Awards
2019:
Tara has been recognized as a 2019 Honored Artist of The American Prize, a series of non-profit national competitions in the performing arts. Honored Artists are individuals who have proven themselves to be artists of sustained excellence over a number of seasons as laureates in the competitions.
2018:
The Davidson College Symphony Orchestra, under Tara's direction, was the first place winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Performance, college orchestra division.
Second place for The American Prize Maestro Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral programming for the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra's 2016-2017 season, with a special judge's citation for "remarkable growth in the programming of major repertoire"
Third place for The American Prize in Conducting, college/university orchestra division with a special judges’ citation for “exceptional improvement in ensemble performance.”
2013:
Second place for The American Prize Maestro Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral programming for Lee County Community Orchestra's 2011-2012 season "An Orchestral Bouquet"
Third place for The American Prize in Orchestral Conducting, Community Orchestra Division, for performances with the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in the 2012-13 season
2012:
Second place for The American Prize Maestro Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral programming for Lee County Community Orchestra's 2010-2011 season "The Elements"
2011:
Winner of the Metrolina Theatre Association's Outstanding Musical Direction/Conducting award for Davidson College's 2011 production of Into the Woods
2010:
Granted continuous tenure at Davidson College
2009:
Second Place in the Camargo Guarnieri Conducting Competition,
Campos do Jordão, Brazil
2009:
Winner of the Interaction Selection Contest, Berlin, Germany
2008:
Winner of the International Conducting Workshop & Competition,
Macon, Georgia
Women Conductors Grant recipient from the League of American Orchestras
2007:
Winner of the Varna International Conducting Competition, Vidin, Bulgaria
2006:
Recipient of the LeDare Robinson Graduate Award for Excellence in Music, University of South Carolina
2005:
Grant recipient from the Global Partners Project and Associated Colleges of the South
2001-03:
Member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society, Penn State University