ACDA's Julius Herford Prize Awarded to Brian T. Russell

The Research and Publications Committee of the American Choral Directors Association announces that Brian T. Russell is the winner of the most recent Julius Herford Prize. Russell's dissertation The Psalm Settings of Telemann: A Study in Performance Practice with Critical Editions of Seven Psalms for SATB Voices and Orchestra was accepted at the Eastman School of Music in 2009 in fulfillment of Doctoral Degree in Conducting under the direction of Professor William Weinert.

In his recommendation letter Dean Doug Lowry wrote, "This document
presents editions of seven previously unpublished psalm settings of
Georg Phillip Telemann, along with extensive commentary on the history
of these works, their manuscript sources, and relevant issues of
performance practice.”  ACDA's Research and Publications Committee noted the clarity and focus of
the writing, and the excellent scholarship displayed in the editions, as
contributions of the highest caliber to the body of choral scholarship.

Dr. Russell is Assistant Professor of Music at Illinois
Wesleyan University, where his responsibilities include directing the
University Choir and teaching courses in Music Education.  Prior to his
appointment at Illinois Wesleyan, he was on the choral faculty at Hobart
and William Smith Colleges and was a high school music teacher in
Tennessee.  Russell received his BM degree from
Middle Tennessee State University and holds graduate degrees in
conducting from the Eastman School of Music.

Each year the Julius Herford Prize Subcommittee accepts nominations for
the outstanding doctoral terminal research project in choral music.
Projects are eligible if they comprise the principal research component
of the degree requirements, whether the institution defines the project
as a “dissertation,” “document,” “thesis,” or “treatise,” etc.
Eligibility is limited to doctoral recipients whose degrees were
conferred during the calendar year prior to the year of nomination.  The
winner receives a $1000.00 cash prize and a commemorative plaque.