The American Prize rewards the best-recorded performances by individual artists and ensembles in the U.S.

The American Prize announced the winners and runners-up in the college/university division of The American Prize in Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Performance, 2014. The top prize went to the USC Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Scott Weiss. Among judges' comments: "this is a first-class performance that I will be visiting again and again."

The USC Wind Ensemble is the premier wind band at the University of South Carolina. In addition to its annual concert season in the Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia, recent activities of the ensemble include a 2012 tour of the People’s Republic of China that consisted of seven sold-out performances in six cities. In addition, the ensemble was featured at the 2014 American Bandmasters Association National Conference, the 2013 College Band Directors National Association National Conference, and the 2012 South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference.

Passionately committed to new music, the ensemble has commissioned and premiered dozens of new works by many of today’s leading composers, and the group recently received a grant to record the world premiere recordings of new works by Joseph Schwantner, William Bolcom and Scott Lindroth for the Naxos label in 2015.

The American Prize is a series of new, nonprofit national competitions in the performing arts providing cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels. Administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Danbury, Connecticut, The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually. The competitions of The American Prize are open to all U.S. citizens, whether living in this country or abroad, and to others currently living, working and/or studying in the United States of America, its protectorates and territories.

See the USC Wind Ensemble’s season of free concerts at the Koger Center for the Arts.