The Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts

Nominations for the 2026 Randolph A. Frank Prize are now open and close on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The mission of the Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts is to recognize and reward individual performing artists and dedicated educators who enrich the quality of the performing arts in Palm Beach County, Florida. All established and emerging individuals who regularly perform or engage in performing arts education in Palm Beach County are eligible for consideration for the Prize, which will be awarded annually. Performing artists and arts educators of many kinds are eligible, not just musicians. Writers, designers (costume, lighting, props, scenic, sound), and production technicians are not eligible. Applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else who can speak to their artistic contributions, and may apply for one or all relevant categories.

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$10,000 in prize money will be awarded to one to three winners!

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Prize Categories:

Performing Artist

Performing Arts Educator

Emerging Artist

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Important Dates to Note

• Submissions for nominations opens on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
• Deadline for submissions is Sunday, February 15, 2026.
• Please apply by submitting all required documents to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org‍
• Applicants will be notified of their status by Friday, March 20, 2026.
• Winner(s) will be invited to attend an official award presentation on Sunday, May 17, 2026. 

Submission Guidelines—all with the deadline of Sunday, February 16, 2026

Please apply by submitting all required documents noted below to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org

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• An applicant may self-nominate or be nominated by someone else for prize consideration.
• Anyone from within or outside the Palm Beach County community may submit a nomination.
• The Nomination Letter should not be written or submitted by a spouse or family member.
• Nominators must submit Nomination Letter and supporting materials, as indicated below.
• Submissions that meet all eligibility requirements will be reviewed by a panel of judges that includes esteemed industry professionals from within and outside Palm Beach County.

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Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants must be dedicated to enhancing the cultural and artistic life of Palm Beach County.
• Although the applicant does not need to reside in Palm Beach County, the applicant’s work must be based primarily in Palm Beach County.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply for the prize category that best reflects the applicant’s contribution to the cultural and artistic life of Palm Beach County. Applicants may apply to more than one category.
• Applicants for the Performing Artist Award should have at least a five-year demonstrated track record as a performing artist in Palm Beach County.
• Applicants for the Performing Arts Educator Award should have at least a five-year demonstrated track record as a performing arts educator in Palm Beach County.
• Applicants for the Emerging Artist Award should have at least a three-year demonstrated track record either as a performing artist OR performing arts educator in Palm Beach County and be at least 21 years of age.
• Writers, designers (costume, lighting, props, scenic, sound), and production technicians are not eligible.
  

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Nomination and Selection Process

Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026

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1. Nominators must complete the online nomination form below by Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applicants can self-nominate or have someone nominate them.
2. Letters of support regarding the nominee’s candidacy written by colleagues in their school/organization or industry at large and/or from former students are welcome and encouraged to be submitted, and should be emailed to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org by Sunday, February 15, 2026.
3. Resume or curriculum vitae, professional biography, and headshot of nominee should be emailed to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org by Sunday, February 15, 2026.
4. Short video(s) of nominee working with their students in a rehearsal and/or concert setting or teaching a class in a music subject area. Total content should be 5-10 minutes. Video footage should be sent via a link(s) on YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Videos should not be made public. Links should be private or password protected. Please send links with passwords, if applicable, to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org by Sunday, February 15, 2026.
5. Submissions that meet all eligibility requirements will be reviewed by a panel of judges that includes esteemed musicians, industry professionals, and educators in Palm Beach County.
6. Winner will be honored at the Holly Jolly Symphony Fête on Monday, December 16th, 2024 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
7. Please note: the judges do not live in Florida, nor will they know any of the any of the nominees. It is incumbent upon the nominee and nominator to submit nomination materials that clearly represent relevant aspects of this award’s focus to provide the judges with a precise understanding of the nominee’s contributions to who enrich the quality of the performing arts in Palm Beach County, Florida.
   

Nomination Letter Content

Please submit by the deadline of Sunday, February 16 to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org.

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1. Include contact information for the nominee: Full name, permanent address, phone number, email address, and website (if applicable).
2. Specify the particular Frank Prize category or categories (Performing Artist, Performing Arts Educator or Emerging Artist) for which the nominee wishes to be considered. Please specify the category or categories the applicant wishes to be considered for in the subject, in the body of the email, and in the nomination letter.
3. Address the reason for the nomination, such as the nominee’s achievements and goals and, if nominated by another individual, outline the length of time the nominator has known the nominee and in what capacity.
4. Document the record of the nominee’s performing arts or performing arts education experience in Palm Beach County.
5. Address how the nominee has enhanced the cultural and artistic life of Palm Beach County.
6. Outline the nominee’s commitment to excellence in the nominee’s field.
7. If applicable, summarize the nominee’s teaching experience as it relates to performing arts education, and document the particular age group(s) and constituencies the nominee has mentored.
   

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Required Supporting Materials

Please submit all materials by the deadline of Sunday, February 16, 2026 to Bryce Seliger at bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.org.

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1. Up to date nominee resume or curriculum vitae, professional biography, and headshot, all of which should be submitted as individual files. These documents should include nominee's current position(s), cell phone number, email address, and home and work addresses.  Please do not send links for judges to find this information on websites. It is the nominator and/or nominee’s responsibility to submit these materials as requested.  
2. Additional supporting documents – maximum of six (10) single-sided pages, single-spaced, 12-point font. These may be articles written about nominee, professional development materials, videos of or about nominee, and the like.
3. 1-3 audio and/or visual examples via a weblink (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) that can be viewed only by those with the link which is preferred (or is password protected). Videos should not be made public. Links can be sent it the body of an email.  Please do not send link in which an email address is required to view the file.
4. Please include your name on each page of every document.
5. Letters of support regarding the nominee’s candidacy written by colleagues in their school/organization or industry at large and/or from former students.  All letters should be submitted by the original authors of the letters and not the nominee.  These should be emailed to bseliger@palmbeachsymphony.orgby Sunday, February 15, 2026.
6. Specify the particular Frank Prize category or categories (Performing Artist, Performing Arts Educator or Emerging Artist) for which the nominee wishes to be considered. Please specify the category or categories the applicant wishes to be considered for in the subject, in the body of the email, and in the nomination letter.  

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History of the Frank Prize

The Randolph A. Frank Prize was established in 2009 by Nancy and Jay Parker, longtime friends of Dr. Randolph A. Frank, who was an avid patron of the arts.  Shortly after Dr. Frank’s move to Palm Beach from the Washington, D.C. area in the early 2000’s, the Parkers introduced him to their neighbor and friend Steven Caras. At Caras’ invitation, Dr. Frank and the Parkers soon began to attend many of the widely diverse cultural events in Palm Beach County. After Dr. Frank’s passing in 2007, the Parkers, administrators of Frank’s foundation, asked Caras to start thinking in terms of conceiving a cause to be established in Palm Beach County “in Randy’s memory.”  

The Parkers felt that Caras, an acclaimed dancer, dance educator, and photographer, would come up with an ideal plan. “I felt that a cause was very much needed here,” in Caras’ words, “celebrating and rewarding performing arts educators and performers, working in Palm Beach County, who, through their devoted efforts, enhance and inspire the lives of all of us –residents and visitors alike.” Together, they decided to honor Dr. Frank’s memory with this annual award.

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Since 2019, Palm Beach Symphony has managed and hosted the Randolph A. Frank Prize for the Performing Arts. Through the generosity of these founders a total of $10,000 is awarded each year.

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Presented by Palm Beach Symphony

Board of Directors, Nancy and Jay Parker

Founding Chairman, Steven Caras