The National Philharmonic, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, and Orange County Youth Orchestra are among the 2012 winners of awards from The American Prize, an annual competition that gives cash awards, professional adjudication, and public recognition to U.S. ensembles. The competition’s performance prizes went to the National Philharmonic, based in Montgomery County, Maryland; the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (New York, NY); and the Orange County Youth Orchestra (California). Conducting prizes went to Dirk Meyer, music director of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (Minnesota); David Bernard, music director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony; Gemma New, assistant conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; and Michael Webster, music director of the Houston Youth Symphony. The American Prize, founded in 2009 by composer/conductor/playwright David Katz and based in Danbury, Connecticut, gives awards in five categories: professional orchestra, community or faith-based orchestra, college/university orchestra, secondary-school orchestra, and youth orchestra. For more information and a complete prize list, visit the American Prize website.
Posted October 2, 2012
