel.com.
The American Prize 3rd Place (there was a tie);
Taka Matsunaga
Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra
Schaumburg IL
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| Taka Matsunaga |
As the third-place winner of the 2019 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting, Taka Matsunaga is currently the Director of Orchestras at Elmhurst University as well as the Music Director of the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra. Matsunaga holds his master’s degree in music from Northeastern Illinois University. From 1999-2001, Matsunaga was a violinist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In March 2000, he performed at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Maestro Daniel Barenboim. While playing in the Civic Orchestra, Matsunaga has played with world-renowned conductors including Neeme Jarvi, Christoph Eschenbach, Osmo Vanska, to name just a few. Matsunaga has studied at the National Orchestral Institute under the direction of Gerard Schwarz and Lan Shui. Matsunaga went on to join the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and South Bend Symphony Orchestra. As a conductor, Matsunaga made his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2018 with the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra. He has conducted in Vienna, Salzburg, Detroit and at Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago. Matsunaga is a member of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) and National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
The American Prize 3rd Place (there was a tie);
David P. Sartor
Parthenon Chamber Orchestra
Nashville TN
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| David Sartor |
Composer and Conductor David P. Sartor is on the music faculties of Middle Tennessee State University and Trevecca Nazarene University, and is founder and Music Director of Nashville’s Parthenon Chamber Orchestra. Sartor’s widely-performed compositions have received the prestigious Ostwald Award from the American Bandmasters Association, the National Fine Arts Award, and more than three dozen awards from New Music for Young Ensembles, Meet The Composer, Delta Omicron, and ASCAP, among others. A respected and in-demand guest conductor, composer and lecturer, his engagements include the Washington National Cathedral, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Concerto Orchestra, the Nexus Chamber Orchestra, the Vanderbilt University Orchestra, Illinois State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Trevecca Nazarene University, the Knoxville Brass Choir, the University of Tennessee Brass Choir, the Dogwood Arts Festival Chamber Orchestra, and a conducting “mini-residency” at California State University sponsored by New York City’s Meet The Composer Foundation. Web site at http://davidsartor.com
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Chris David Westover-Munoz
Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra
Newton KS
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| Chris David Westover-Munoz |
An award-winning conductor, Dr. Westover-Muñoz has conducted wind ensembles and orchestras nationally and internationally. He was awarded First Prize by the jury of the 2019 Warsaw Wind Ensemble Conducting Competition. His work has been described as “elegant, bold, vibrant, inspiring and centered,” by Augusta Read Thomas.
Prior to his current appointment as assistant professor of music at Denison, Westover led wind ensembles, orchestras and operatic performances at Bethel College (KS), the University of Oklahoma, and the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. He is in constant demand as a conductor and has received acclaim for his performances with educational and professional ensembles.
He is a recognized scholar of wind-band music ranging from his work on Vincent Persichetti to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and 19th century wind-bands in Germany. He recently completed a critical wind-band transcription of Persichetti's Seventh Symphony which is to be premiered in April 2020 by the University of Oklahoma Symphony Band. He has lectured at Hong Kong Baptist University, CBDNA, and at the Internationale Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Förderung der Blasmusik and has conducted across the United States, the People's Republic of China, and Poland.
His career spans operatic performances and educational work with young singers and community orchestras. Westover commands a broad and diverse repertoire including the core symphonic repertoire and the contemporary repertoire of the symphony orchestra and wind ensemble. He served as a staff conductor for the 4x4 Prizes at OU, and has commissioned and premiered works by Armando Bayolo, Katahj Copley, Julia Wolfe, Ching-chu Hu, HyeKyung Lee, Kathryn Salfelder, Ken Amis, Michael Weinstein, Brad Baumgardner, Andrew McManus, and Dan Lazerescou. In 2010, Westover led the critically acclaimed Dallas premiere of Daniel Roumain’s “Darwin’s Meditation for the People of Lincoln” during the inaugural season of the Winspear Opera House.
Westover’s conducting teachers include Jonathan Shames, John Carmichael, Jack Delaney, Kenneth Kiesler, and Eric Smedley. Dr. Westover is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University, and Western Kentucky University.
The American Prize in Conducting (orchestra—youth and school division), 2021
The American Prize winner:
Michael Webster
Houston Youth Symphony
Houston TX
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| Michael Webster |
Maestro Webster wrote: "I accept The American Prize with gratitude to you and the effective organization you have created, and especially to the administration, conducting staff, and coaching staff of HYS. I am happy to be the recipient of accolades, but it would not be possible without the dedication and perseverance of the entire HYS family. This year I must give a special shout-out to the members of our five orchestras and their families, who followed HYS COVID rules with extreme diligence in 2020-21, resulting in Zero COVID spread among our c. 370 orchestra members and enabling HYS to give two live, masked, distanced concerts in large empty halls for video cameras. If yesterday’s first rehearsal of 2021-22 is an indication, everyone is ready to repeat that commitment during the upcoming season. Even masked and distanced, these young musicians thrive upon making music together!"
Michael Webster is Professor of Music at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music and Artistic Director of the award-winning Houston Youth Symphony. Formerly principal clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony, he has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, 92nd Street Y, the Tokyo, Cleveland, Muir, Ying, Enso, and Dover String Quartets, Da Camera, Context, Musiqa, and the festivals of Marlboro, Santa Fe, Chamber Music Northwest, Norfolk, Victoria, Stratford, Domaine Forget, Angel Fire, Steamboat, Park City, Sitka, Skaneateles, Bowdoin, and Orcas Island. Webster has performed and taught all over the United States and in Canada, Central and South America, Europe, Japan, China, New Zealand, and Australia. A Buffet artist, he has recorded for Arabesque, Albany, Beauport, Bridge, Camerata, Centaur, C.R.I., Crystal, Nami, and New World. As composer and arranger, Webster has been published by Presser, International, G. Schirmer, and Schott.
The American Prize 2nd Place:
Jim Kollias
Beckman HS Chamber Orchestra
Irvine CA
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| Jim Kollias |
Jim Kollias (jhkollias.com) is the Orchestra Director and Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair at Beckman High School in Irvine, CA. He holds a BA in Music from UCLA and a MS in Music Education from the University of Illinois and has taught for 33 years in the California public schools (Tustin & Ontario-Montclair School Districts). His assignments have included middle school and secondary instrumental, choral, and general music. His guest conducting assignments have included honor orchestras in Southern California. Orchestras under his direction have consistently received superior ratings and have performed multiple times at Carnegie Hall, and throughout California. In 2020, the Beckman HS Orchestra was honored as a National Finalist for the American Prize in Orchestral Performance, HS Orchestra Division. In 2018, Jim was honored as the Orange County HS Instrumental Music Teacher of the Year and the ASTA Southern Section Classroom Teacher of the Year.
The American Prize 3rd Place:
Mary Gerard
All About Music
San Diego CA
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| Mary Gerard |
Mary is celebrated for her success and a teacher of violin and viola. Throughout her career she has produced string students who now occupy principal positions in noted professional orchestras throughout the United States. Mary held first violin and viola positions with the San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Opera Orchestra and Starlight Opera. She holds a B.A, M.A., from S.D. State, and a certificate from Dreilinden Conservatory in Switzerland and classes completed for a Ph.D at UCSD. Her teachers include Nick Stamon, Gilbert Bach, Gerhart Hetzel, Wolfgang Schneidezahn. Her quartet performed for Young Audiences for 10 years and her ERA trio made a debut in New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall.
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Emmanuel Coraza
Cavalier Chamber Orchestra
The Woodlands TX
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| Emmanuel Coraza |
Emmanuel Coraza is currently the Assistant Orchestra Director and Music Theory teacher at The Woodlands College Park High School. He began his musical education at the age of 8, playing piano until he fell in love with the Violin at age 12. He attended Klein High School and went on to the University of North Texas and graduated in 2016 with his Bachelors of Music in Music Education. Mr. Coraza was a recipient of the Dean’s Camerata String Education Scholarship and taught with the UNT String Project. In addition to teaching, Mr. Coraza enjoys traveling, trying new foods, getting to know people. In his free time (if any), he is an active director and teacher in the Houston community theatre community. Mr. Coraza is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and American String Teachers Association. Learn more about the College Park Orchestra Program at cporchestra.com
The American Prize Finalist Honorable Mention:
Ulli Reiner
Bernardo Heights Twin Peaks Orchestra
Poway CA
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| Ulli Reiner |
ULLI REINER, a five-time nominated Grammy Education Award finalist since 2016 and a top ten Finalist for 2017, Ms. Reiner is the epitome of music. Music is her life as an educator, conductor and violinist. She is the Orchestra Director for the Poway Unified School District since 1983. Ms. Reiner is an adjunct faculty member of Palomar College, Concertmaster of the Palomar Symphony Orchestra for 30 years, founder, Orchestra Manager and Concertmaster of the PUSD Adult School Poway Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the PUSD Adult School Poway Symphonette. Ms. Reiner is also Artistic Director and co-founder of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra String program and formerly conductor and co-founder of the Civic Youth Orchestra-Intermediate String Orchestra and Chamber String ensembles. She was the founder and Orchestra Director of the Poway High School Symphony and has taught orchestra at Mt. Carmel High School, Black Mountain Middle School, Mesa Verde Middle School, and Meadowbrook Middle School. She is currently the Orchestra Director at Bernardo Heights Middle School, Twin Peaks Middle School, and also is the instructor for the Music Appreciation classes offered to non-music students.
A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, as a full scholarship recipient, she received a Bachelor of Music Education degree with emphasis in violin and viola performance and went on to graduate study at San Diego State University as first violinist with the Graduate String Quartet in residence, the University of Southern California, and the University of San Diego, having worked towards three master’s degrees in music education, Suzuki violin and violin performance. Her violin and viola teachers have included Melvin Ritter-Concert Artist, Tiberius Klausner-former pupil of Ivan Galamian of Juilliard, Yukiko Kamei-Assistant to Jascha Heifetz at USC, Noumi Fisher-MGM recording artist, Milton Thomas-Professor of Viola at USC and her father, Rudolf Reiner. She is also a direct descendent of the great conductor, Fritz Reiner.
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