The American Prize is a set of annual nonprofit national competitions in the performing arts which recognizes and rewards commercial and noncommercial recorded performances of classical music in the United States based on submitted applications. There is no live competition. The award is bestowed at professional, college/university, community and high school levels in composition, piano, voice, chamber music, conducting, ensemble performance and in a number of other areas. The jury consists of well known performing artists in each area, with the conductor and composer David Katz serving as chief judge.
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Artists and ensembles self-nominate through an application process or are nominated by a teacher, parent, board member or colleague. Evaluation is a key component of the competition; applicants who reach finalist status or higher receive a written evaluation from a member of the judging panel. Among judges are composer Judith Lang Zaimont, pianist Jeffrey Biegel and Metropolitan Opera soprano Sharon Sweet. Winners of each category receive a cash award.
Top prize winners
Winners of the first prize award by year in all professional categories.
College/university prize winners
Winners of the first prize award by year in college/university categories.
Community prize winners
Winners of the first prize award by year in community categories.