The Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Diane Wittry, music director, is the 2014 winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Performance in the professional orchestra division.

Wittry brings an original programming style, creating innovative concert experiences that excite audiences, stated the contest judges, who noted Wittry "… demonstrates a confidence and finesse in major repertory."

The orchestra was selected from applications reviewed this past summer from across the United States.

The Allentown Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1951. For 63 seasons, the orchestra has brought guest artists and performances to the Lehigh Valley region.

From 1951 to 1983, founding conductor Donald Voorhees (NBC "Bell Telephone Hour") showcased legends such as Placido Domingo, Benny Goodman and Carol Channing.

William Smith, conductor, 1986 - '90, simultaneously was assistant conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Wittry, was appointed music director in 1995. During her tenure, the orchestra has grown in quality and in the number and types of concerts presented.

The ASO annually performs five concerts, four pops concerts, educational and family concerts, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" (with Repertory Dance Theatre) and a chamber music series.

The American Prize, founded in 2009, is a series of non-profit competitions intended to recognize and reward the best performing artists, ensembles and composers in the United States based on submitted recordings.

The American Prize, without bias against small city versus large, or unknown artist versus well-known, sponsors competitions for conductors, ensembles, vocalists, composers, chamber musicians, stage directors and pianists.

David Katz, chief judge of The American Prize, is a professional conductor, award-winning composer, playwright, actor and arts advocate. The judges panel includes professional vocalists, conductors, composers and pianists, tenured professors and orchestra, band and choral musicians.

The American Prize is administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a non-profit performing arts organization based in Danbury, Conn.

Winners of The American Prize receive cash prizes, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition, and are profiled on The American Prize website, with links to video and audio excerpts of winning performances.

Information: The American Prize web site: theamericanprize.org