July 6, 2010

The chorale at Northwestern Oklahoma State University has received third place in the college/university chorus category of the American Prize competition. The American Prize is a national choral competition designed to recognize and reward the very best in the performing arts in the United States.

Finalists in orchestral and choral performance and orchestral and choral conducting were selected from applications received from 26 states and the District of Columbia.

The Washington and Jefferson College Camerata Singers of Washington, Pa., placed first, and the Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir of Albany, Ore., was second.

The chorale is under the direction of Dr. Stephen Kingsbury who was listed among 14 other finalists up for an award in conducting for the choral division.

“We were competing against schools from across the country, of any size,” Kingsbury said. “This is a wonderful recognition of the progress that we've made, and the fact that Northwestern now has a world-class choir program,” Kingsbury said.

University Chorale also will receive comments from the judges about each performance.

“Thanks to the artistry, hard work and dedication of the students and the fine arts faculty, as well as the continued support of the university administration,” Kingsbury said, “we have made tremendous strides in improving the quality of our arts programs at Northwestern.”

The American Prize was founded in 2009 and will be awarded annually in many areas of the performing arts.

For more information about the American Prize, visit www.theamericanprize.org.

-NW-