Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Announces Winners of the

2016 National Competition for Voice

$26,000 Awarded To Seven Contestants

Seven young and gifted singers from around the country won prestigious recognition and thousands of dollars in prize money in this annual competition.

(Sarasota-Manatee) Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota announces the winners of the 2016 National Competition for Voice. The competition rotates each year between voice, piano, or string instruments and is open to talented young musicians who are residents of the United States. The event was April 16 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota. A total of $26,000 was awarded to seven contestants.

This year, 12 young vocalists, six in the Young Artist level (ages 18-21) and six in the Artist level (22-28) competed in the semi-final round. Of these, three in the Young Artist level and four in the Artist level continued to the final round. The finalists were then presented in an evening public performance and judged by a panel of distinguished musicians and educators. This year’s finalist judges included legendary tenor George Shirley, recipient of the National Medal of Arts presented by President Barak Obama in September 2015; Mikael Eliasen, artistic director and dean of vocal studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia; and distinguished soprano Irene Gubrud, a first-prize winner of the prestigious Naumburg International Voice Competition.

Three Young Artist level prizes were awarded to students who are between the ages 18 and 21. Jennifer Kreider, 20, Princeton, N.J. (West Minister Choir College, Rider University in Princeton), was awarded the Virginia B. Toulmin Award (funded by Artist Series Concerts Friends) of $3,500 as first-prize winner in the Young Artists level. Austin Cripe, 21, Brandon, FL (FSU), was awarded $3,000 (funded by Artist Series Concerts Friends) as second-place winner in the Young Artist level. Kathleen O’Mara, 19, Fort Washington, PA (West Minister Choir College, Rider University in Princeton), was awarded $2,500 as third-place winner, funded by Edith Winston.

Four Artist level prizes were awarded to students who are between the ages 22 and 28. Daniel Noyola, 23, Philadelphia, PA (Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia) was awarded the Jerold and Lee Dougherty Ross Scholarship (funded by Artist Series Concerts Friends) of $5,000 as first-place winner in the Artist level. Adelaide Boedecker, 27, Sarasota (privately coached by Kathryn Cowdrick), was awarded $4,500 as second-prize winner, funded by Ernest Kretzmer and Dorothea Sandland. John Matthew Myers, 27, Philadelphia (privately coached by Bill Schuman and Danielle Orlando), was awarded $4,000 for third-place, funded by the Mary Thienes-Schunemann Award. Caitlin Frizzell, 24, Stuart, FL (privately coached by John Willis), was awarded $3,500 as fourth-place winner, provided by Edith Winston.

Now in its 14th year, the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Scholarship Program sponsors one of the most prestigious competitions in Florida. Under the guidance of Lee Dougherty Ross, co founder of Artist Series Concerts and director of outreach and competitions, the program developed in size and quality and has resulted in substantial awards funded by supporters of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. According to Dougherty Ross, past winners often go on to major music schools and pursue successful music careers. She says that in selecting the semi-finalists, judges look for “accuracy, artistry and technique.”

“Our adjudicators are all brilliant music educators and musicians,” says Dougherty Ross. “Their participation raises the bar to a whole new level. Being judged and counseled by such a celebrated panel of adjudicators is exciting and an honor that will remain for a lifetime for the performers.”

“One of the primary goals of the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota is to take an active role in building the next generation of professional musicians by providing support to promising young musicians,” says John Fischer, managing director of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. “In the past decade we’ve awarded nearly $250,000 to 66 gifted young musicians. Our focus is the future. The support we get to present this competition makes that future possible.”

Since 1996 Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota has presented an ever-expanding annual season of concerts by globally renowned and emerging artists. The current season concludes on May 28 and 29 in two special anniversary celebration performances at the Historic Asolo Theater, featuring six audience-favorite artists from the past 20 seasons. For more information about Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, visit www.artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.

 Joseph Holt (director of artist programs for Artist Series Concerts), Daniel Noyola (23, Philadelphia, PA), John Matthew Myers  (27, Philadelphia, PA), Adelaide Boedecker (27, Sarasota, FL), Caitlin Frizzell (24, Stuart, FL), Lee Dougherty Ross (co-founder and director of competitions and community programs for Artist Series Concerts), Kathleen O’Mara (19, Fort Washington, PA), Jennifer Kreider (20, Princeton, NJ), Austin Cripe (21, Brandon, FL), and John Fischer (managing director for Artist Series Concerts) at the 2016 National Competition for Voice on April 16 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota. Photo by Rod Millington.: (Left to right) Young Artist category winners Jennifer Kreider (20, Princeton, NJ), Kathleen O’Mara (19, Fort Washington, PA), and Austin Cripe (21, Brandon, FL), at the 2016 National Competition for Voice on April 16 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota. Photo by Rod Millington(Left to right) Judges George Shirley, Mikael Eliasen and Irene Gubrud at the 2016 National Competition for Voice on April 16 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota. Photo by Rod Millington.Artist category winners John Matthew Myers, (27, Philadelphia, PA), Caitlin Frizzell (24, Stuart, FL), Adelaide Boedecker  (27, Sarasota, FL) and Daniel Noyola (23, Philadelphia, PA), at the 2016 National Competition for Voice on April 16 at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota. Photo by Rod Millington.