GREENVILLE, S.C. (January 6, 2016) – Dr. Eliezer Yanson Jr. was named as the third place winner for The American Prize in Conducting: College/University Chorus Division for 2015. In consideration for the award, Yanson submitted the University’s production of Handel’s “Messiah” which he conducted in December 2014.
“Dr. Yanson continues to distinguish himself as a musician of the highest quality,” said Dr. Darren Lawson, dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication at Bob Jones University. “We are extremely proud of his accomplishment and his ongoing investment in the students at BJU.”
Yanson serves as assistant professor of music at BJU where he conducts the University Singers and Lyric Choir and teaches undergraduate and graduate music classes. He earned a DMA in choral conducting from the University of South Carolina, a MMus in church music and a BMus in piano performance from BJU. Additionally, he holds a ThB from Baptist Bible Seminary & Institute in his native Philippines.
His main conducting mentors have been Larry Wyatt and Warren Cook. An active clinician, conference speaker, and adjudicator, Yanson is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation for Choral Music, National Collegiate Choral Organization, National Association for Music Education and Pi Kappa Lambda. While passionate about conducting and teaching, his greatest role is being husband to Martha and father to Isabella and Andre.
The American Prize is a series of non-profit national competitions in the performing arts providing cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels. Administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Danbury, Connecticut, The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually.
