Each year at our commencement ceremonies in May, a select group of students receive special awards for their character, talent, and participation. Many of these awards were established by friends and alumni to honor the memory of important figures in the history of Manhattan School of Music. See these Commencement Awardees >

The School periodically recognizes outstanding accomplishment among its alumni through the awarding of Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

2011 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients:

	Johanna Meier (BM '60) Soprano Johanna Meier made her debut with the New York City Opera in 1969 and went on to a major international career as a member of the Metropolitan Opera for fifteen years, achieving recognition as one of the foremost Wagnerian sopranos of her era. European appearances included performances at the Vienna Staatsoper, the English National Opera, and with the opera companies of Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Paris, Rome, Venice, Madrid, Barcelona, Zurich, and the Netherlands. Johanna Meier was the first American ever to sing the role of Isolde for the Bayreuth Festival. She also appeared with the Canadian Opera and at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, as well as in Japan, Mexico City, Israel, and at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. Meier sang with New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, l’Orchestre de Paris, Munich Philharmonic, Concertgebouw, and many others. Johanna Meier continues to contribute to cultural education in her home state (South Dakota) and community through the School of Opera and Vocal Arts, which she started in 1997. This endeavor has become a successful part of the Black Hills State University Summer Institute of the Arts. Ms. Meier served as a member of the MSM Board of Trustees from 1982–87 and gave a benefit concert for the School’s alumni efforts at Alice Tully Hall in 1977.
	Carol Wincenc (BM '71) Flutist Carol Wincenc is one of the most respected and acclaimed flutists performing today. She appears with orchestras worldwide and has premiered works written for her by numerous prominent composers. In the 2009–10 season, she celebrated her 40th anniversary as a performer with a three-concert series in New York at Merkin Concert Hall, the Morgan Library & Museum, and the Juilliard School. The series featured the premieres of six newly commissioned works by Joan Tower, Jake Heggie, Thea Musgrave, Shih-Hui Chen, Andrea Clearfield, and Jonathan Berger. She has also premiered several concerti by such composers as Christopher Rouse, Henryk Gorecki, Lukas Foss, Peter Schickele, Joan Tower, Paul Schoenfield, and Tobias Picker, who composed The Rain In the Trees, a double concerto for her and soprano Barbara Hendricks. Ms. Wincenc has appeared with the St. Louis, Atlanta, and Seattle Symphonies; the Los Angeles and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras; and at the Mostly Mozart, Santa Fe, Spoleto, Caramoor, Marlboro, Sarasota, and Music @ Menlo festivals. Overseas, Ms. Wincenc has given acclaimed performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and at the Aldeburgh, Budapest, Tivoli, and Frankfurt international music festivals. Equally sought after as a chamber musician, Ms. Wincenc has collaborated with the Guarneri, Emerson, and Tokyo string quartets; performed with sopranos Jessye Norman and Elly Ameling; pianist Emanuel Ax; and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Carol Wincenc is flutist with the New York Woodwind Quintet. A prolific recording artist, Ms. Wincenc was nominated for a Grammy Award for a 2005 Naxos recording and her recording of Christopher Rouse's Flute Concerto for Telarc with Christoph Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony won the highly coveted Diapason d'Or. Having previously taught at Manhattan School of Music, Ms. Wincenc is a professor of flute at both The Juilliard School and Stony Brook University. She often serves as a judge for prestigious competitions, including the 2009 Walter W. Naumburg Chamber Music Competition and the Kobe International Flute Competition. Lauren Keiser Music Publishers are releasing The Carol Wincenc 21st Century Series for Flute, which features the artist's favorite flute repertoire. The Carol Wincenc Signature Editions compilations are published by Carl Fischer.
	John Musto (BM '76 / MM '80) Composer Currently one of the busiest opera composers, John Musto’s reputation as a master of the concert song has long been secure, both as composer and as a performer at the piano. Since 2004 he has seen the production of four new operas, with The Inspector, premiering at the Wolf Trap Opera company this past April (Wolf Trap’s recording of his first opera, Volpone, was nominated for a 2010 Grammy). His genial drama Later the Same Evening was premiered in 2007 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the University of Maryland Opera Theater, the co-commissioners of the work, with a subsequent New York premiere in 2008 at Manhattan School of Music. In 2009, New York and Caramoor audiences saw the lively new one-act comedy, Bastianello, commissioned to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the New York Festival of Song. Also that year, soprano Amy Burton gave the first orchestral performance of Quiet Songs (originally with piano), a cycle written for her in 1990. Musto's Improvisation and Fugue for piano was featured at the fourth New York Piano Competition, which commissioned it. This work brought the prize for “best performance of a modern work” to the 2009 Van Cliburn International Competition Gold Medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii. The Brief Light, six songs for baritone and guitar, is soon to be released on the Bridge label by baritone Patrick Mason and guitarist David Starobin. Musto’s transcription of his 2003 Passacaglia for orchestra was premiered by the two-piano team Split Second (Roberto Hidalgo and Marc Peloquin) at the 2011 Look and Listen festival. Musto was guest composer during the 2008 Ravinia Festival (coaching singers in his songs) and SongFest at Pepperdine University (which presented the West-Coast premiere of his cycle The Book of Uncommon Prayer, and where he gave other concerts and master classes). He also has an active concert schedule that includes appearances around the United States and in Europe, playing repertory extending from Bach keyboard to French cabaret (notably in a concert at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu), to the Gershwin Piano Concerto -- and, as always, appearing as pianist in his own compositions.
	“Outstanding Young Alumni” Award Jason Moran (BM ’97) Jazz Pianist Rolling Stone magazine has written: “Jason Moran [is] shaping up to be the most provocative thinker in current jazz.” Since his formidable emergence on the music scene in the late 90s, jazz pianist Jason Moran has proven more than his brilliance as a performer. The Blue Note Records recording artist has established himself as a risk-taker and innovator of new directions for jazz as a whole. Moran’s debut recording as a leader was Soundtrack to Human Motion, which Ben Ratliff of the New York Times named the best album of the year and the Jazz Journalists Association awarded it “Best Debut Recording.” Since then he has garnered numerous awards including a 2010 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (often call a “Genius Award”) and was named the winner in three top categories of the 2011 Downbeat Critic's Poll: Jazz Pianist of the Year, Jazz Album of the Year, and Jazz Artist of the Year. Moran has received commissions from several pre-eminent American arts institutions including The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Dia Art Foundation, Monterrey Jazz Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. His music is in the collections of both the MOMA and Whitney Museum of American Art. He has recently released TEN, his 10th anniversary album with his ensemble The Bandwagon, and collaborated with Grammy-nominated neo-soul artist Meshell Ndegeocello – a dance party centered on the music of Fats Waller. Moran has been lecturer/instructor at Yale, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, Eastman School of Music, The Kennedy Center, The New School, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Banff Center for The Arts, Denmarks’ Vallekilde Jazz Camp, Skidmore and Stanford Jazz Workshop. He was previously a member of the jazz piano faculty at Manhattan School of Music and is now teaching at New England Conservatory.

The 2011 Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at the upcoming Alumni Reunion on October 14. Read more >

2010 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients:

	Roy Eaton (BM '50 / MM '52) Pianist and music marketing executive
	James Petercsak (BM '66 / MM '68) Percussionist and educator
	Judy Blazer (BM ’77) Vocalist and actor
	Sebastian Currier (BM '82 / MM '83) Composer
	“Young Alumni” Award Olivera Medenica (BM ’96) Attorney

	Joe Wilder ’53 Jazz performer and educator
	Capt. Kenneth Force ’64 / ’65 / ’70 Director of Music, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
	Elliot Goldenthal ’77 / ’79 Grammy- and Academy Award-winning composer
	OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA Laquita Mitchell ’01 / ’02 Soprano

	Richard Adams ’61 Retired MSM Vice President/ Dean of Faculty
	Clement De Rosa ’55 Jazz Educator, Bandleader and Founder of IAJE
	SungEun Han-Andersen ’89 Donor, G. Chris and SungEun Andersen Hall
	Aaron Jay Kernis ’81 Pulitzer Prize-winning Composer
	George Manahan ’76 Conductor
	OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS/A Jane Monheit ’99 Jazz Vocalist

Previous Distinguished Alumni Awards were given to Gunther Schuller (composer, educator, and conductor) in 1985 and Dr. Walter Turnbull (founder of the Boys Choir of Harlem) in 1990.

Commencement Awards

Each year at our commencement ceremonies in May, a select group of students receive special awards for their character, talent, and participation. Many of these awards were established by friends and alumni to honor the memory of important figures in the history of Manhattan School of Music.

The annual College and Alumni Awards include (click on link to see description of award and last recipient):

Manny Albam Prize
Harold Bauer Award
William H. Borden Award
Pablo Casals Award
Helen Cohn Awards
Richard F. Gold Career Grant
Hugo Kortschak Award
Kraeuter Musical Foundation Award
Bronson Ragan Award
Roy M. Rubinstein Award
Andres Segovia/Rose Augustine Award
Raphael Bronstein Award
John Clark Award
Cecil Collins Award
Nicolas Flagello Award
Stephen Maxym Award
Homer Mensch Award
Hugh Ross Award
Janet D. Schenck Award
Josephine C. Whitford Award
Outreach Commencement Award

Harold Bauer Award
Established by Janet D. Schenck, founder of Manhattan School of Music, to honor her teacher, pianist Harold Bauer, who was instrumental in the development of the School. This award is given to a graduating student in recognition of outstanding accomplishment, cooperation, and promise.

William H. Borden Award
Given in memory of Mr. Borden, who was a trustee of Manhattan School of Music for thirty years, ten of which he served as chairman of the board. His greatest affinity was for jazz, and therefore this award is given for outstanding accomplishment in that discipline.

Pablo Casals Award
Created in honor of Maestro Casals, who served as an early member of the Advisory Board of Manhattan School of Music. The award is given for musical accomplishment
and human endeavor.

Helen Cohn Awards
Created by the friends of Mrs. Cohn to honor her memory and her devotion to the piano. There are two awards—the first is given to a pianist who has done outstanding work in chamber music, and the second is given to an outstanding graduate of the doctor of musical arts degree program.

Richard F. Gold Career Grant
Given by the Shoshana Foundation to recognize a graduating student who demonstrates exceptional promise for a career on the operatic stage.

Hugo Kortschak Award
Given for outstanding achievement in chamber music.

Kraeuter Musical Foundation Award
Given to a student who has excelled in ensemble work.

Bronson Ragan Award
Honors the memory of a former Manhattan School of Music faculty member who taught both organ and theory. The award goes to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding ability in organ performance.

Roy M. Rubinstein Award
Given to a young woman who demonstrates exceptional promise in piano performance.

Raphael Bronstein Award
Established by friends to honor the memory of this beloved faculty member, this award is given to an outstanding violinist who demonstrates great promise as a performer, and in whom can also be seen a dedication to carrying on the pedagogical devotion so exemplified by Professor Bronstein.

John Clark Award
Given for excellence in brass performance. John Clark was an alumnus of Manhattan School of Music and a faculty member for over forty years. This award was established in his memory through gifts from his family and friends.

Cecil Collins Award
Created by Manhattan School of Music alumni to honor the memory of Mr. Collins, a former faculty member and chairman of the brass department, for excellence in brass performance.

Nicolas Flagello Award
Given annually to a student for outstanding achievement as a composer. Established by family, friends, and colleagues to honor the memory of Mr. Flagello, a former faculty member and esteemed composer.

Homer Mensch Award
Celebrates the life of a remarkable gentleman, an exceptional musician and a devoted teacher. He touched our hearts and will always serve as an inspiration to all. Given to a double bass student who exemplifies the spirit of Homer Mensch.

Hugh Ross Award
Given annually to a singer of unusual promise.

Janet D. Schenck Award
Honors the woman who, in 1917, founded the Neighborhood Music School. Through the years, that School grew to become Manhattan School of Music, one of the largest and most prestigious private conservatories in the United States. This award, bestowed in Mrs. Schenck’s memory, is in recognition of distinguished contribution to the life of the School.

Josephine C. Whitford Award
Honors Mrs. Whitford, who was for many years a dean of Manhattan School of Music, and is given to a student whose exceptional personal qualities have contributed significantly to the enrichment of the spirit of the School.

Outreach Commencement Award
The recipient of this award has demonstrated outstanding leadership, an exemplary humanitarian spirit, and comprehensive involvement in the Manhattan School of Music outreach programs.

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