{"id":55339,"date":"2023-12-18T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=55339"},"modified":"2023-12-18T11:00:33","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:00:33","slug":"bergey-places-second-for-american-prize-in-conducting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2023\/bergey-places-second-for-american-prize-in-conducting\/","title":{"rendered":"Bergey places second for American Prize in Conducting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bergey<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

EMU\u2019s music maestro Dr. Benjamin Bergey<\/strong> earned second-place honors in one of the most prestigious awards competitions in the country for the performing arts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bergey, assistant professor of music at EMU and director of its orchestra and choirs, is the runner-up for the 2023 American Prize in Conducting<\/a> in the college and university orchestra division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual nonprofit American Prize series of contests is among the most renowned for evaluating music ensembles, directors and solo performers in the U.S., with awards given at the professional, college\/university, community and high school levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe panelists and judges are often folks who have experience,\u201d Bergey said, \u201cso to feel that affirmation or validation in the work we\u2019re doing here is really meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Wittstruck, director of the Boston College Symphony Orchestra, won first place for conducting in the college and university orchestra division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to Bergey\u2019s second-place finish, the EMU orchestra and university choir were finalists in their respective divisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel proud of the group for having risen to the challenge,\u201d Bergey said. \u201cEven though [the orchestra and choir] didn\u2019t place, to be a finalist in it is something we celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For their entries in the competition, Bergey submitted a video of their performance of Dona Nobis Pacem<\/em> by composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. The piece, which he described as \u201cvery ambitious,\u201d was performed by both the orchestra and choir at EMU’s 2021 gala concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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EMU musicians and The String Queens inspire at 2021 Gala Concert<\/a><\/blockquote>