CLINTON, IA — The Clinton Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce that its Music Director, Silas Huff, has received a Finalist Honorable Mention in the Orchestral Programming category for The American Prize—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award. This prestigious national competition recognizes the best achievements in orchestral programming, celebrating music directors who build orchestras, cultivate audiences, educate listeners, and enrich their communities through knowledgeable, creative, and courageous repertoire selection.
Maestro Huff, who also serves as Director of Orchestras at UT Arlington and Director of Maestro Masterclasses, was recognized for his impactful programming work with the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Philharmonic.
“We are thrilled to see Silas receive this national recognition,” said Robert Whipple, Executive Director of the Clinton Symphony Orchestra. “His commitment to creative programming and musical excellence is evident in every performance, and we are proud to have his leadership guiding our 73rd season.”
Maestro Huff is an accomplished conductor, composer, and educator with a distinguished career conducting concerts across America and Europe. His past positions include Music Director of the Astoria Symphony Orchestra (NYC), the U.S. Army Orchestra (DC), and the critically acclaimed Lost Dog New Music Ensemble (NYC), among others. A former U.S. Army and Air Force officer, Maestro Huff holds degrees from Texas State University, the University of California Los Angeles, and the University of Colorado Boulder.
The Clinton Symphony Orchestra invites the community to join in congratulating Maestro Huff at upcoming concerts throughout the 2025–2026 season. September 19th’s “Overture to the Season” dinner at the Copper Mill will offer an intimate opportunity to hear directly from Huff regarding Season 73’s programming. Details on the dinner and season tickets are available at clintonsymphony.org.
About the American Prize
The American Prize—Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programming honors the memory of the late Lithuanian conductor, Maestro Vytautas Marijosius, who served as music director of the Lithuanian State Opera and for nearly thirty-five years as the Director of Orchestral Activities at the Hartt School of Music of the University of Hartford.
About the Clinton Symphony Orchestra
Celebrating its 73rd season, the Clinton Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to enriching the community through live orchestral music. Based in Clinton, Iowa, the orchestra performs a variety of concerts throughout the year, featuring a diverse range of repertoire and talented guest artists.#
Media Contact:
Clinton Symphony Orchestra
execdirector@clintonsymphony.org
clintonsymphony.org
