The University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra and Director Kevin Bartram have been selected as semi-finalists for the 2010 American Prize, a national competition designed to recognize the best in performing arts in the United States.
The UMW Philharmonic Orchestra, formerly the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra, places among nine college and university orchestras, while Bartram is one of 27 directors chosen in the orchestral division. Bartram and the UMW Philharmonic were selected from a pool of applicants from 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Finalists will be named in May, with winners of the inaugural prize announced in June.
The American Prize was founded in 2009 and will be awarded annually in many areas of the performing arts starting in 2010. The honor rewards the best America produces without bias against small city versus large, or unknown artist versus well-known, according to chief judge David Katz, a professional conductor. The panel of judges is comprised of distinguished musicians representing every region of the country.
Winners will receive cash prizes, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition based on submitted recordings of their performances. Winners also will be profiled on The American Prize website.
The UMW Philharmonic is comprised of 90 members from the university and the community. The orchestra performs six or more concerts annually, including the October Masterworks program, a Young Peoples Concert, two Holiday POPS concerts a “Musical Mix” concert, and the July 4th concert at Pratt Park. The group has performed in Paris, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. The orchestra’s outreach organization, “Fiddlestix,” sponsors several children’s programs each year.
Bartram is in his eighth year as UMW orchestra director. He established the April “Celebrity Series” that has featured Academy award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, singer Judy Collins and actress and singer Lynda Carter. Before coming to Mary Washington, he served as assistant professor and orchestra director at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. He has more than 22 years of experience at the college and high school level.
He is active as an adjudicator, guest conductor and clinician, having conducted all-county orchestras and judged orchestra and band festivals throughout the region. He is a judge for Music in the Parks and FiestaVal throughout the East Coast. He wrote the textbook “Introduction to Music Technology.”
Bartram is the secretary/treasurer of the Southeast Division of the College Orchestra Directors Association, and vice-chair of the Fredericksburg Arts Commission.