Nominations Now Open for Top 50 U.S. Colleges for International Musicians

New York, NY, March 22, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​The American Artists Council has announced its 2016 competition for the Top 50 U.S. Colleges and Universities for International Musicians.

American post-secondary institutions with one or more degree programs for musicians are eligible for nomination. The aim of this annual competition is to recognize and honor the best of the best in terms of colleges and universities that attract, support, and serve international musicians at the highest level.

"It is sad to me how little recognition is available for colleges and universities in the U.S. that are really doing the American arts community a tremendous service by attracting talent from all corners of the world."

Fraser Calhoun, Founder, American Artists Council

Unfortunately, post-secondary institutions with distinguished music programs that are of particular benefit to foreign music students tend to be overlooked and under-acknowledged in the academic and music communities alike. Statistics exist for top universities or best-attended music programs, but very little recognition is available specifically for post-secondary institutions with excellent music programs of particular interest to foreign artists.

The American Artists Council began the awards competition to help address this lack in part because it wishes to honor the academic institutions that have helped in furthering its own mission, which is to foster a global community of exceptional international musicians and other artists, here in the United States. It is the American Artists Council's belief that one of the strongest attractors for foreign musicians is the caliber and quality of its post-secondary music programs.

"It is sad to me how little recognition is available for colleges and universities in the U.S. that are really doing the American arts community a tremendous service by attracting talent from all corners of the world," said Fraser Calhoun, American Artists Council Founder. "Our hope with this competition - and with our organization in general - is to shine an even brighter light on the U.S. as one of the best - if not the best - places in the world to be an international musician."

Nominations are open until Monday, April 11, 2016; award winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 19, 2016. In addition to the Top 50 ranking, there will be a number of "best of" categories, including:

• Awards for most financial aid for foreign students
• Awards for most commercially successful musician graduates
• “Best-kept secret” Awards
• Awards for specific musical genres
• …and more.

For competition details and to submit a nomination, please visit: http://www.americanartistscouncil.org/2016s-top-50-u-s-colleges-for-international-musicians-accepting-nominations/

Awards will be selected by an esteemed panel of adjudicators including American Artists Council Founder Fraser Calhoun and Juan Montoya, educator at the prestigious "Jazz at Lincoln Center" in New York City.

The American Artists Council strives to showcase exceptional talent and achievement from all over the world here in the United States, in order to foster a global community of artists and a platform from which foreign artists of distinction can begin exploring the musical opportunities in the United States.

The American Artists Council offers performance and recording opportunities to artists as well as competitions and awards honoring distinction in artists from all over the world. The organization also acts as agents and a support system for qualifying artists wishing to pursue an arts career in the United States through an O-1 visa classification (commonly referred to as an "artist visa").

Fraser Calhoun, the founder of the American Artists Council, is a Canadian-born jazz saxophonist who had a vision for a simpler, clearer path for other professional artists aspiring to pursue their artistry for a living in the United States. This vision developed into the American Artists Council LLC, which honors exceptional artists and provides performance opportunities, as well as O-1 visa mentorship and sponsorship. Moving to the United States has afforded Mr. Calhoun opportunities to work with jazz greats including Seamus Blake, Mulgrew Miller, and many more. He has made his home in New Jersey with his wife and young daughter.

For more information about the American Artists Council, please visit:

http://www.americanartistscouncil.org

To submit a nomination or learn more about the AAC's 2016 Top 50 U.S. Colleges for International Musicians competition, please visit:

http://www.americanartistscouncil.org/2016s-top-50-u-s-colleges-for-international-musicians-accepting-nominations/