Purchase Opera Earns The American Prize Honors

The Purchase Opera production of Dialogues of the Carmelites has earned multiple honors from The American Prize. The opera was directed by Jacque Trussel, Hugh Murphy was the music director and conductor, and it featured the Purchase Symphony Orchestra.

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is the nation’s most comprehensive series of contests in the performing arts.

The American Prize in Conducting 2022 (opera/musical theater)

3rd Place (tie)

Hugh Murphy, Associate Professor of Music

Dialogues of the Carmelites

The American Prize in Opera Performance, 2022

2nd Place

Purchase Opera, Conservatory of Music

Dialogues of the Carmelites

Jacque Trussel, Professor of Music

The American Prize in Directing, The Charles Nelson Reilly Prize, 2022

Finalist Honorable Mention

Jacque Trussel, Professor of Music

The 2019 production of Dido and Aeneas earned The American Prize in Opera Performance (college/university division), 2021 with Jacque Trussel, director; Hugh Murphy, music director; William Byram ’20, choreographer, and featuring members of the Purchase Dance Company.

2nd Place (tie)

Purchase Opera

Jacque Trussel, Professor of Music

Dido & Aeneas

The American Prize recognizes and rewards the best performing artists, directors, ensembles, and composers in the United States at professional, college/university, community, and high school levels, based on submitted recordings. Now in its twelfth year, The American Prize has awarded more than $100,000 since its founding.