The University of Arkansas at Monticello Wind Symphony was named a National Semi-Finalist in three categories for the U.S. Award for Nonprofit National Competitions in the Performing Arts.

The Symphony is a 2022 National Semi-Finalist for the American Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music in the College/University Ensemble division and National Semi-Finalist for the American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance in the College/University division .

Additionally, Justin Anders, acting dean of the UAM School of Arts and Humanities, is a national semifinalist for the U.S. Conducting Award in the Band/Wind Ensemble division, according to a press release.

The American award states that the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award “recognizes and rewards the best performances of American music by ensembles and soloists worldwide, based on submitted recordings.”

Anders submitted the UAM Wind Symphony’s performance of his album “Literature in Music” for the American Prize competitions in 2021 while he was the conductor of the UAM Wind Symphony, as well as assistant professor of music and chairman of the Music Division at UAM.

“I cannot adequately express my feelings of pride over the hard work of our students,” Anders said. “To my knowledge, this is the first national placement of a wind ensemble at UAM. I believe this not only shows the depth of strength of the music program, but also the support we receive from the university and the community as a whole.”

UAM Chancellor Peggy Doss acknowledged the accomplishments.

“These three unprecedented and well-deserved national recognitions from the UAM Wind Symphony confirm that the UAM Music Division is filled with talented students and faculty,” Doss said. “We are proud that their musical abilities are recognized on the national stage. We also congratulate Justin Anders for his leadership of this group of musicians and thank the judges of the American Prize for honoring his talent as a conductor. We wish the UAM Wind Symphony, good luck while we wait for the announcement of the finalists.”

The finalists in each category will be announced in the coming weeks.

According to its website, “The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is the nation’s most comprehensive classical arts competition series. The American Prize is nonprofit, unique in its scope and structure, and is designed to evaluate, recognize, and reward the best performers, ensembles, composers, directors, and administrators in the United States, based on submitted recordings.”

UAM Wind Symphony’s “Literature in Music” album is available on the UAM Music page on SoundCloud (soundcloud.com/uam-music).

Students in UAM’s music division can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an instrumental, jazz, piano, or vocal concentration or a Bachelor of Music Education with an instrumental, piano, or vocal concentration. The division also offers a Master of Music in Jazz Studies.

Details: UAM Music Division, (870) 460-1060.