Dr. Neil Anderson-Himmelspach, HCC full-time music faculty member, and Dr. Joseph Satava, HCC adjunct music faculty member, have each been selected to receive an Individual Artist Award in from the Maryland State Arts Council for FY 2011.  Dr. Himmelspach was awarded$6,000 in the classical music composition category and Dr. Satava was awarded $3,000 in the classical music solo performance category.   

On January 31, Governor Martin O’Malley announced the 93 Maryland artists who were selected to receive Individual Artist Awards totaling $246,000 from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.  According to a media release, “The Individual Artist Awards program recognizes the talent and hard work of the State’s many individual artists and the vital role that they play in making our communities a better place to live and work,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Investing in the arts helps grow Maryland’s economy, increase our job base and enhance the quality of life for all Maryland citizens.”  

Artists competed for $1,000, $3,000, and $6,000 awards in the following categories:  choreography, classical music composition, classical music solo performance, poetry, sculpture, solo dance performance, world music composition, and world music solo performance.  There were a total of 12 awards in the classical music solo performance category and a total of 10 awards in the classical music composition category.  The HCC faculty members received the highest monetary award in their respective categories. 

The council received 407 applications; they were reviewed by out-of-state juries representing each artistic discipline.  Artistic categories alternate each year.