Finalists: WOMEN in ART SONG / ORATORIO, 2018-19

PLEASE NOTE: Because of the exceptional quality of this year's many finalists, a separate prize in ORATORIO has been created in the professional division. FINALISTS in the ORATORIO contest are listed first, followed by the listing of FINALISTS in ART SONG, some of whom also may have provided an oratorio selection.—DK

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, David Lazaar Katz, founder and chief judge, is pleased to announce NATIONAL FINALIST women in art song and oratorio for 2018-19 in all divisions, The FRIEDRICH and VIRGINIA SCHORR MEMORIAL AWARD in VOICE. Congratulations! To know the exact date when winners and runners-up will be announced, please "like" our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter #AmericanPrize, where that information will be published first.

The American Prize in Vocal Performance—Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award honors the memory of the greatest Wagnerian baritone of his age, Friedrich Schorr, who commanded the operatic stage between the world wars, and his wife, Virginia Schorr, who taught studio voice at the Manhattan School of Music and the Hartt School of Music for nearly fifty years. 

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.

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

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.

NATIONAL FINALISTS: The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—NEW: ORATORIO DIVISION, professional (women),  2018-19

Melissa Kornacki
Damascus MD
   
Ewa Kowcz-Fair
Chicago IL 

Penelope Shumate
Macomb IL  

Nicole Van Every
Norman OK  
   
Jamie Van Eyck
Waco TX


 
NATIONAL FINALISTS: The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—ART SONG, professional division (women),  2018-19

Lauren Auge
Kansas City MO  
   
Katherine Beck
Denver CO  
       
Emily Yocum Black
Paducah KY  
   
Johanna Bronk
Newton MA  
   
Jaely Chamberlain
Centreville VA  
   
Ann Belluso Cravero
West Des Moines IA  
  
Donata Cucinotta
Seymour IN    
   
Olga Perez Flora
Reno NV  
   
Sarah Hawkey
Brooklyn NY
   
Melanie Helton
East Lansing MI
   
Laura Kay
New York NY  
      
Kim Leeds
Lincoln MA  
   
Alice Anne Light
Kansas City MO  
   
Brittany Michaelsen-Mulkey
Cedar Park TX  
   
Valeria Sokolova Ore
Las Vegas NV
   
Jennifer Piazza-Pick
Columbia MD  
       
Alissa Rose
Westboro PA  
       
Emma Sorenson
Chicago IL  
   
Emily Sternfeld-Dunn
Wichita KS  
   
Christine Steyer
Oak Park IL  
   
Anna Tonna
Bronx NY  
   
Melissa Treinkman
Venice CA  
       
Dana Lynne Varga
Brighton MA  
   
Katie Walders
La Mesa CA  
   
Ivy Walz
Candor NY  


NATIONAL FINALISTS: The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—art song & oratorio, college/university division (women),  2018-19

Alyce Daubenspeck
Nazareth PA  
   
Marina Davis
San Francisco CA 

Claire Dillahunty
Heath TX
   
Clare Demer
Tucson AZ  
       
Francesca Federico
New York NY  
   
Makeda Hampton
Lexington KY  
   
Christine Jobson
Miramar FL  
   
Victoria Lawal
Los Angeles CA  
   
Shaina Martinez
Germantown MD    
   
Theodora Ivanova Nestorova
Acton MA  
   
Samantha Noonan
Lincoln NE  
   
Galen Otten
Rochester NY  
   
Tessa Romano
Boulder CO  
   
Emily Simmons
Phoenix AZ  


NATIONAL FINALISTS: The American Prize in Voice / Friedrich & Virginia Schorr Memorial Award—art song & oratorio, high school division (women),  2018-19

Pauline Rogers
Fremont CA  
   
Alea Vernon
Cheshire CT  
   
Victoria Lourdes Whatley
Fairhope AL  
  

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We encourage 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 national 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 winners in my division 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.