Past Winners
The Medallion of Merit is the highest honor bestowed by NSAL. It is given to those individuals whose lifetime achievements in the arts embody the highest standards and whose careers stand as role models for young artists.
Distinguished past winners include:
Year | Medallion of Merit Winner | Year | Medallion of Merit Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Guy Taylor, Music (Conductor)* | 1994 | Alan Prewitt, Drama |
| 1967 | Dr. Joseph Woods Krutch, Art | 1995 | Kathy Hotchner, Scottsdale Cultural Council |
| 1968 | Louise Lincoln Kerr, Patron* | 1996 | Rudy Turk, Art |
| 1969 | Dr. Collice Henry Portnoff, Literature* | 1997 | Glynn Ross, Music* |
| 1970 | Veda Berkman, Piano* | 1998 | Ron Carlson, Literature |
| 1971 | Walter Bohl, Art* | 1999 | Robert Sorenson, Drama |
| 1972 | Glendon Swarthout, Literature* | 2000 | Frances Smith Cohen, Dance* |
| 1973 | Dr. Eugene Lombardi, Music* | 2001 | Ben Goo, Art (Sculpture) |
| 1974 | David B. Scoular, Music* | 2002 | Dr. Robert Hamilton, Music (Piano) |
| 1975 | John Henry Waddell, Art | 2003 | Dr. Albert Rios, Literature (Poetry) |
| 1976 | Philip C. Curtis, Art* | 2004 | Judy Kaye, Musical Theater |
| 1978 | Drs. Ariel and Will Durant, Literature* | 2005 | Dr. J. Robert Wills, Drama* |
| 1979 | Bettina Hall-Rubicam, Drama* | 2006 | Ib Andersen, Dance |
| 1979 | Sandy Rosenthal, Drama | 2007 | Allen Dutton, Art* |
| 1980 | Dr. William Christiansen, Dance* | 2008 | Nancy and Richard Joaquim, Voice |
| 1981 | Dr. Leonard Lehrer, Art | 2009 | Dr. David Saar, Drama |
| 1982 | Horacio Gutierrez, Music | 2010 | Jewell Parker Rhodes, Literature |
| 1984 | John W. Paul, Drama | 2011 | Dr. Jory Hancock, Dance |
| 1986 | Helen Blair Crosbie, Art | 2012 | Michael Barnard, Musical Theater |
| 1987 | Barbara Leslie Jordan Yellot, Literature* | 2013 | Merrill Mahaffey, Art |
| 1988 | Don Dedera, Literature | 2014 | Robert Moody, Music (Conductor) |
| 1989 | Dr. Donald Doyle, Drama | 2015 | Dwayne Hartford, Drama |
| 1990 | George Zoritch, Dance* | 2016 | Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, Musical Theater |
| 1991 | The Honorable Barry M. Goldwater, Art* | 2017 | Carol Schilling, Dance |
| 1992 | Madame Galina Vishnevskaya, Music* | 2018 | Jane Jozoff, Music |
| 1992 | Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich, Music* | 2019 | Russ and Mac Perlich, Drama |
1993 | Shelley Cohen, Arizona Commission for the Arts | 2023 | Judith G. Wolf |
2024 | Jon Gentry |
Arts Advocacy Award
The Black Theatre Troupe
*In Memoriam
Past Competition Winner Updates
Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Arizona where she appeared in several productions including: “RENT,” “A Little Night Music,” and “The Full Monty.”
She has done summer stock at the Arizona Broadway Theatre and The Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre in Kansas, appearing in “Into The Woods,” “Shrek The Musical,” and “Legally Blonde,” and is an alumnus of several past Valley Youth Theatre productions.
After graduation, she became a production vocalist with Princess Cruise Lines, performing on three different ships over the span of 17 months. She currently works as a studio coordinator for Flywheel Sports in Phoenix.
Nailah graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature/Letters. After a stint as a student coordinator for Flora Stone Mather Center for Women in Cleveland, she accepted a position as a live narrator for Wildlife Conservation Society in Bronx, NY.
Kristi graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music, Clarinet Performance from Drake University in 2013 before receiving her Master of Music, Clarinet Performance in 2015 from Arizona State University. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Musical Arts, Clarinet Performance in 2018, also from ASU.
Kristi was one of 12 clarinetists from around the world chosen to advance to the semi-finals of the International Clarinet Association (ICA) Young Artist Competition. She also attended the Belgian Clarinet Academy, where she received extensive coaching while performing as a soloist in chamber groups and in a clarinet choir. She was a guest artist in Germany at the Saarburg Chamber Music Festival, and performed in and coached chamber ensembles.
Kristi is currently a freelance performer and private instructor.
Jeremy graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance in 1994, and his Masters in 1997. Jeremy juggles a full career as an extra chorister for The Metropolitan Opera; private voice teacher; and voice professor at the Steinhardt School at New York University.
Dr. Amy Yekel received her Masters of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from Arizona State University. She is a winner of the Robert Lauch award from the Wagner Society of New York as well as a former first place winner of Palm Springs Opera Scholarship Competition, Arizona Lyric Opera Scholarship Competition, The Canton Civic Opera Scholarship Competition, Akron Symphony Chorus Scholarship, Tuesday Musical Club Scholarship, Mary S. Bower’s Scholarship, The John MacDonald Scholarship, and The McDowell Scholarship.
A dramatic soprano, Amy made her professional debut in 2012 with Toledo Opera and has also appeared on several occasions in concerts and oratorio performances.
She is currently an assistant professor in the music department of Marietta College in Ohio.
Since her days at the NSAL competition, Lauren has worked as guest artist faculty at Arizona State University and as an equity performer for regional and touring productions. She currently lives in New York City working as a resident teaching artist for Disney Theatrical Group.
With her amazing team at Disney, she has developed the Disney Musicals in Schools Program, using professional development and licensed Disney KIDS productions to build self sustaining musical theater programs in urban elementary schools across the US. She also works closely with the Disney on Broadway productions, bringing content from the shows to schools and school groups through their Broadway outreach programs.