Troy University’s Dr. Dave Camwell received two national-level awards from The American Prize and a five-star review from Fanfare Magazine as part of his musical partnership with Covert Ensemble. 

Camwell joined TROY’s faculty in 2017 and met Czech saxophonist Kateřina Pavlíková online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they have completed over a dozen tours that span the Czech Republic, Canada and the United States, sharing their unique arrangements of classical music.

Covert Ensemble placed second in the professional division for the American Prize in Chamber Music and received the American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the performance of American Music as a finalist honorable mention for Jenni Brandon’s “The Sky Between Us.” Additionally, the duo’s recordings of Bedřich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” received a five-star review from Fanfare Magazine.

According to Camwell, the accolades validate the ensemble’s artistic approach.

“Winning two American Prizes reinforces our belief that innovative chamber music, rooted in both tradition and imagination, still has the power to move audiences,” Camwell said. “It is a milestone that fuels our artistic mission moving forward and we are thrilled that the American Prize recognized Covert Ensemble’s commitment to inventive artistry and musical storytelling.”

About The American Prize

The American Prize is a series of non-profit national competitions in the performing arts. The competitions are unique in scope and structure, providing cash awards, professional adjudication, and regional, national and international recognition to individual artists and ensembles across the United States.

Each year, The American Prize recognizes the best recorded performances at the professional, community/amateur, college, university, church and school levels.

About Fanfare Magazine

Fanfare Magazine is a leading publication dedicated to reviewing classical music recordings. The magazine provides professional, in-depth critiques of new releases across all genres of classical music, from symphonies and concertos to chamber music and solo performances.

With a reputation for rigorous standards and expert analysis, Fanfare Magazine’s reviews serve as a trusted resource for classical music enthusiasts, musicians and the recording industry.