Friday, April 20, 2018

FINALISTS: The Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award, 2017-18

Vytautas Marijosius
The American Prize is pleased to announce 2017-18 FINALIST conductors in orchestral programming, The Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award. Congratulations!

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.  

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

Questions, or to make us aware of any misprints in the listings below, please email: theamericanprize@gmail.com

"At The American Prize, there is never a set number of finalists in any category or division. We also try hard to not be about "winners" and "losers," but always seek to encourage excellence, creativity and imagination. That is one reason why we post the following statement with every finalist listing."—DK

If you are not a finalist this year, please remember that the contests are not yet over. The American Prize reserves the right to award Honorable Mentions and Citations for Special Achievement to any contestant, regardless of final placement. TAP has honored a number of semi-finalists and quarter finalists in the past--to recognize a unique talent or focus, unusual repertoire, vital programming or outreach. Citations and Honorable Mentions are usually awarded at the same time as winners and runners-up, but can be presented at any time up to the last winners' announcement of the contest year.
 
We invite 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.
 

FINALISTS: The American Prize in Orchestral Programming / Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award—college/university division

Thomas Dickey
OK State University Symphony Orchestra
Stillwater OK

Johannes Dietrich
Lebanon Valley College Symphony Orchestra
Annville PA

Tara Villa Keith
Davidson College Symphony Orchestra
Davidson NC

Chris Younghoon Kim
Cornell Orchestras
Ithaca NY

David Alexander Rahbee
University of Washington Symphony Orchestra
Seattle WA



FINALISTS: The American Prize in Orchestral Programming / Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award—community division

Reuben Blundell
Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra
Lansdowne PA

Orlando Cela
Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra
Arlington MA

Annette Jurcevic
Shoreline Symphony
Muskegon MI

Walter Morales
Edgewood Symphony Orchestra
Pittsburgh PA
 

FINALISTS: The American Prize in Orchestral Programming / Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award—youth orchestra division
(This listing was updated on April 21, 2018.)

Tigran Arakelyan
Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra
Bainbridge Island WA

Robert Boardman
South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra
South Bend IN

Chad Hutchinson
SD Symphony Youth Orchestra
Sioux Falls SD



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We invite finalists to make the most of their selection by announcing it on social media, 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 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 results in my division in soon. 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 finalists.