The Austin Critics Table announced the nominees for its 2015-2016 awards. Given annually, this celebration recognizes the creativity and achievement of our local arts community. Categories include Art, Theater, Dance, and Classical Music. Winners will be announced at a ceremony held at the Cap City Comedy Club on May 23 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

This year's ceremony will also include recognition of the newest inductees into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, Austin Symphony Orchestra's Music Director Peter Bay, Ballet Austin's Executive Director Cookie Ruiz, and Ballet Austin's Artistic Director Stephen Mills.

The classical music nominees include:

Singer
Donnie Ray Albert, Aida
Tuija Knihtilä, Aida
Chan Yang Lim, At the Statue of Venus
Loir, Compassion
Eric Neuville, The Poet Sings: Emily Dickinson
Issachar Savage, Aida
Karen Slack, Aida
Julia Taylor, Three Decembers
Sonja DuToit Tengblad, The Poet Sings: Emily Dickinson

Choral Performance
“Bat/Man,” Texas Choral Consort
“Considering Matthew Shepard,” Craig Hella Johnson et al.
Gloria in Excelsis Deo!, Ensemble VIII
Great Big Choruses, Conspirare/Victoria Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra

Chamber Performance
Anton Nel & Bion Tsang, Butler School of Music
Medieval Pilgrimage in Iberia, Texas Early Music Project
The Late Show, Austin Chamber Music Center
Pléiades, line upon line percussion
The Poet Sings: Emily Dickinson, Conspirare
Start the New Year With Bach, La Follia
Traffic Jam, Steve Parker

Original Composition/Score
“Monolith: Music for Enchanted Rock,” Justin Sherburn
“In the Face of Trouble,” Graham Reynolds
“Honk if You,” Steve Snowden
“Maiden Voyage,” Mark McCoin
“Considering Matthew Shepard,” Craig Hella Johnson, Michael Dennis Browne
“Gypsum and Ash,” Russell Podgorsek
“So Long As Days Shall Be,” Donald Grantham

Opera
“At the Statue of Venus/Three Decembers,” Butler Opera Center
“Of Mice & Men,” Austin Opera
Aida, Austin Opera

Instrumentalist
Catherine Davis, Illusory Impressions
Jessica Mathaes, Compassion
Anton Nel, Anton Nel & Bion Tsang
Stephen Redfield, Start the New Year With Bach
Michelle Schumann, The Poet Sings: Emily Dickinson/In the Face of Trouble
Bion Tsang, Anton Nel & Bion Tsang
Keith Womer, Start the New Year With Bach, La Follia

Ensemble
Conspirare
Ensemble VIII
La Follia
line upon line percussion
Texas Early Music Project

Austin 360 has the full list of nominees.