Brian T. Russell Awarded ACDA’s Julius Herford Prize

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In his recommendation letter Dean Doug Lowry wrote, "This document presents editions of seven previously unpublished psalm settings of Georg Phillip Telemann, along with extensive commentary on the history of these works, their manuscript sources, and relevant issues of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.