[1] The award is bestowed at professional, college/university, community, and high school levels in a number of areas including composition, piano, voice, chamber music, conducting, and ensemble performance.
[2][3] The jury consists of well known performing artists in each area, with the conductor and composer David Katz serving as chief judge.
[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Artists and ensembles self-nominate through an application process or are nominated by a teacher, parent, board member or colleague.
Among judges are composer Judith Lang Zaimont, pianist Jeffrey Biegel, and Metropolitan Opera soprano Sharon Sweet.
[13] Judith Lang Zaimont choral: (pending) shorter works: Donald Skirvin vocal: William Vollinger mirabai Winners of the first prize award by year in college/university categories.