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Western Illinois University Assistant Professor of Music Penelope Shumate
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Shumate Named Semi-Finalist for American Prize Competition

July 17, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University Assistant Professor of Music Penelope Shumate has been named a semi-finalist in the American Prize, a competition for composers, pianists, vocalists, chamber music ensembles, instrumental soloists and actors.

Shumate, a soprano, is one of 27 semi-finalists in the "women in art song" division.

According to its website, the American Prize provides "evaluation, recognition and reward to America's finest performing artists and composers." Performances were judged based on recorded performances that were submitted through an application process.

Shumate's most recent engagements include performing as the soprano soloist in Verdi's "Messa da Requiem" at Carnegie Hall, and in Handel's "Messiah" in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center; both works were presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY). Her upcoming engagements include soloist appearances with the Heartland Festival Orchestra, Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra and Rapides Symphony Orchestra.

She has also appeared with opera companies and orchestras across America, including the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Roanoke, Opera Saratoga, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Berkshire Choral Festival, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, among others.

She is an award winner with the Gerda Lissner Foundation, Marie E. Crump Vocal Arts Competition, MacAllister Awards, New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Vocal Competition, Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Kennett Symphony Orchestra Vocal Competition and the Altamura/Caruso International Vocal Competition, among others.

The American Prize was founded in 2009, and honors are awarded annually in a variety of categories. For more information about the prize, visit theamericanprize.org.





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