MidAmerica Productions, Inc. Announces the Grand Winner of Inaugural Biennial International Choral Conducting Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- New York, NY – MidAmerica Productions, Inc. is pleased to announce that choral conductor Matthew Abernathy has been named the grand winner of the first-ever MidAmerica Productions Inc. International Choral Conducting Competition. This prestigious award, which comes with a $10,000 stipend prize and a guest solo conducting appearance at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, aims to honor and nurture rising talents in choral conducting on a world-wide basis.
Mr. Abernathy, currently the Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Tampa, stood out among a pool of highly talented applicants. His submission, which included both a video of his conducting and his reflections on choral music, demonstrated his musicianship, leadership, and dedication to the art of choral conducting.
“Matthew Abernathy’s ability to inspire and elevate his choirs impressed us,” said Peter Tiboris, Founder and General Music Director of MidAmerica Productions, Inc. and Chair of the judging panel. “His understanding of musical expression and his thoughtful and passionate conducting style made him the choice for this award by the international jury.”
Mr. Abernathy’s work has been described as “excellent throughout” (Star Tribune) and a “strong choral performance” (MLive). He has worked with ensembles at all levels, from preparing professional opera choruses to mentoring young talent through nationally recognized programs. When presented with the news of his prize, he stated, “I am honored to have been selected as the Grand Prize Winner. As someone who spends most of my time backstage preparing choirs for others’ to conduct, the opportunity to stand on stage at Carnegie Hall is not something I ever thought I would do! I offer my sincere gratitude to the jury, and to my colleagues, teachers, and mentors who have helped me to achieve this milestone.”
The competition, which will resume once more in 2027, seeks to recognize outstanding choral conductors between the ages of 25 and 35. As part of the award, Abernathy will make his debut performance conducting the New England Symphonic Ensemble (Preston Hawes, Artistic Director) in Boulanger’s Psalm 130 "Du fond de l'abîme" on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 8pm. His program, selected in collaboration with Mr. Tiboris, will feature a choir of 125 voices.
Matthew Harden, one of the key judges, praised the initiative, stating, “The establishment of this competition is a significant step toward supporting and advancing the careers of young choral conductors. 2024 Winner Matthew Abernathy exemplifies the future of choral music.”
Applications were submitted from talented conductors throughout the United States; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Aarhus, Denmark; Bonn, Berlin, Germany; Riga, Latvia; Yousei, South Korea; Taichung, Taiwan; London, United Kingdom and more. The competition’s panel of distinguished judges included notable figures from around the globe, such as Sir John Rutter CBE of the United Kingdom, Francis Bardot of Paris and Alan Chircop of Malta, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive evaluation process. Abernathy’s win marks the beginning of a $100,000 commitment from MidAmerica Productions, Inc. over the next ten years, with $10,000 awarded every other year to up-and-coming conductors.
Distinguished First Runner Up: Sinhaeng Lee of Colgate University, Hamilton, NY
In his application, Sinhaeng Lee stated, I am driven by a profound passion for choral music and a commitment to fostering musical excellence. Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself to enhancing the choral experience for both singers and audiences. This award represents an opportunity to further hone my skills, collaborate with esteemed colleagues, and bring innovative approaches to choral conducting.”
Distinguished Honorable Mention: Matthew Chi Lee of John P. Stevens High School, Edison, NJ
Sir John Rutter, CBE, another esteemed judge on the panel said, “Matthew Chi Lee’s young singers passionately wanted to give the last drop of their blood to the music…rising to the challenge of something new and delivering a convincing performance beyond their comfort zone.”
MidAmerica Productions, Inc. remains dedicated to supporting the growth of choral music and giving emerging conductors a platform on some of the world’s most iconic stages. The organization anticipates Matthew Abernathy, Sinhaeng Lee, and Matthew Chi’s debut at Carnegie Hall in 2026.
APPROVED PHOTOS, VIDEOS, AND MEDIA KIT
MATTHEW ABERNATHY, 2024 Winner of the MidAmerica Productions, Inc. International Choral Conducting Competition
Known for his refined musicianship, impassioned performances, and collaborative leadership, Matthew Abernathy is making his mark as one of America’s most promising young conductors. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay (Principal Chorus for The Florida Orchestra), and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Tampa.
As the Artistic Director for the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Abernathy leads a 130-voice symphonic chorus that performs major choral-orchestral works in collaboration with their partner The Florida Orchestra. Recent reviews of his work have noted, “...The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay delivered their message with enough precision and clarity to sound like a chamber ensemble on steroids.” (Kurt Loft- TFO Blog). Continuing the Master Chorale’s long-standing legacy of supporting the work of living composers, he has commissioned music by Jerod Tate, Nico Gutierrrez, Natalie Draper, Joan Szymko, and many others. He further oversees a comprehensive community engagement program reaching all ages throughout Tampa Bay.
In 2022 Abernathy was a semifinalist and the only American admitted to the Fosco Corti International Competition for Choral Conductors in Turin, Italy out of over 60 international applicants. From 2016-2022, he was on staff at Minnesota Opera where he has served as Guest Chorus Master (2022, 2019), Children’s Chorus Director (2016-2022), and Music Director of their youth opera program Project Opera (2016-2022). Prior engagements also include work as the Chorus Master for the Lakes Area Music Festival (2018-2022) and regular work as an Assistant Conductor/Section Leader with the Minnesota Chorale (2022, 2019), including for their recording of Mahler Symphony No. 8 (BIS Records) with Minnesota Orchestra.
Other notable conducting appearances include The Florida Orchestra, Wintergreen Music Festival, Bach Society of Minnesota, Dakota Valley Symphony Chorus, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, The Summer Singers, Opera MODO, Arbor Opera Theater, 113 Composer Collective, and the Norfolk Chamber Choir. He has prepared choruses for conductors including Michael Francis, Chelsea Gallo, Michael Christie, Christian Reif, Osmo Vänskä, Jonathan Brandani, Nicholas Kraemer, Kenneth Kiesler, Larry Rachleff, Kathy Saltzman Romey, and Christof Perick.
Beyond his performance work, Dr. Abernathy is a devoted pedagogue and champion for music education and art-making at all ages. In the collegiate setting, Dr. Abernathy is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Tampa where he conducts the Chamber Singers, Camerata, and teaches the undergraduate Aural Skills sequence. Additionally, he has been on the faculty at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. His academic research focuses on aural skills and musicianship (particularly as it pertains to training conductors), and Leadership for Conductors: a topic on which he has presented at the ACDA Southern Conference.
In his work with Minnesota Opera’s Project Opera, he mentored and coached young talent, continuing the program's successful legacy, which has produced singers currently performing at LA Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Glyndebourne, Houston Grand Opera, and many others. He played an integral role in the creation and success of Minnesota Opera’s Voices of Opera, an adult community chorus which performed semi-staged scenes from famous operas, and served as a Teaching Artist for Minnesota Opera’s El Sistema program, Music Out Loud.
Dr. Abernathy has furthered his studies at the Medomak Conductors Retreat, Chorus America Conducting Academy, and Norfolk Chamber Choir Workshop. He has been lucky to work with many amazing musicians who have greatly influenced him, and counts among his mentors Kathy Saltzman Romey, Jerry Blackstone, Duain Wolfe, Matthew Mehaffey, Eugene Rogers, Erin Freeman, and Kenneth Kiesler. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), and Onondaga Community College.
SINHAENG LEE, Distinguished First Runner Up
Sinhaeng Lee is a professional conductor, educator, singer, and keyboardist. He founded and serves as the artistic director of Vox Amicis, a professional ensemble in Seoul, South Korea. He is also an assistant professor of music and the director of choral programs at Colgate University.
Throughout his career, Lee has conducted a diverse range of choirs, from youth choruses to professional ensembles. During his undergraduate studies, he served as student assistant conductor of the Yonsei University Concert Choir and conducted the Yonsei University Glee Club. Lee also served as a graduate assistant conductor, preparing performances for the Westminster Symphonic Choir, which frequently collaborated with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He also held the role of music director for the Westminster Community Chorus. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he conducted the University Chorus and was recognized on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent By Their Students in 2021.
Lee has toured Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, and other countries to perform, and has received masterclasses from renowned conductors such as Manuel Schuen and Erwin Ortner from the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, Austria, and Lorenz Aichner from Volksoper Wien, Vienna, Austria. In 2024, Lee was a presenter at the NY-ACDA Summer Conference: Moving Forward, Singing Together, where he led the session “Korean Choral Pronunciation: Learning the Basics and Beyond.” He is also scheduled to conduct a masterclass at the NY ACDA Collegiate Conference this fall
Lee holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music (Choral Conducting) from Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, where he studied under Dr. Hae Ock Kim; his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College under the guidance of Dr. Joe Miller and Dr. Amanda Quist; and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music with a cognate in Performance Practice from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Andrew Megill and Dr. Charlotte Mattax Moersch.
His honors include a Conducting Assistantship at the Carmel Bach Festival, and Conducting Fellowships with Chorus America and the National Collegiate Choral Organization. Lee was recently honored with 1st Prize in the Korean Federation for Choral Music Conducting Competition and 3rd Prize in the Korean Choral Directors Association & National Chorus of Korea Conducting Competition.
MATTHEW CHI LEE, Distinguished Honorable Mention
Matthew Chi Lee (He/Him) is currently in his 10th year as the Choir Director at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey. Under his leadership, the choirs at J.P. Stevens H.S. have consistently earned superior and gold ratings at local, state, national, and international festivals. Notably, the J.P. Stevens Chamber Ensemble performed at the 2022 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Eastern Regional Conference and the 2023 ACDA National Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Additionally, the ensemble was awarded the Grand Prize and the Morten Lauridsen Prize at the Interkultur Sing ‘N’ Joy Princeton International in 2017. Matthew has also been honored with the Interkultur Conductor’s Prize. Mr. Lee’s students frequently achieve selection for the Central Jersey Regions Choir, All-State Mixed and Treble Choirs, All-Eastern Choir, and All-National Honor Choir.
In addition to his role at J.P. Stevens, Mr. Lee has managed and prepared various honor choirs across New Jersey, including the NJ Region I Treble Choir, Morris Area Honor Choir, NJ All-State Treble Choir, and NJ All-State Mixed Choir. He has also presented at the NJMEA All-State Conference and the NJACDA Summer Conference. His conducting credits include the Central Jersey Intermediate Treble Choir, Central Jersey High School Treble Choir, All Sussex County Honor Chorus, and the Connecticut Eastern Region High School Festival. He is a recipient of the ACDA Lannom Study Award and serves on the NJ All-State Choral Procedures Board as well as the Eastern ACDA Diversity Initiatives Team.
Matthew Lee is the assistant conductor at Christ Church in Summit, NJ, and has performed internationally in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and France. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree from Florida State University, where his independent study focused on culturally responsive pedagogy and multicultural choral music.
International Choral Conducting Committee:
Sir John Rutter CBE - Cambridge, UK
Composer and Conductor
Alan Chircop – Island of Malta
Artistic Director, Inclassica International Music Festival, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Thomas Louziotis – Athens, Greece
President of Hellenic Choirs Association, Greece
Stefan Parkman – Stockholm, Sweden
Professor em Uppsala Universitet
Professor Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden
Vice President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
MidAmerica Productions, Inc. Choral Conducting Staff Committee:
Terre Johnson, Ph.D.-Florida State University, USA
Composer and Conductor
Chair, The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music Georgia Southern University
Matthew Harden, Interdisciplinary Ph.D.-Conservatory of Music, University of
Missouri-Kansas City, USA
Conductor-in-Residence and Program Development Associate
Stephen Pu, DMA-Claremont Graduate University, USA
Conductor and Program Development Associate
Artistic Director for the Hollywood Master Chorale
Artistic Director, Voices of Love Chorus Los Angeles
Sonja Sepúlveda, DMA-University of South Carolina, USA
Conductor-in-Residence and Program Development Associate
Director of Program Development for MidAm International, Inc.
Adam Stich, DMA-University of South Carolina, USA
Conductor and Program Development Associate
Michael John Trotta, DMA-Louisiana State University, USA
Composer and Conductor
Candace Wicke, DMA-University of Miami, USA
Conductor and Program Development Associate
Founder, President, and Executive Director for the Continuo Arts Foundation
MIDAMERICA PRODUCTIONS, INC.
Peter Tiboris created and conducted his first concert in New York on January 7, 1984, at Lincoln Center, featuring The American Symphony Orchestra, soloists, and three choruses, the Louisiana Chorale of Acadiana, Camerata Singers of Baton Rouge, and Collegiate Chorale of New York. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, Mr. Tiboris had just created his own, successful, production company, MidAmerica Productions, Inc., which was to become the foremost independent producer of choral concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. During its 40 years, MidAmerica Productions, Inc. has brought together conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from the U.S. and abroad to appear at New York’s top venues, including Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Weill Recital Hall, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) at Lincoln Center. Additionally, MidAmerica Productions, Inc. has presented concerts in numerous U.S. cities and in countries throughout the world, including Greece, England, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Portugal, and Russia.
MidAmerica Productions, Inc.’s concerts have showcased choral groups singing oratorios with talented conductors, full orchestra, and professional soloists; individual instrumental and choral groups performing as part of the Ensemble Spotlight Series; and solo recitals. Diverse programs have included Madrigal Festivals, Vocal Jazz Festivals, National Wind Ensemble, National Festival Youth Orchestra, and Sweet Adelines. Among the renowned guest conductors who have led MidAmerica’s concerts are John Rutter (who has conducted more than 130 concerts in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall), Sherrill Milnes, Lukas Foss, Helmuth Rilling, H. Robert Reynolds, JoAnne Falletta, Michael Morgan, and Jonathan Willcocks. More than 800 conductors have conducted on MidAmerica’s series in New York and abroad, sharing the stage with 1300 solo artists from the world’s greatest opera companies and concert stages, and 3700 choral ensembles from the U.S. and abroad. There have been 174 youth and collegiate orchestras as well as 146 youth and collegiate bands, jazz bands, and wind ensembles. Over the years, MidAmerica has commissioned new works and presented numerous premieres in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall.
World premieres have included Dinos Constantinides’ Byron’s Greece, Hymn to the Human Spirit, and Midnight Fantasy II for wind ensemble; John Rutter’s Cantate Domino, Distant Land, Magnificat, and Mass of the Children; and John Leavitt’s A Christmas Garland. U.S. premieres have featured new and older works such as Mozart’s Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, Reimann’s Concerto for Violin and Cello, Tchaikovsky’s Ode to Joy, Mikis Theodorakis’ Electra and Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra, and René Clausen’s Hellas: In the Name of Freedom. In 2015, John Rutter conducted the New York premiere of his work, Canticles of Creation; in 2018, he returned to conduct the Carnegie Hall premiere of his major work, Visions, in 2023 he returned again to conduct the NY premiere of his work, Taranto: A Cathedral Triptych. Page 8In addition to its Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage series, MidAmerica Productions, Inc. has presented nearly 400 chamber music concerts in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall since 1989. Distinguished soloists, chamber ensembles, and members of orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have appeared on MidAmerica’s chamber music series.
PETER TIBORIS, Founder, General Music Director, and Conductor
Greek-American conductor, music director, and impresario Peter Tiboris has been a vital presence on the international music scene for more than 50 years. As General and Music Director of MidAmerica Productions, Inc. in New York since its founding in 1983, Mr. Tiboris has presented more than 1,400 concerts worldwide, including in Carnegie Hall and at other New York City venues including Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher (now David Geffen) Hall and Alice Tully Hall (the site of his January 7, 1984, New York debut with the American Symphony Orchestra). In 2004 he founded MidAm International, which produces concerts in major European cultural centers including Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Florence, Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Warsaw, Athens, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. In 2005, he created the International Festival of the Aegean on the Greek island of Syros in the Cyclades where he presented international-caliber performances of opera, oratorios, concerti, symphonic works, Greek folk music, jazz, theater, and ballet. In 2011, the Festival was named “Best cultural organization operating in the wider region of Greece” by the Awards Committee of Music Critics of the Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics in Athens. Mr. Tiboris has a vast repertoire, ranging from major choral works to countless symphonies, operas, and ballets, including numerous world and American premieres. Among the distinguished orchestras Mr. Tiboris has conducted are London’s Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestras, Niedersächsische Orchester Hannover, Virtuosi di Praga, Brno Philharmonic, National Opera Orchestra of Cairo, American Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, Société Philharmonique de Montréal, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon Le-Zion, Orchestra del Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Orchestra di Verona, and Orchestra di Siciliana di Palermo. His ballet engagements have included the Balletto di Verona and the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, whose production of Peer Gynt with director/choreographer Renato Zanella was named “Ballet of the Year” by Danza e Danza Magazine. In 2016, he made his Asian debut with the Macau Orchestra and Taipei Philharmonic Chorus in Macau, China. In 1995 Maestro Tiboris founded Elysium Recordings, which has a catalogue of 27 releases (ten of which feature him as conductor), with other notables including pianist Dimitris Sgouros, members of the New York Philharmonic, and Lukas Foss. He has also recorded for Bridge Records and Albany Records. His discography includes the first commercial recording of Mascagni’s opera Silvano; and world-premiere recordings of works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Schubert incorporating the Mahler “Retuschen,” as well as David Rosen’s critical edition of Verdi’s Requiem (1874). A Wisconsin native, Peter Tiboris studied music at the University of Wisconsin and received a doctorate from the University of Illinois. Page
PRESTON HAWES, Artistic Director, New England Symphonic Ensemble
Hailed by the European Academy of Arts and Sciences as an “electrifying and virtuosic” performer with “exquisite taste and rare talent,” Canadian violinist Dr. Preston Hawes is a laureate of the Concours de musique du Canada, the Andrews International Music Competitions, and the Prix de Musique de Chambre à Fontainebleau, and is a recipient of the J.C. Van Hulsteyn Award and Peabody Career Grant. He has been heard as a soloist in more than 35 countries and in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Plovdiv Symphony Hall. Having earned a Master of Music degree and the coveted Artist Diploma at Yale University, Dr. Hawes completed his studies by earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hawes is a professor of music and director of strings at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md., and is the artistic director of the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
The New England Symphonic Ensemble (NESE)
The New England Symphonic Ensemble (NESE), under the artistic direction of Dr. Preston Hawes, is among the most frequently featured organizations in Carnegie Hall. Since its inception in 1989, the NESE has drawn global critical acclaim in hundreds of concerts on the world’s most prestigious stages. In collaboration with MidAmerica Productions, Inc., the NESE has been led by a roster of guest conductors, including John Rutter, Peter Tiboris, Sherrill Milnes, Helmuth Rilling, Simon Carrington, and Jonathan Willcocks, and regularly hosts international guest soloists. NESE world premieres include Dinos Constantinides’ Byron's Greece, Hymn to the Human Spirit, and Midnight Fantasy II for wind ensemble; John Rutter’s Cantate Domino, Distant Land, Magnificat, and Mass of the Children; and John Leavitt’s A Christmas Garland. The NESE boasts multiple U.S. premieres, including Mozart’s Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, Reimann’s Concerto for Violin and Cello, Tchaikovsky’s Ode to Joy, and René Clausen’s Hellas: In the Name of Freedom. The NESE can be heard on the Naxos label in an award-winning recording of spirituals with internationally renowned mezzo-soprano, the late Barbara Smith Conrad.
For more information, please contact Andrea Niederman at aniederman@midamerica-music.com or visit www.midamerica-music.com.