As arts organizations and patrons celebrate the reopening of the Mahalia Jackson Theater with gala performances and special guests, the Big Easy Entertainment Awards have announced special honorees and nominations for outstanding achievement in opera, dance and classical music during 2008. Winners will be recognized at the 15th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts luncheon in February.
Longterm contributions to the arts will be recognized with special awards. Jacqueline Fry of the New Orleans Dance Academy will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Historic New Orleans Collection will share the Arts Education Award for their work on the Music of the Mississippi project. A Special Recognition Award marks the 50th anniversary of New Orleans Friends of Music, which presents chamber music by top touring ensembles. The Outstanding Contribution to Dance Award goes to DramaRama for its commitment to presenting modern and ethnic dance over the past 15 years. AT&T will receive the Classical Arts Patron Award.
The Big Easy Foundation created Tribute to the Classical Arts in 1994 to recognize achievement in the arts in the New Orleans area.
Awards will be presented on Monday, Feb. 16, at the Tribute to the Classical Arts luncheon, hosted by Angela Hill of WWL-TV. The luncheon at the Hotel Monteleone features performances by award-nominated classical musicians and dance groups. The event is sponsored by The Gambit, Hall Piano Company, the Burr family, Uptown Costume and Dancewear, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, and WWNO 89.9 FM Radio. Tickets are $40. For information and reservations, call 483-3129.
2009 Classical Arts Awards
Special Honorees
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jacqueline Fry
Arts Education Award
LPO/HNOC
Music of the Mississippi project
Special Recognition Award
New Orleans Friends of Music
Outstanding Contribution to Dance Award
DramaRama
CLASSICAL MUSIC & OPERA AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best Classical Music Performance
Beethoven No. 4
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO)
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
First Baptist New Orleans
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
LPO
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Nadja Plays Barber
LPO
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
Resurrection (Mahler Symphony No. 2)
LPO
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
First Baptist New Orleans
Best Chamber Music Performance
Bach to Bernstein
New Orleans Uptown Brass
Vance Woolf and Matthew Ernst, trumpet, Samantha La Pointe-Woolf, horn, Carson Keeble, trombone, Robert Nunez, tuba
Trinity Artist Series, Trinity Episcopal Church
Great American Chamber Music
Musaica
David Anderson and Bill Schettler, bass; Benjamin Atherholt, bassoon; Yui Asano, piano; Andrew Dunn and Dimitri Vuchko, cello; Judith Armistead Fitzpatrick, Janeta Mavrova, Yuki Tanaka, Kate Withrow and Hannah Yim, violin; Bruce Owen and Ila Rondeau, viola; John Reeks, clarinet; Sarah Schettler, flute, Stephanie Thompson, clarinet
St. Charles Presbyterian Church, New Orleans
Javier Olondo, guitar
Music at Midday
Presented by Newcomb Department of Music
Rogers Memorial Chapel, Tulane University
Scott Slapin & Tanya Solomon
Duo Violas
Trinity Artist Series
Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans
Best Performance of New Classical Music (Contemporary)
Cello Concerto No.1
Federico Ibarra, Composer
Carlos Prieto, Cello
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
LPO, Beethoven No. 3, First Baptist new Orleans
Concerto da Vinci
Alexis Aranda, Composer
Performed by Jonita Lattimore, Michael Dean, Loyola University Chorale, New Orleans Vocal Arts Chorale
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
LPO, Requiem, Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Fire and Blood for Violin and Orchestra
Michael Daugherty, Composer
Ida Kavafian, violin
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
LPO, Beethoven No. 2, First Baptist New Orleans
Suite for Two Violas
Scott Slapin, Composer
Hsiaopei Lee and Bruce Owen, viola
Nunemaker Auditorium, Loyola University
Best Opera Production
Don Giovanni (Mozart)
Garrett Keast, Conductor
Matthew Lata, Director
New Orleans Opera Association
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
Madama Butterfly (Puccini)
Dennis G. Assaf, Conductor
Gianmaria Romagnoli, Director
Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, Jefferson Performing Arts Center
Rigoletto (Verdi)
Robert Lyall, Conductor
Jay Jackson, Director
New Orleans Opera Association
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University
Creative Achievement In Opera
The Marriage of Figaro, opera workshop production
Charles Effler, Conductor
Rachel Harris, Director
Southeastern Louisiana University Opera/Music Theatre Workshop
Best Choral Arts Presentation
The Creation (Haydn)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, Music Director
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor, LPO
First Baptist New Orleans
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Christ Church Cathedral Chorus
Jarrett R. Follette, Director
Anthony Sears, Conductor
Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans
Messiah (Handel)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, Music Director
Rebecca Miller, LPO Conductor
First Baptist New Orleans
2009 DANCE AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Best Classical Ballet Production
Cinderella
River Region Ballet
Susan Ferrara, Artistic Director
Destrehan Auditorium, Destrehan High School
Nutcracker
Delta Festival Ballet
Joseph Giacobbe and Maria Giacobbe, Artistic Directors
Dixon Hall, Tulane University
Nutcracker
Jefferson Ballet Theatre
Myra Mier, Artistic Director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University and Pontchartrain Center
Spring Series 2008
New Orleans Ballet Theatre
Gregory Schramel, Artistic Director
Lupin Hall, NOCCA/Riverfront
Best Modern Dance Presentation
Happensdance/DramaRama
Happensdance
Jeanne Jaubert, Artistic Director
Contemporary Arts Center
Road Album
Newcomb Dance Company/Tulane University Dept. of Theatre & Dance
Michaela Cannon, Jeffrey Gunshol, Barbara Hayley and Beverly Trask
Lupin Theater, Tulane University
Southern Voices/Dance Out LOUD
d'Project
Eddy Villalta, Artistic Director
Contemporary Arts Center
Spring Concert 2008
NORD/NOBA Center for Dance Company
Jenny Hamilton, Executive Director, NOBA
Larry Barabino, Director, NORD
Lupin Hall, NOCCA/Riverfront
Best Choreography (new work)
Alice Pascal Escher
Fly By
Newcomb Fall Series: An Evening of Dance
Dixon Hall, Tulane University
Erin Healan
Bedclothes from Street of Crocodiles
Tsunami Dance Company
Lupin Theatre, NOCCA Riverfront
Jeanne Jaubert
From Here to There
Happensdance/DramaRama
Contemporary Arts Center
Colleen Murphy
Serpent's Kiss
Loyola Ballet Spring Concert
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
