Lori Laitman and 2016 ASCA Winner, David Conte

Since 1983, what is now known as the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Art Song Composition Award, has supported the creation of new art song through a biennial award featuring the performance of the winning composition at the NATS National Conference and awarding cash prizes to winners and recognition in the form of honorable mentions to finalists. Due to the generous support of American Composer Lori Laitman, NATS has announced that the award will now be an annual award and performances of two winning compositions will be presented at the next biennial conference in 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Laitman has agreed to underwrite the cash prizes for the award each year. In addition, the entry fee has been lowered and an additional lower entry fee has been established for composers who are full-time students and wish to submit compositions.

Laitman has been a longtime supporter of this program as a judge and advisor to the committee headed by Carol Mikkelson. “NATS is grateful to Lori for her additional ongoing support that allows this award to become an annual event,” says NATS executive director Allen Henderson. “When a composer of her caliber and stature in the art song world steps forward it attracts further attention to this award as well as to the importance of supporting and recognizing the creation of new works within the genre.”

The 2017 NATS Art Song Composition Award deadline for entries will be December 1, 2016 and the winners will be announced by early March 2017. Complete details for the 2017 cycle are available at http://www.nats.org/art-song-composition.html.

Tenor Brian Thorsett and Warren Jones perform the winning composition

Composer David Conte

David Conte and Brian Thorsett