Canadian composer Tawnie Olson was was awarded Second place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) 2018 Art Song Composition Award competition for her composition, Three Songs on Poems by Lorri Neilsen Glenn. On this work Richard Pearson Thomas, who served as final judge of the 2018 competition commented, “The poetry in ‘Three Songs On Poems By Lorri Neilson Glenn’ is contemporary and beautiful. The settings are evocative and there are many beautiful moments.”
The cycle was commissioned by CASP for soprano Magali Simard-Galdès as the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Maureen Forrester prize winner in 2016. The work was performed during her recital tour of Quebec, Ontario and the Maritime provinces last season and can be heard on Ms. Simard-Galdès’ self-released recording Muses with pianist Olivier Hébert-Bouchard.
Composer Benjamin C.S. Boyle won the National Association of Teachers of Singing 2018 Art Song Composition Award for his composition, Spirits in Bondage. The work is based on the poetry of C.S. Lewis and arranged for Baritone and Piano.
The NATS Art Song Composition Award program was established in 1983 to stimulate the creation of quality vocal literature through the cooperation of singer and composer. With the generous support of composer Lori Laitman, the award was expanded in 2016 from a biennial to an annual event. Recent winners have included David Conte, Robert Patterson, Melissa Dunphy, David Sisco, and Matt Boehler.
NATS offers cash prizes for the first and second place winners, a two-year NATS membership, plus a performance of the winning composition at the upcoming NATS Conference. The competition is open to any composer, professional or student, whose submitted work meets the prescribed requirements. Information will be posted soon on NATS.org for the 2019 Art Song Composition Award.