Awards

Updates for Chorus America's 2024 Awards Program

Chorus America has made a series of updates to our awards program in preparation for opening applications for 2024 awards in late November. These updates are based on recommendations from a task force convened by Chorus America’s board over the past year with the goal of streamlining the awards process and aligning the awards program with our mission and vision as defined by the FY 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. 

Awards Changes

The following award changes will apply beginning with this year’s awards cycle. 

  • The Dale Warland Singers Commission Award has transitioned to the Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant. The grant will continue to support the creation of new choral music with a focus on funding future work rather than recognizing past achievement. The $10,000 grant, awarded in partnership with the American Composers Forum, will support a chorus entering into an artistically meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership with a composer to contribute a new work to the choral repertoire. 
  • The Distinguished Service Award has been renamed the Michael Korn Distinguished Service Award in honor of Chorus America founder and first president Michael Korn. This award honors a Chorus America member whose contributions in an artistic or administrative capacity have had a national and/or international impact on the choral field and furthered Chorus America’s mission and vision. In its new iteration, the Michael Korn Distinguished Service Award incorporates the purpose and honors the legacy of the former Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art (a lifetime achievement honoring an artistic leader for significant contributions to the professional choral art). 

  • The Louis Botto Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship continues to recognize a mid-career conductor for furthering the mission of their ensemble or organization. Previously, only conductors of professional or professional-core choruses were eligible to receive this award; the award will now rotate through a three-year cycle to recognize mid-career conductors of professional, adult volunteer, and children/youth choruses, reflecting the full breadth of Chorus America’s membership. For the 2024 awards cycle, this award will be open to conductors of adult volunteer choruses.  

Streamlined and Standardized Application Process for All Awards 

As part of our awards updates, Chorus America has streamlined and standardized our application process across all awards. We have reviewed requirements to make sure all tasks and materials are necessary for the adjudication of the awards and updated language throughout. Submission requirements will now consist of responses to a series of questions for each award and we have developed rubrics to which applicants and panelists can refer.  

In addition to the Michael Korn Distinguished Service Award and the Louis Botto Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, our 2024 awards program includes: 

  • The Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award, recognizing individuals or organizations whose work furthers diverse African American choral traditions and demonstrates a long-term commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.   
  • The Margaret Hillis Award for Artistic and Organizational Achievement, given to a chorus in recognition of sustained artistic accomplishments and organizational strength. 
  • The Alice Parker Fund Award, recognizing the composition and thoughtful presentation of choral music based in the traditions of Black and Latinx communities. 
  • The Education and Community Engagement Award, recognizing outstanding education and community engagement programs.  

We look forward to sharing more details about updated application processes as we open award applications at the end of November. The deadline to submit award applications will be Wednesday, January 31.  

In the meantime, please see information about our historic awards program and past winners below. 

Chorus America’s 2023 Awards Recognize Outstanding Choruses and Individuals

Chorus America has announced the recipients of its 2023 awards program, recognizing a broad range of achievements in choral music and service to the choral field. The awards program celebrates and fosters meaningful contributions from remarkable individuals and choruses.

“Chorus America is delighted to recognize the accomplishments of these incredible award winners,” said Chorus America president and CEO Catherine Dehoney. “Their artistry, their dedication, and the joy they bring to their work move the choral field forward and inspire us all.” 

See our full announcement and videos honoring the recipients. 

Chorus America 2023 Awards Program

This year, Chorus America resumed several of our Awards that have been on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the field.

All applications must be submitted through Chorus America's application portal - CAAP. Please refer to the Chorus America Guide to Awards for information about our Awards programs and application process. See details below regarding each award and contact [email protected] with any questions.

Awards for Individuals

Awards for Organizations

Awards for Philanthropy

Chorus America also recognizes generous philanthropy with an award that does not have an application process. This award is nominated by the Chorus America Board.

From 2002-2021, Chorus America awarded an additional Philanthropy Award that recognized a supporter of the host chorus of that year's Chorus America Conference. See here for a list of past recipients.

 

Questions? Contact our membership team at [email protected].