The American Prize
WCSO competes in the community orchestra division, the division is for non-professional orchestras – ie. where most of the musicians of the orchestra are generally not paid for performing in the concert being submitted to the competition. However, the musicians can be professionals with other performing groups such as the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. WCSO normally does not pay any of its musicians. Further, no member of WCSO earns their living through being a performing musician. All WCSO musicians are generally skilled musicians working in other professions.
2023-24 NATIONAL COMPETITION (entered May 2023)
Orchestra Conducting – Joshua Thompson (March 2022)
Orchestral Performance (March 2022)
Orchestral Programming – John Gordon (March 2022)
Composing-Pops/Light Music (Professional Division) – Andrew Grainger “Symphonic Dance No. 1” (2022)
2022-23 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National 3rd Place: Orchestral Performance
National Finalist: Orchestra Conducting – Robert Laguna
National Finalist: Orchestral Programming – John Gordon
National Finalist: Composing-Pops/Light Music (Professional Division) – Dr. M L Daniels “Winter Serenade”
2021-22 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Finalist: Orchestra Conducting – Frank Simon
National Semi-Finalist: Orchestral Programming
2020-21 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National 1st Place: Orchestral Programming
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Finalist: Orchestra Conducting – Dr Thomas Rainey
2019-20 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Composing-Pops/Light Music – Dr M L Daniels “Mysterious Journey” (Professional Division)
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas Rainey
2018-19 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National 2nd Place: Composing-Pops/Light Music – Conor Brace “Gettysburg” (Professional Division)
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Semi-Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Composing-Pops/Light Music – Dr M L Daniels
2017-18 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Performance of American Music
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Semi-Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas Rainey
2016-17 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Performance of American Music
2015 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Orchestral Performance With Special Judges’ Citation
National Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas E Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Composition – Dr M L Daniels
2014 NATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
National Finalist: Conducting – Dr Thomas E Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Orchestral Performance
National Semi-Finalist: Programming – Dr Thomas Rainey
National Semi-Finalist: Composition – Dr M L Daniel