The Big Easy Awards have announced special honorees and the nominations for outstanding achievement in opera, dance and classical music during 2007. Winners will be recognized at the 14th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts luncheon in February. Several special awards will recognize long-term careers and contributions to the arts. Pianist, composer and instructor Roger Dickerson will receive a lifetime achievement award. His compositions have drawn Pulitzer nominations and his recent work includes For the Love of Jesus about Henriette DeLille and A Flower Blooms in the Desert, commissioned while he was in New Mexico after Katrina. A New Orleans native, he is a graduate of Dillard University, a Fulbright scholar and recipient of many national and international honors.
A faculty duo from Loyola will share the arts education award. Ellen Frohnmayer and Philip Frohnmayer both teach in the College of Music & Fine Arts. Both Frohnmayers continue professional careers performing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and New Orleans Opera.
Special awards for contributions to the arts also will go to Albinas and Manon Prizgintas and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS), which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007. JPAS produces a great array of performances, workshops and educational programs throughout the year. It is very active in collaboration with regional institutions and brings the arts to diverse audiences throughout the region. Albinas and Manon Prizgintas have created ongoing programs like the Trinity Artists Series (20 years old) and Bach Around the Clock (11 years old) and founded the Yellowdog Prophet Choir out of the music ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church.
The Tribute to the Classical Arts was created by the Big Easy Foundation in 1994 to recognize achievement in the arts in the New Orleans area.
Awards will be presented at the Tribute to the Classical Arts awards on Monday, Feb. 18, hosted by Angela Hill of WWL TV. The event is sponsored by Gambit Weekly, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, Hall Piano Company, John and Anne Burr and Uptown Costume and Dancewear. The luncheon at the Monteleone Hotel features live performances by classical musicians and excerpts from modern, ethnic and ballet dance productions. Tickets are $40. For information and reservations, contact Frederick Mead at 483-3129.
2008 Classical Arts Awards Special Honorees
Lifetime Achievement Award
Roger Dickerson, composer
Arts Education Award
Philip and Ellen Frohnmayer
Special Recognition Award
Jefferson Performing Arts Society
Outstanding Contribution Award
Albinas and Manon Prizgintas for the Trinity Artists Series
CLASSICAL MUSIC & OPERA AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best Classical Music Performance
Death and Transfiguration
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Music Director
First Baptist Church
Music of the Spheres
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, Conductor
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Piazzolla with Quint
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Music Director
Dixon Hall, Tulane University
Best Chamber Music
A New Orleanian In Paris: Ernest Guiraud, Friends & Students
Joel Smirnoff, Conductor
Joan Kwuon, Violin
St. Louis Cathedral
Carols In Brass
Vance Woolf and the New Orleans Uptown Brass Ensemble
Jesuit Church
Musaica
Second Season
Pate, D. Anderson, Asano, Atherhold, Reeks, C. Anderson, Fitzpatrick, Owen, Tanaka, Thompson, Gabka, Ray, Jaubert, Schettler, Mavrova
St. Charles Presbyterian Church
Best Performance of New Classical Music (Contemporary)
Postludio by Joaqu´n GutiŽrrez-Heras
LPO Death & Transfiguration concert
First Baptist Church
Quintet (1993) by David Anderson
Musaica
Munholland Methodist Church, Metairie
Symphony No. 8 (Music of the Spheres) by Stephen Dankner
LPO Music of the Spheres concert
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Best Opera Production
Il Trittico (Puccini)
New Orleans Opera Association
Robert Lyall, Conductor
Jay Jackson, Director
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
La Boheme (Puccini)
New Orleans Opera Association
Robert Lyall, Conductor
David Morelock, Director
McAlister Auditorium Tulane University
La Traviata (Verdi)
Jefferson Performing Arts Society
Dennis Assaf, Conductor
Massimo Pezzutti, Director
Creative Achievement In Opera
New Year's Eve with the New Orleans Opera
New Orleans Opera Association
Betty Brooks Doss, Producer
Robert Lyall, Director
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The Medium (Gian Carlo Menotti)
New Orleans Opera Association
Robert Lyall, Conductor
David Morelock, Director
Music at Madewood, Napoleonville
Too Many Sopranos
The SLU Opera/Music Theatre Workshop
Conductor, Charles Effler
Director, Brandt Blocker
Ralph R. Pottle Music Building Auditorium, Southeastern Louisiana University
Best Choral Arts Presentation
Le Deluge (Saint-Saens)
The Yellowdog Prophet Choir Ñ Katrina Remembered
Albinas Prizgintas, Director
Trinity Artists Series
Messiah (Handel)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, Music Director
Rebecca Miller, Conductor
First Baptist Church
New Year's Eve with the New Orleans Opera
New Orleans Opera Chorus
New Orleans Opera Association
Carol Rausch, Director
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
DANCE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best Classical Ballet Production
2007 Summer Season
New Orleans Ballet Theatre
Gregory Schramel, Artistic Director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Classical, Character, Contemporary
Loyola Ballet Fall Concert
Laura Zambrano, Director
Gayle Parmelee, Coordinator Loyola Preparatory Ballet Program
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
In The Land of Dreamy Dreams
Delta Festival Ballet
Joseph and Maria Giacobbe, Artistic Directors
Henson Auditorium, Newman School
Best Modern Dance Production
Blues for Lower 9
DramaRama 14
Gabrielle Pickard
Contemporary Arts Center
Nationwide Summer Tour Premiere Performance
NORD|NOBA Center for Dance
Jenny Hamilton, NOBA Executive Director
Suzanne Hirsch, NOBA Education Director
Larry Barabino, NORD Director
Lupin Hall, NOCCA|Riverfront
Portraits In A Forgotten City
Tsunami Dance Company
Kettye Voltz and Erin Healan, Artistic Directors
Lupin Hall, NOCCA|Riverfront
Best Ethnic Dance Presentation
27th Annual Spring Concert
Komenka Ethnic Dance and Music Ensemble
John Rodi, Daniel Gianfala and Cheryl O'Sullivan, Artistic Directors
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Origin of Life on Earth
The Ashe Cultural Arts Center & JPAS
Dollie E. Rivas, Director
Carol Bebelle, Executive Director
Jefferson Performing Arts Center
The Wedding
Confederacy of Dances
Heera Yoo, Choreographer
Contemporary Arts Center
Best Choreography — New Work
Anne Burr
Rebelation
Confederacy of Dances
Contemporary Arts Center
Maritza Mercado-Narcisse
The Illusion of Effortlessness
Confederacy of Dances
Contemporary Arts Center
Anna Morris and John Allen
Above This Dead Weight Night
Tsunami's Portraits in a Forgotten City
Lupin Hall, NOCCA|Riverfront
Kettye Voltz
Banco Ballante
Tsunami;s Portraits in a Forgotten City
Lupin Hall, NOCCA|Riverfront
