Miami University Symphony Orchestra earns national recognition in The American Prize
Miami University Symphony Orchestra earns national recognition in The American Prize
The Miami University Symphony Orchestra (MUSO), under the direction of Maestro Ricardo Averbach, has been awarded Second Place in the 2025 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting (College/University Division). This national distinction places Miami’s orchestral program in direct comparison with the highest levels of collegiate and conservatory training in the United States.
The first prize in the competition was awarded to the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the flagship ensemble of the elite Curtis Institute of Music. Recognized worldwide as one of the finest pre-professional orchestras, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra musicians are admitted through one of the most selective audition processes internationally and train under leading figures in the field, including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera. Achieving second place beside such an institution underscores the national standing and growing visibility of Miami University’s orchestral program.
In addition to this major recognition, Miami University and MUSO were named National Finalists in several other 2025 American Prize categories, including:
- Orchestral Performance (College/University Division, Smaller Programs)
- The Bacon Memorial Award for Performance (College/University Division, Smaller Programs)
- The Marian Anderson Award (College/University Division)
Final results for these other categories will appear towards the end of the year. Composer Martin Hebel, whose orchestral work Defiance was commissioned and premiered by MUSO, was also named a National Finalist in the Professional Division of the American Prize in Orchestral Composition and remains under consideration for the Professional Marian Anderson Award.
These honors come during a year that highlights the versatility and ambitious scope of the Miami University Symphony Orchestra’s programming. MUSO engages students in a wide range of artistic experiences. They include large-scale orchestral masterworks, interdisciplinary productions, film and multimedia performances, Halloween and community-focused events, multiple student concert opportunities, the annual Concerto Competition, and the Undergraduate Composition Competition, a distinctive program presenting new orchestral works by Miami student composers.
Together, these recognitions and initiatives reaffirm the orchestra’s expanding role in the cultural life of the university, its commitment to innovative programming, and its ability to provide a diverse array of artistic and educational experiences for Miami students across majors.
Founded in 2009, The American Prize honors excellence in the performing arts across the United States, celebrating the achievements of ensembles, composers, and conductors through recorded performances.
