S&R Foundation Announces 2011 S&R Washington Award Winners

S&R Foundation Announces 2011 S&R Washington Award Winners

Young artists and musicians recognized for their talent and contributions to U.S. - Japanese understanding

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The S&R Foundation, a non-profit organization created to encourage and stimulate scientific research and artistic endeavors among young individuals, today announced the winners of the 2011 S&R Washington Award. The S&R Washington Award was established to recognize talented young artists in the fields of fine arts, music, drama, dance, photography, and film who contribute to U.S.-Japanese understanding.

"It is with great pleasure and honor that we recognize this highly talented and inspiring group of young artists, and reward them for their dedication and achievements in the arts," said Dr. Sachiko Kuno, president of S&R Foundation.

The S&R Washington Award recipients for 2011 are:

-- Laura Eckelman - Ms. Laura Eckelman is a New York City-based lighting
designer for theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts events. A
magna cum laude graduate of Middlebury College, Ms. Eckelman's design
work has garnered regional and national recognition for its subtlety,
elegance and careful composition. Ms. Eckelman holds a Master of Fine
Arts from the Yale School of Drama.
-- Shizuo Kuwahara - Born in Tokyo, Mr. Kuwahara is music director of the
Symphony Orchestra Augusta in Augusta, GA, and is also the first prize
winner of the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors'
Competition in Germany. A renowned conductor, Kuwahara has also won
awards at many international conducting competitions, including the
Malko International Conducting Competition, the Tokyo International
Music Competition for Conducting, the Prokofiev International Conducting
Completion and the Fitelberg International Competition.
-- Ryo Yanagitani - A distinguished pianist, Ryo Yanagitani is considered
one of Canada's most promising young concert artists, endowed twice by
the Canadian Arts Council with a grant as an Emerging Artist. His most
recent successes include winning the gold medal at the 10th Annual San
Antonio International Piano Competition, the Dr. Luis Sigall
International Piano competition in Vina del Mar (Chile), and the Hilton
Head International Piano Competition, and being named a laureate of the
Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition.
-- Char Prescott - Grand Prize Winner Char Prescott is a soloist, chamber
musician, and orchestral cellist in New York City, N.Y. An active
performer, Ms. Prescott has appeared as a soloist at The John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on several occasions,
and has made solo appearances with the Northwestern University Symphony
Orchestra, the Reston Chamber Symphony, the Barry Studio Orchestra, and
the West Potomac Sinfonietta. Ms. Prescott received her Masters degree
in 2011 from the Manhattan School of Music (MSM). Ms. Prescott resides
in Alexandria, VA.
The award recipients are selected by the Awards Committee and receive a $5,000 cash prize to further their artistic disciplines. In addition, the Awards Committee named Char Prescott as a Grand Prize winner. Ms. Prescott will receive an additional $5,000 and will be eligible to showcase her talents in a Foundation sponsored event.

Previous Grand Prize showcases supported by the Foundation have included debuts at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and the Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

Several of these talented young artists will be performing at the S&R Foundation-hosted Concert Series at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Terrace Theater, in April 2012. This unique concert series, which is an official event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and is supported by the Embassy of Japan, will showcase seven world-class musicians during the National Cherry Blossom Festival's Centennial Celebration, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy exceptional presentations by Japanese artists.

For more information on the S&R Washington Award, please visit: http://www.sandr.org/award-program/

About S&R FoundationThe S&R Foundation, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, was founded by Dr. Sachiko Kuno and Dr. Ryuji Ueno in 2000 to encourage and stimulate scientific research and artistic endeavors among young individuals. The S&R Foundation currently grants two awards - The S&R Washington Award and the S&R Ueno Award - and works in partnership with other nonprofit organizations to further the talents of young artists and scientists. For more information, visit www.sandr.org.

Media ContactsAnn Marie TropianoSage Communications (for S&R Foundation)(703) 584-5641annmariet@aboutsage.com

SOURCE S&R Foundation

S&R Foundation

Web Site: http://www.sandr.org

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