The following are awards available through USITT for Sound Designers and Technicians. The Sound Commission appreciates suggestions for nominees for any of these awards.  Click here to see the full listing of USITT Awards.

Harold Burris-Meyer Distinguished Career in Sound Award
The Sound Commission presented the 2009 award to Jack Mann, one of the true pioneers of the art of theater sound. Jack is responsible for introducing such unheard-of practices as insisting that the sound mixer be able to actually hear the mix in the house, and specifying the sound system to match the needs of the production rather than accepting whatever happened to arrive from the rental house. Jack Mann is credited in the IBDB database as Sound Designer on 33 Broadway shows, spanning the years from 1961 to 1986. 

USITT began presenting Distinguished Achievement Awards in 1998 to recognize achievement by designers and technicians with established careers. The recipient, who does not have to be a member of USITT, is honored during the Annual Conference & Stage Expo.

Recipients:

2009 Jack Mann

2008 John & Helen Meyer

2007 David Collison

2006 Don & Carolyn Davis

2005 Jonathan Deans

2003 Dan Dugan

2002 Tony Meola

2001 Dr. John Bracewell

2000 Charlie Richmond,

1999 Abe Jacob

Robert E. Cohen Sound Achievement Award
Corinne Carrillo, of the University of California, Irvine was the 2009 recipient of the Robert E. Cohen Sound Achievement Award. This awarded is presented to a young designer or technician who has demonstrated excellence or outstanding potential in the area of sound in the performing arts while pursuing a graduate degree. It was established in 1996 by USITT Contributing Member Clear-Com Intercom Systems of Berkeley, California.  In the fall of 2005, a generous contribution by Robert and Sharon Cohen permanently established the Robert E. Cohen Award for Sound Achievement.  Mr. Cohen is the founder and served as President of Clear-Com Intercom Systems from 1969-1977. 

Recipients:

2009 Corinne Carrillo

2008 Jason Knox

2007 Dave Mickey

2006 Peter Shiplett

2005 Bradlee Ward

2004 David Swenson

2003 Cricket S. Myers

2002 Ian Hunter

2001 Christopher N. Plummer

2000 Bryan Schlegel

1999 Dominic Kramer

1998 Andrew Dalzell

1996 Mitchell Chapman

Nomination forms for the USITT Young Designers & Technicians Awards are made available in the early fall.