University Singers, Conductor Win National Awards
MACOMB, IL — The Western Illinois University Singers have been named the Third Place National Winners of The American Prize in Choral Performance (College/University Division), a year-long national performing arts competition.
Choirs of all types and levels, elementary to professional, from around the United States, submitted recordings in late April 2019. From those recordings, a national panel of judges selected semi-finalists, finalists and finally, winners in each category.
Assistant Professor Brian J. Winnie, director of choral activities, was named the Second Place National Winner of The American Prize in Conducting – Chorus (Schools Division).
University Singers Fall 2018.
The University Singers were also named finalists in The American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for Performance of American Music (College/University Ensemble Division) category. This category recognizes and rewards performances of American music by ensembles and individual artists worldwide. The University Singers were one of three choirs selected as finalists in their division. The winners have yet to be named in this category.
The American Prize is a national competition in the performing arts, providing professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels.
“I am so proud of the hard work, dedication and selflessness of each member of the Western Illinois University Singers,” said Winnie. “We are honored to be a winner of this prestigious, national award, among the other winners in our category. East Carolina and Baylor have tremendous choral programs and choral leadership, so this is indeed a terrific honor. It wouldn’t have been possible without the outstanding collaborative faculty and administration within the WIU School of Music, the support of the arts at Western and in the Macomb community and rich history of high-level choral singing. We are indeed WIU proud.”
For more information about the Singers’ prize, visit bit.ly/3323g6m. For more information about Winnie’s award, visit bit.ly/2CT3j9M. For more information about the pending award, visit ernstbaconaward.blogspot.com.
