THE NATIONAL SOCIETY
OF ARTS AND LETTERS

CENTRAL ILLINOIS CHAPTER

NATIONAL CAREER AWARDS


  We assist talented young artists and writers at the beginning of their careers. The principal means for achieving this goal is a local competition covering a large part of Illinois, which is held every spring, and the following National competition at which each of the 23 chapter winners’ writing, art, or performance is judged. The competition rotates between music, drama, literature, art, dance, and musical theater. The first national musical theater competition was a gala event held in Champaign-Urbana in 2004.

  Typically, three awards are given. The first place winner receives $1,000 and a fully expense-paid trip to the National. The first place prize at the national is $10,000, which has been used for a variety of purposes.

LOCAL AWARDS

  Each city within our chapter chooses projects for funding young artists and writers. Our projects have included university scholarships, awards for a university concerto competition, prizes for junior and high school students in an art competition, and art workshops for gifted under-privileged children. Several thousand dollars has been distributed in this way. We also hold competitions for the Winston Scholarship, a national prize for outstanding talent in art and voice.

CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP

Our members, who are mainly from Peoria, Bloomington-Norma., and Champaign-Urbana, are performers, musicians, artists, writers, and patrons of the arts. Membership is by invitation. Potential members are those who express an interest in joining or are identified by a current member. Honorary Membership, which involves no financial obligations, recognizes prominent local artists, writers, and patrons.
There are three general meetings each year in addition to the competition. These begin with a brief business session and then include any of a variety of performances. Over the past three years, we have had readings from our poetry competitors, one of whom won a national award, dramatic performances at a Bloomington country club, a musical interlude by winners of an operatic competition and
another by the winner of a local award, and comedy performances from regional winners. In 2007, the regional/national competition will be water-based media on paper, and in 2008, music.

DUES

Our chapter supports its awards programs through our contributions and our endowment fund. There are no fund-raising activities. With this philosophy, those who wish to further our goals may do so without investing significant amounts of time. On the other hand, those who wish to be more involved provide the absolutely necessary contributions of time as officers or chairs of the annual competition.

Currently, our annual dues are $50 per person, $30 of which goes to the national organization. In addition, our chapter solicits a contribution of $75 from each person or $125 from each couple. This contribution may be waived by the decision of the chapter board. There is also a $35 initiation fee.


PAST LOCAL FIRST PLACE WINNERS, THEIR TALENT,
AND THEIR NATIONAL AWARDS

1982    Jonathan Shames, Piano, 1st National
1983    Sharon Krause, Poetry
1984    Robert Petkoff, Drama, 4th National
1985     Monica Maher, Dance
1986    James Byrne, Art, 2nd National
1987    Ollie Watts Davis, Voice
1988    David Dobbs, Literature, 3rd National
1989    Andrew Miller, Drama
1990    Iris Maor, Dance
1991    Donna deVecchio, Photography
1992    Lincoln Smelser, Music, Cello
1993    Michael Gotch, TV scriptwriting, 2nd National
1994    Lisa Rothschiller, Drama
1995    Christian Biel, Drama
1996    Leo Berk, Ceramics, 1st National   
1997    Dawn Waggener, Voice, 5th National
1998    Megan Ward, Fiction
1999    Drew Battles, Drama, 2nd National
2000    Krista Nelson, Dance
2001    Sara Smith Spahn, Sculpture
2002    Casey Robards, Piano
2003    Lori Propheter, Poetry, 5th National
2004    Leslie Ann Handelman, Musical Theater
2005    Leslie Ann Handelman, Acting for Comedy
2006    Renata Sheppard, Dance
2007    Ryan Rocha, Water Media on Paper

Contacts
Richard F. Peterson, co-president
3G Lyndhurst Village Ct.
Savoy, IL 61874
217-356-6602
Email

-or-

Margaret Steffensen, co-president
2102 South Race Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217-367-8812
Email

2008 Music Competition Chair
Nadja Alstetter
130 Lake Rd., Seymour, IL 61875
217-687-2608
Email

Membership Chair
Helen Cangellaris
3101 Valley Brook Drive
Champaign, IL 61822
217-356-1632
Email

Winston Art Chair
Charlotte Arnstein
217-352-4763
Email

Winston Music Chair
Kristina Engberg
217-352-1139
Email