The Juilliard School Web site was named the Best University Web Site by the Web Marketing Association in its fifth annual WebAward Competition. The award was announced on November 13. The judges praised the site (www.juilliard.edu), calling it “excellent and comprehensive,” making “good use of technology, navigation, creativity, and functionality. The site speaks well to the nature of The Juilliard School.”

“We are thrilled that the Juilliard Web site was awarded the 2001 Best University Site,” said Len Muscarella, the president of Interactive Media Associates, the host and developer of the site. “This site showcases our ability to work with a client with a complex set of requirements and distinct goals in terms of quality of presentation and content, and produce a site that not only meets those goals, but is also recognized in the industry as setting a very high standard.”

Ira Rosenblum, Juilliard’s director of publications who worked hand-in-hand with IMA on the site’s content, design, and navigation, said: “I was very excited to learn of this award. We all worked extremely hard to give the site just the right look and feel, to convey the spirit of the school. Obviously, that work has paid off.”

The Juilliard Web site was launched last June. Among its features are an introductory Flash sequence with controllable audio track; an animated introduction to the school narrated by President Joseph Polisi; several dynamic searches, including a calendar of events, a faculty database, and a private teacher directory; slide shows illustrating school history and divisions of study in depth; an online version of The Juilliard Journal; and a comprehensive press area, including downloadable high resolution photos.

The Boston-based Web Marketing Association was founded in 1997. Its annual WebAwards competition provides Web professionals “recognition and validation for their outstanding work.” Entries are judged on their design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation, and ease of use.