Student Arts Prizes
Each year, faculty, administrators, and staff nominate students for the Annual Arts Prize. These awards, presented to more than 230 undergraduates over the past 43 years, recognize outstanding accomplishments in the arts undertaken during a student’s time at Harvard. The OFA manages the nomination process during the fall semester and awards are announced during late spring semester. The recipients are determined by the Council on the Arts at Harvard, a standing committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Please contact Stephanie Troisi with any questions about the Student Arts Prizes.
Arts Prizes
Council Prize in Visual Art
Recognizes outstanding work by a Harvard undergraduate in the field of visual arts, which includes but is not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, film and video.
Louise Donovan Award
Recognizes a Harvard student who worked behind the scenes in the arts, for example, as director, producer or accompanist, contributing most to the success of a production and the opportunity for others to shine. The award is given in honor of Louise Donovan who, through her distinguished career at Radcliffe College, was a role model of unselfish, effective support for the College.
Council Prize in Dance
Recognizes a Harvard undergraduate student who has demonstrated outstanding artistic development and/or critical engagement within the field of dance.
Radcliffe Doris Cohen Levi Prize (Musical Theater)
Recognizes the Harvard undergraduate who combines talent and energy with outstanding enthusiasm for musical theater at Harvard. The prize honors the memory of Doris Cohen Levi '35 and is conferred upon a student who has made a consistent contribution of high quality to the production or performance of musical comedy, opera, dance and all other forms of theater which combine music and theatrical performance at Harvard.
The Robert E. Levi Prize
Recognizes a Harvard College senior who has demonstrated outstanding arts management skills over the course of an undergraduate career. The recipient’s dedication, organizational talent and creative problem-solving, as well as ability to nurture artistry, have been critical factors in the success of one or more arts organizations and/or projects. The award honors the memory of Robert E. Levi, Harvard College class of 1933 and Harvard Business School, MBA, 1935.
Robert Levin Prize in Musical Performance
This prize has been established to recognize an extraordinarily gifted undergraduate musician, preferably of the senior class. The award honors Robert Levin ’68, Professor Emeritus and former Dwight P. Robinson Jr. Professor of the Department of Music at Harvard University.
Jonathan Levy Award (Acting)
Recognizes a Harvard undergraduate as the most promising actor at the University.
Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts
Recognizes the senior with the most outstanding artistic talent and achievement in the composition or performance of film, music, drama, dance or visual arts. The prize is intended to honor the sum of the student's activities rather than a single project.
The Alan Symonds Award
(Presented by the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players in cooperation with the Office for the Arts at Harvard)
Recognizes a Harvard student active in the technical or production aspects of theater, particularly one who has devoted their time and energies to work in a variety of spaces such as the Agassiz Theatre, drama space in houses and nontraditional theater spaces across the campus. The award is further intended for an individual who has acted as a teacher and mentor to students new to technical theater, helping others grow and learn. The award is given in honor of Alan Symonds, Harvard alumnus and former Technical Director for Harvard College Theatre, a designer, technician and mentor who worked tirelessly to improve Harvard theater in practice and performance. This award is student nominated. Final selection is made by a committee of theater administrators and OFA staff members.
Please join the OFA in congratulating all the Student Prize Winners since the inception of the Prizes in 1983. For more information about the Prizes and this year’s winners, please see the Student Arts Prize page.
LOUIS SUDLER PRIZE (outstanding artistic talent and achievement)
1983: Daniel Dodd Wilson, Dunster House (visual arts)
1984: William Rauch, Adams House, theatre (director)
1985: Marc A. H. Lowenstein, Cabot House (music)
1986: Christopher Liam Moore, Lowell House (theater, actor)
1987: Marya Cohn, Adams House, theatre (director/actor)
1988: Morley Robertson, Mather House (music)
1989: Alan Gilbert, Adams House (music)
1990: Lucy Soutter, Adams House (visual arts)
1991: David Eggar, Mather House (theater, music)
1992: Amy Cabranes, North House, theatre (director)
1993: Richard Nash, Adams House, theatre (director, writer)
1994: Ariane Anthony, North House, dance (dancer, choreographer)
1995: Brad Rouse, Dunster House, theatre (director)
1996: Matt Haimovitz, Kirkland House, music (cellist)
1997: Matt Saunders, Adams House, VES, theatre (actor, director, visual artist)
1998: Sybil-Catherine Watkins, Winthrop House (dance)
1999: Mai'a K. Davis, Currier House (dance)
2000: Joseph Lin, Mather House, music (violin)
2001: Brett Egan, Lowell House (acting); Elizabeth Waterhouse, Eliot House (dance)
2002: Christopher Hossfeld, Leverett House (music); Cary McClelland, affiliate of Pforzheimer House (theater); Jeff Sheng, Eliot House, visual arts (photography)
2003: Hazel Davis, Cabot House (music); Roberto "Pacho" Velez, affiliate of Adams House (visual arts/filmmaking)
2004: Anthony Cheung, Winthrop House (composition)
2005: Michael M. Donahue, Adams House (theatre); David Mahfouda, Dudley House, visual arts (performance art)
2006: Melissa Goldman, Mather House, theater (set designer); Han Yu, affiliate of Dudley House, visual arts (installation art)
2007: Stefan Jackiw, Leverett House, music (violin)
2008: Bong Ihn Koh, Cabot House, music (cello); Elizabeth Lim, Cabot House, music (composer)
2009: Calla Videt, Dudley House, theater (director)
2010: Jack Cutmore-Scott, Dunster House, theater (actor)
2011: Charlie Albright, Leverett House (piano)
2012: Matthew Aucoin, Kirkland House (composer, conductor, music director, poet)
2013: Keir GoGwilt, Adams House (violin)
2014: Liv Redpath, Pforzheimer House (singer)
2015: Chase Morrin, Quincy House (composer and jazz pianist)
2016: Alistair Debling, Adams House (director, installation artist)
2017: Alexander (Sasha) Scolnik-Brower, Winthrop House (musician, conductor)
2018: George Li, Winthrop House (pianist)
2019: Chloe Brooks, Quincy House (actor)
2020: Anna Lee, Lowell House (violinist and singer); George Liu, Adams House (visual arts)
2021: Joy Nesbitt, Leverett House (theater, music director); Eli Zuzovsky, Dudley Co-Op (director/writer (flim/theater))
2022: Julia Riew, Lowell House (musical theater composer-lyricist-librettist, actor); Benjamin Perry Wenzelberg, Leverette House (conductor, vocalist, composer, pianist)
2023: Ian Chan, Winthrop House (musical theater composer-orchestrator, music director)
2024: Dasha Bough, Currier House (film director and animator)
2025: Alex Lee, Dunster House (animator); Haley Stark, Quincy House (theater director, writer, performer)
JONATHAN LEVY AWARD (acting)
1985: Christopher L. Moore, Lowell House
1986: Benjamin Evett, Currier House
1987: Jonathan Tolins, Dunster House
1988: Chad Raphael, Adams House
1989: Daniel Zelman, North House
1990: Anthony Hatch; Pier Carlo Talenti, both of Dunster House
1991: Donivan Barton, North House; China Forbes, Adams House
1992: Eisa Davis, Adams House
1993: Faith Salie, Dunster House
1994: Jessica Walling, Eliot House
1995: Winsome Brown, Adams House
1996: Colin Stokes, Adams House; Jessica Fortunato, non-res.
1997: Dan Goor, Eliot House
1998: Paul Siemens, Dunster House
1999: Lucia Brawley, Eliot House
2000: Marisa Echeverria, Adams House
2001: James Carmichael, Adams House
2002: Emily Knapp '03, Leverett House
2004: Geordie Broadwater, Eliot House
2005: Robert (Bobby) Hodgson, Adams House
2006: Liam Martin, Kirkland House
2007: Joshua Brenner, Currier House; Michael Hoagland, Eliot House
2008: Sophie Kargman, Adams House
2009: Jonah Priour, Dunster House; Sarah Sherman, Kirkland House
2010: Carolyn Holding, Leverett House; Talisa Friedman, Dunster House
2012: Ryan Halprin, Lowell House
2013: Emily Hyman, Pforzheimer House
2014: Bryan Kauder, Kirkland House
2015: Laura Trosser, Mather House
2016: Max McGillivray, Dunster House
2017: Juliana Sass, Dunster House
2018: Chloe Brooks '19, Quincy House
2019: Jacob Roberts, Lowell House
2020: Celia Kenney, Adams House; Julius JZ Wade, Pforzheimer House
2021: Ruva Chigwedere, Mather House
2022: Shirley Chen, Quincy House
2023: Connor Riordan, Eliot House
2024: Jeremy Orstein, Adams House
2025: Avery Hansberger, Mather House; Nia Weeks, Kirkland House
RADCLIFFE DORIS COHEN LEVI PRIZE (musical theater)
1990: Jacqueline Sloan, Adams House (producer)
1991: Jennifer Giering, Dunster House (composer and performer)
1992: Teresa Marrin, Lowell House (conductor)
1993: Sarah Hicks, Winthrop House (music director)
1994: Catherine Zipf, Winthrop House (theatre tech)
1995: Susanna Witt, Winthrop House (theatre tech and producer)
1996: Jill Weitzner, Adams House (performer, board member, theatre tech)
1997: Kate deLima, Cabot House (actor, producer, theatre tech)
1998: Catherine Ingman, Leverett House (actor and director)
1999: Jessica Jackson, Mather House (actor, director, costume design)
2000: Sara Yellen, Leverett House (actor, director)
2001: James Augustine, Winthrop House (actor, director, dancer, choreographer)
2002: Sara Heller, Eliot House (choreographer, director, theatre tech); Sarah Meyers, Adams House (actor, choreographer, director, board member)
2003: Shelby Braxton-Brooks, Mather House (actor, dancer, choreographer, director)
2004: Christina Shelby, Eliot House (dancer)
2005: Johanna (Jojo) Karlin, Adams House (actor, producer, board member, business manager, theater tech)
2006: Michael Mitnick, Currier House (composer)
2007: Mark Musico, Quincy House (conductor, music director)
2008: Arlo Hill, Winthrop House (actor)
2009: Rachel Flynn, Quincy House (actress)
2010: Christine Bendorf, Quincy House (actor, board member, producer, director); Jordan Reddout, Quincy House (actor & director)
2011: Bridget Haile, Pforzheimer House (actress, behind-the-scenes)
2012: Stewart Kramer, Mather House (actor/director in opera, musical theater)
2013: Benjamin Moss, Lowell House (actor/composer)
2014: Madeleine Smith, Lowell House (music director, composer)
2015: Elizabeth Leimkuhler, Dunster House (actress and operatic performer)
2016: Olivia Miller, Cabot House (actor)
2017: Jake Stepansky, Quincy House (director, technician, designer)
2018: Brian Ge, Mather House (music director)
2019: Ashley LaLonde, Adams House (actor)
2020: Julia Riew, Lowell House (composer/lyricist, playwright, music director, performer)
2021: Harry Sage, Winthrop House (composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, singer); Elle Shaheen, Leverett House (actor)
2022: Rachel Share-Sapolsky, Quincy House, (actor)
2023: Veronica Leahy, Leverett House, (composer, soxophonist/multiwoodwindist, pianist, arranger, conductor and music director)
2024: Caron Sujean Kim, Leverett House (choreographer, dancer, performer & producer); Isa Peña, Cabot House (actor, singer)
2025: Caitlin Beirne, Dunster House (musical theater performer); Adrienne Chan, Pforzheimer House (dancer, choreographer)
LOUISE DONOVAN AWARD ("behind-the-scenes" work)
1997: Hilary Snow, Adams House (theatre tech)
1998: Helen Shaw, Lowell House (set design, HRDC President)
1999: Colleen McGuiness (director); Sam Speedie ( director/producer), both of Cabot House
2000: John Baxindine, Eliot House (music director, accompanist) and David Levy, Adams House (producer, director, writer)
2001: R David Salvage, Quincy House, (music)
2002: Kate Agresta, Cabot House (theater); Marvin Pittman, Pforzheimer House (producer, Black Arts Festival, opera, Pforzheimer House Music Society)
2003: Dan Cozzens (theater administrator/producer) & Elizabeth Little (set designer, producer, board member), Winthrop House
2004: Grace Catenacio, Adams House (visual arts producer, curator), Ben Margo, Currier House (theater administrator/producer) & Peyton Sherwood, Adams House, (theater tech/administrator)
2005: Karina Mangu-Ward (theater tech/administrator, producer)
2006: Zoe Savitsky, Kirkland House (theater producer/assistant director/publicity coordinator/designer)
2007: Blase Ur (theater tech/administrator)
2008: David Jewett (theater tech/producer) & Kara Kaufman, Quincy House (theater administrator/producer, stage manager)
2009: Ben Clark, Adams House (technical director); David Tischfield, Leverett House (producer, instructor, project manager - ceramics)
2010: Michael Zellmann-Rohrer, Mather House (lighting design, theater tech)
2011: Liz Krane, Kirkland House (theater producer, stage manager, set designer, technical director, props manager, choreographer, house manager, box office manager, assistant designer, and advisor)
2012: Danielle Drees, Leverett House (producer, stage manager, dramaturg, administrator); Elizabeth Mak, Cabot House (lighting designer, dance/theater, technician)
2013: Xi (CiCi) Yu, Pforzheimer House (choreographer, stage manager, producer, technical designer)
2014: Madeleine Bersin, Adams House (producer, stage manager, director, designer)
2015: Alexandra Kiley, Winthrop House (director, producer, light designer, actor, production assistant, venue manager, choreography intern)
2016: Garrett Allen, Mather House (director, technician)
2017: Trevor Mullin, Mather House (set designer, producer)
2018: Madison Deming, Quincy House (producer, director, actor)
2018: Darius Johnson, Adams House (writer, producer, stage manager)
2018: Eliza Mantz, Leverett House (actor, director)
2019: Inaara Shiraz, Eliot House (producer, technical director, administrator)
2020: Aaron Olkin, Lowell House (designer, producer, and technician)
2021: Nivi Ravi, Leverett House (producer, administrator)
2022: Serena Chen, Pforzheimer House, (lighting designer, arts administrator)
2023: Finn Bamber, Leverette House, (designer, technician, administrator)
2024: Julia Grullon, Adams House (theater producer, stage manager, director, administrator); Kristian Hardy, Dunster House (director performer, writer, arts administrator and multimedia creator)
2025: Kayla Bey, Pforzheimer House (playwright, director, designer)
SUZANNE FARRELL DANCE PRIZE
2005: Rebecca Alaly, Mather House (dancer, choreographer)
2006: Marie (Molly) Altenburg, Eliot House (dancer)
2007: Larissa Koch, Eliot House (dancer, choreographer)
2008: Claudia Schreier, Adams House, (dancer, choreographer)
2009: Lauren Chin, Eliot House (dancer)
2010: James Fuller, Mather House (dancer)
2011: Kevin Shee, Winthrop House (dancer); Elizabeth Walker, Eliot House (dancer)
2012: Merrit Moore, Eliot House (dancer)
2013: Irineo Cabreros, Pforzheimer House (dancer/choreographer); Shayna Skal, Quincy House (dancer)
2014: Melanie Comeau, Quincy House (dancer)
2015: Julia Cataldo, Winthrop House (director, choreographer, dancer); Hannah Firestone ‘16, Dunster House (director, producer, dancer)
2016: Tessa Markewich, Dunster House (dancer)
2017: Ileana (Lily) Riveron, Dunster House (dancer, choreographer); Talia Rothstein, Dudley House (dancer, choreographer)
2018: Julia DeAngelo, Leverett House (dancer, choreographer)
2019: Anna Antongiorgi, Winthrop House (dancer, choreographer); Tiffany Lau, Eliot House (dancer, choreographer)
2020: Margaret Canaday, Leverett House (dancer, choreographer, director); Mara Milner, Wintrhop House (dancer, director and producer)
2021: Yuri-Grace Ohashi, Cabot House (dancer, choreographer, director); Noah Ramos, Cabot House (dancer, choreographer and producer)
2022: Anne Lheem, Elliot House (dancer, choreographer)
2023: Laura Coe, Leverett House (dancer, choreographer); Angel Hoyang (dancer, choreographer)
2024: Jennifer Chu, Adams House (dancer, choreographer)
2025: Mya Johnson, Cabot House (dancer, choreographer); Liliana Price, Lowell House (dancer, choreographer)
COUNCIL PRIZE IN VISUAL ART
2007: Nicole Salazar, Dudley House (painting, animaiton, non-fiction filmmaking)
2008: Alexandra Hays, Quincy House, (installation and video art); James Powers, Adams House (painting, illustrations)
2009: Grace Laubacher, Quincy House (stage design)
2010: Lillian (Lily) Fang, Quincy House (animation)
2011: Julia Rooney (studio art), Mather House; Katherine Tygielski (film/video) , Dudley House
2012: Sara Stern, Lowell House (mixed media)
2013: Madelynne Hays, Cabot House (set design); Oliver Luo, Cabot House (animation)
2014: Brooke Griffin, Dudley House (animation/film)
2015: Ashleigh Cote, Adams House (animation)
2016: William Orman, Kirkland House (sculptor, installation artist); Renee Zhan, Leverett House (animator, illustrator)
2017: Eriko Kay, Kirkland House (diverse media)
2018: Ariana Chaivaranon, Adams House (painter)
2018: Stergios Dinopoulos, Dudley House (filmmaker)
2019: Lance Oppenheim, Adams House (filmmaker)
2020: Hope Green, Eliot House (artist, filmaker); Memie Osuga, Adams House (animation)
2021: Dani Pérez, Leverett House (photography, videography and arts educator)
2023: Anna Correll, Eliot House (photography and painting); Dumebi Adigwe, Adams House (film and digital photography)
2024: Rivers Sheehan, Lowell House (visual artist and writer)
2025: Tiffany Onyeiwu, Kirkland House (ceramics, sculpture, multimedia)
ALAN SYMONDS MEMORIAL AWARD
2009: Grace Laubacher, Quincy House (stage design)
2010: Michael Zellmann-Rohrer, Mather House, (lighting design, theater tech)
2011: Garrett McEntee (technical director)
2012: Brenda Lin, Lowell House (technical designer/director)
2013: Matthew Warner, Quincy House (set/lighting design, theater tech)
2014: Ethan Addicott, Quincy House (lighting design, theater tech)
2015: Christopher Marks, Cabot House (technical director/advisor); Christina Rodriguez, Cabot House (scenic designer/master painter)
2016: Trevor Mullin, Mather House (set designer, producer)
2017: Kathleen (Kat) Zhou, Mather House (director, producer, stage manager, lighting and costume designer)
2018: Catherine Polik, Eliot House (technical director)
2019: Gabrielle Preston, Dudley House (scenic designer, technical producer)
2020: Sabrina Richert, Currier House (set designer, set advisor, paint charge, producer and assistant technical director)
2021: Jonathan Castillo, Adams House (technical director, producer)
2022: Serena Chen, Pforzheimer House (designer, technician, administrator)
2023: Clarissa Briasco-Stewart, Leverett House (lighting designer and technician)
ROBERT E. LEVI PRIZE (Arts Administration)
2012: Anh Le, Mather House (tour manager, stage manager, producer)
2013: Eleanor Regan, Adams House (producer, stage manager)
2014: Simon de Carvalho, Mather House (theater producer); David Manella, Mather House (theater producer)
2015: Samuel Moore, Winthrop House (theater producer)
2016: Magdalene Zier, Quincy House (producer, stage manager, costume designer)
2017: Aislinn Brophy, Quincy House (director, arts administration)
2018: Emily Bergquist, Adams House (technical director, producer)
2019: Sherry Gao, Currier House (stage manager, producer); Claire Rivkin, Adams House (stage manager, administrator)
2020: Anisa Ahmed, Kirkland House (producer, stage manager, designer and administrator); Gabrielle Preston, Dudley House (director, producer, technical director, administrator, performer)
2021: Mikaela Ritchie, Currier House (administrator, performer, radio producer/manager); Abigail Sage, Adams House (stage management, producer, administrator)
2022: Dara Badon, Mather House (administrator, manager, producer, arts education); Madi Fabber, Winthrop House (administrator, manager, producer, designer, writer, dramaturg)
2023: Michael Pak, Lowell House (music administrator, manager, conductor)
2024: Madison Pankey, Dunster House (theater administrator, producer)
2025: Sedina Ackuayi, Winthrop House (ballet, choreographer, administrator); Payton Thompson, Eliot House (ballet, administrator)
ROBERT LEVIN PRIZE IN MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
2015: Stella Chen, Kirkland House (violinist)
2016: Alexander Beyer, Winthrop House (pianist); Joshuah Campbell, Pforzheimer House (vocalist)
2017: Emma Frucht, Winthrop House (violinist); Sam Wu, Adams House (composer, conductor)
2018: Eden Girma, Dudley House (vocalist)
2019: Claire Dickson, Dudley Co-Op (vocalist, composer); Brian Zhao, Cabot House (cellist)
2020: Alexander "Sasha" Yakub, Currier House (violinist)
2021: Martin Bernstein, Dudley Co-Op (baroque recorder); Tony Yang, Currier House (pianist)
2022: Andrew Li, Dunster House (pianist)
2023: Camden Archambeau, Lowell House (cellist, conductor); Devon Gates , Withrop House (bassist, vocalist and composer)
2024: Lucas Amory, Winthrop House (pianist, conductor); Catherine Deskur , Quincy House (double bass)
2025: Ethan Chaves, Winthrop House (violinist, violist, composer)
HONORABLE MENTION FOR WORK IN THEIR ART FIELDS
2020: Aish Lovett (Visual Arts), Adams House; Miranda Mize (Musical Theater), Leverett House; and Daniel Rivera (Dance), Adams House
SPECIAL CITATION FOR ARTS LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION
2025: Mariah Norman, Dudley Co-Op
SPECIAL CITATION IN THEATER
2021: Devonne Pitts, Leverett House
SPECIAL CITATION FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS PRACTICE
2014: Bex Kwan, Dudley House
CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION (on behalf of the Harvard Council on the Arts)
1990: Mireya Nadal-Vicens, Mather House
OFFICE FOR THE ARTS PRIZE (on behalf of the Council on the Arts at Harvard)
1988: John Lesher, Dunster House and Diane Paulus, Cabot House