SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Morningside Choir received national recognition by being awarded The American Prize in Choral Performance for the college/university division (smaller program).

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, founded by David (Volosin) Katz, announced the National winners of The American Prize in Choral Performance Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Morningside Choir received the top honor for a small program. As a part of winning The American Prize, Morningside Choir will receive a physical award and a financial award.

“We are very honored to accept this special recognition on behalf of Morningside,” Dr. Ryan Person, Director of Choral Activities, said. “Since the choir’s inception in 1925, generations of Morningside Choir singers have lifted their voices together on our campus, and we feel humbled to carry on this special tradition. Finally, we could not be more grateful for the continued support of Heath Weber, Dean for Visual and Performing Arts, the entire Morningside administration, and our exceptional performing arts faculty.”

The Morningside Choir, under the direction of Dr. Ryan Person, is acclaimed for forging innovative musical paths through the performance of vibrant choral literature. Recognized for its outstanding musical merit, the ensemble showcases versatility and artistry across many music genres. The Morningside Choir is the premier choral ensemble, annually traveling to regional, national, and international destinations.

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 is unique in scope and structure, designed to recognize and reward 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 thirteenth year, The American Prize was founded in 2010 and is awarded annually in many areas of the performing arts. Thousands of artists from all fifty states have derived benefit from their participation in the contests of The American Prize, representing literally hundreds of communities and arts organizations across the nation.