Tuesday, July 28, 2020

MARIJOSIUS AWARD: winners, 2019-20


Vytautas Marijosius
The American Prize wishes everyone safety and health during this difficult time.


The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, David (Volosin) Katz, founder and chief judge, is pleased to announce the 2019-20 winners and runners-up 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.  

You can read more about Maestro Marijosius here: http://rememberingmarijosius.blogspot.com/2010/11/t-o-t-h-e-r-e-c-i-p-i-e-n-t-o-f-h-e-v-y.html
Or visit the collection of historic documents, programs and photographs of the artist here: https://marijosius.tumblr.com/

Complete listings of finalists and semi-finalists in The American Prize competitions may be found elsewhere on this blog. Please use the chronological tool in the right-hand column to find specific results.

REMINDER—COVID EXTENSIONS:
Because of the current national and international situation, many rules have been changed and requirements eased to make it easier to apply for The American Prize 2020-21, In addition, we will accept applications from COMPOSERS, CLASSICAL VOCALISTS, PIANISTS, CHAMBER ENSEMBLES and INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS postmarked or emailed by the new Covid-extended deadline date of Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Applications from CONDUCTORS, STAGE DIRECTORS, CONDUCTED ENSEMBLES, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS (arts marketing, arts education) and in the performance of American Music (BACON AWARD) will be accepted until Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Further extensions may be granted pending the most current information about he virus. Visit theamericanprize.org for complete contest information.

Please make us aware of any misprints: theamericanprize@gmail.com


The American Prize in Orchestral Programming / Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award—college/university division, 2019-20

The American Prize winner:
Brian Coffill               
The Randolph-Macon Ensemble 
Randolph-Macon College        
Ashland VA   
     
Brian Coffill               
Dr. Brian Coffill, DMA, is the Founding Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Assistant Professor of Music at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where he created the R-M Ensemble, a cutting- edge chamber orchestra focused on the performance of works from across the musical spectrum. He is a conductor and pedagogue committed to the expansion of the instrumental repertoire, the performance of works by under-represented composers, and the development of twenty-first century performance experiences for musicians and audiences alike. He maintains an active schedule as a conductor and clinician throughout the United States. Brian holds postgraduate degrees in conducting from the University of Maryland and the University of Illinois, as well as undergraduate degrees in music and education from the University of Connecticut. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.
   

2nd Place:
David A. Rahbee                    
University of Washington Symphony Orchestra    
Seattle WA   

David A. 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 also serves of faculty of the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival as Conducting Associate. 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, 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.


3rd Place (there was a tie):
Nadya Potemkina                            
Wesleyan University Orchestra        
Middletown  CT   

Nadya Potemkina                            
Conductor, violist, and educator Nadya Potemkina (Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT) directs Wesleyan University Orchestra and Concert Choir, coaches chamber ensembles, teaches courses in instrumental conducting and orchestral literature, and is the music director of Connecticut Flute Orchestra, FluteFest, and AD HOC BACH Collective, all performance and community engagement initiatives. Professor Potemkina remains active as a violist and welcomes every opportunity to play chamber music with her colleagues and to perform works by student composers. She enjoys guest-conducting opportunities, in the United States and abroad, with regional, community, and youth orchestras. Prior to Wesleyan, Nadya Potemkina served as an assistant conductor of The University of Memphis Orchestras, as the music director of Mid-South Young People’s Orchestras in Memphis, TN, and was the founding conductor of Memphis Occasional Orchestra, an all-volunteer community outreach ensemble.


3rd Place (there was a tie):
Rachel L.  Waddell                    
University of Rochester Orchestras        
Rochester   NY 

Rachel L.  Waddell                    
Rachel L. Waddell is a vibrant young conductor rapidly gaining recognition for her artistic leadership, innovative programming, and creative collaborations. She currently serves as Music Director of the University of Rochester Orchestras in New York, where she won second place for the American Prize’s Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award for her 2017-18 season. She previously held positions with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and Canton Youth Symphonies. In addition Waddell has appeared as a guest conductor with ensembles throughout the United States including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Las Vegas Philharmonic, among others. In 2019 Waddell was selected for the prestigious Hart Institute for Women Conductors at the Dallas Opera.  She continues to dedicate herself to the advocacy of classical music and strives to curate innovative seasons of the highest artistic caliber.  


The American Prize in Orchestral Programming / Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award—community division, 2019-20

The American Prize winner:
Donald L. Appert            
Clark College Orchestra
The Jewish Community Orchestra of Portland
Vancouver   WA / Portland OR       
      
Donald L. Appert            
Donald Appert has been Music Director/Conductor of the Clark College Orchestra since 1990 and Music Director/Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra in Portland, Oregon since 2012. He has guest conducted orchestras in Europe, Central America, Japan and Australia. Currently he is a Full Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. In addition he is the Music Director/Conductor of the Jewish Community Orchestra in Portland, Oregon and of the Oregon Sinfonietta.  He received The American Prize in Orchestral Programming—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in 2011, an Honorable Mention in 2012, 3rd Place in 2014, and 2nd Place in 2015. He was also Honored Artist of the American Prize in 2015. In 2014 he received the Clark County (WA) Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award. He has received the ASCAPLUS Award numerous times. Videos of his conducting and his original compositions may be seen and heard via the Internet on his web site at www.maestrodonappert.com.


2nd Place:
Mark Perlman           
Willamette Falls Symphony
Tualatin Valley Symphony
Oregon City and Tualatin  OR

Mark Perlman           
Mark Perlman is Music Director and Conductor of the Willamette Falls Symphony (Oregon City, OR) and Tualatin Valley Symphony, as well as founder and Music Director of the Oregon Mahler Festival.  He has conducted internationally in Germany, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, and the U.K..  He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father, David Perlman, was Principal Bass with the Cleveland Orchestra.  Also a bass player, he later attended Ohio State University and received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arizona.  His conducting mentor was Dr. Leonard Pearlman, and his studies of conducting include work with Jorma Panula, Sian Edwards, Murry Sidlin, Petr Gribanov, Leonid Kochmar, Adrian Gnam, Diane Wittry, and Alexander Polishchuck.  Dr. Perlman is also Professor of Philosophy at Western Oregon University, and has written books and articles on philosophy of mind, biology, law, and music.


3rd Place:
David William Oertel        
Starlight Symphony Orchestra         
Wimberley   TX    
   
David William Oertel        
David William Oertel is the Music Director and Conductor of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra (TX) and the Austin Philharmonic. David Oertel is working with David Daniels and David Rahbee as co-authors for the “gold-standard” reference book, Daniels’ Orchestral Music, 6th Edition (2022). Oertel is also co-author of Choral-Orchestral Repertoire: A Conductor’s Guide, Omnibus Edition (2019). He has appeared as guest conductor with several orchestras and has been on the faculty of universities in North Carolina. He has conducted youth orchestras, musical theatre and opera pit orchestras, concert and jazz orchestras. Oertel received a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Oertel’s influential conducting mentors include Robert Linder, David Daniels, Max Rudolf, Hans Graf, Niklaus Wyss, Adrian Gnam, Franz Krager, and David Holley.


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Congratulations!

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