VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM ) -- The University of South Dakota Chamber Singers, under the direction of David Holdhusen, Ph.D., director of choral activities at USD and Chamber Singers' conductor, has been selected as Honored Artists in The American Prize in Choral Performance (college/university chorus division). “Honored Artists” are individuals or organizations who have proven themselves to be of “sustained excellence" over a number of seasons as contestants in the competitions.
The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit, national competitions designed to recognize and reward the very best in the performing arts in the United States. The American Prize was founded in 2009 and has been awarded annually in many areas of the performing arts since in 2010. The American Prize was founded from the belief that a great deal of excellent music being made in this country goes unrecognized and unheralded, not only in major cities but all across the country: in schools and churches, in colleges and universities, and by community and professional musicians. Finalists for The American Prize receive professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition based on submitted recordings of their performances.
“To be recognized as ‘Honored Artists’ by The American Prize as one of the outstanding choirs in the country is truly exciting and extremely rewarding, especially for our students who have worked very hard and dedicated much of their time to the Chamber Singers,” said Holdhusen, who says this recognition speaks volumes to the musicianship and artistry of the choir. “This is a great way to share our musical message with audiences in 2015.”
Chambers Singers, the premiere vocal ensemble at the University of South Dakota, is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students selected through audition from the entire university student body. Its repertoire, which is primarily a cappella, includes music from the Renaissance to the present in a wide variety of styles. The ensemble presents formal concerts on campus each semester and has toured throughout the United States and Europe. The Chamber Singers are one of two choruses selected as Honored Artists of The American Prize 2014. The other is “Re-choired Element” Chamber Choir of Linn-Benton Community College (Albany, Ore.).
The American Prize is administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts organization based in Danbury, Conn.