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Media Contact: Sophie Maupoil, Program Director
(202) 237 1005 [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Children’s Chorus of Washington Wins Mayor’s Arts Award
Internationally Renowned Founder Announces Retirement in 2016
The Children’s Chorus of Washington is honored to announce that it has received the 2014 Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline at the 29th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards. The Awards ceremony took place at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium on October 29, 2014.
“I was thrilled to accept this award for Excellence in an Artistic Discipline at the Annual Mayor's Art Awards Ceremony last Wednesday, on behalf of the CCW artistic and administrative staffs, and all the wonderful choristers and their supporting parents. It is a testament to what CCW has accomplished in the past 19 years in building a world-class performance-based choral arts education program that strives to achieve excellence,” said Joan Gregoryk, CCW Founder and Artistic Director.
The award is a timely tribute to CCW and Ms. Gregoryk and recognizes all that she has contributed to the cultural life of greater Washington, DC, and the more than 2,000 young people who have participated in the Children’s Chorus since it was founded in 1995.
Today, the Children's Chorus of Washington announced that Founder and Artistic Director Joan Gregoryk will retire in June 2016 after twenty years of dedicated and exceptional service. CCW will celebrate its 20th Anniversary in 2015-2016 with a series of special events, concerts, and collaborations, in addition to its regular concert season. In preparation for
Ms. Gregoryk's retirement, CCW will conduct an extensive national and international search for a new Artistic Director. The Board of Directors has appointed a Search Committee to direct that process.
Ms. Gregoryk chose to announce her intention to retire now to best prepare the organization for a smooth transition. "Leading these talented young musicians for so many years has been the privilege of my lifetime," she reflected. "I am optimistic that this transition process will be successfully completed in a way that insures the choice of a new Artistic Director who will continue our pursuit of choral excellence and ensure that our choral community can both anticipate and expect a brilliant future for the Children's Chorus of Washington."
A Meaningful Legacy of Excellence
Joan Gregoryk founded CCW in 1995 as an outgrowth of her work with the acclaimed Chevy Chase Elementary School Chorus. During her tenure, CCW grew from one chorus with 70 members to five performing ensembles featuring more than 160 young singers between the ages of 9 and 18, representing over 100 public and private schools in the greater Washington, DC area. CCW is now recognized as one the finest children's choruses in the country. At a recent Kennedy Center concert, CCW was described as "a world class cultural asset." In addition to three self-produced concerts and numerous guest appearances with Washington’s leading adult choruses and orchestras and at private events each year, CCW also offers several additional educational opportunities. SING DC is a program that provides introductory choral music education in DC public schools at no cost to the schools or students. CCW also offers Prep Class, which is a training program for first-time singers, ages 6 to 9, and Teacher Workshops, which offer area music teachers professional development and peer mentoring in developing the best choral techniques.
Under Ms. Gregoryk's direction, CCW performs regularly at the White House, Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, Sidney Harman Hall, and other prestigious venues. CCW tours internationally every other year including a recent tour to China, where choristers performed in Shanghai, Xi’an, Tianjin, and Beijing. CCW will tour and perform in France in the summer of 2015.
In addition to the Mayor’s Arts Award, CCW was recognized as the Best Choral Group at the 2012 Washington Area Music Awards (“Wammies”), and honored with the Best Educational Outreach award at both the 2012 and 2014 Greater Washington Area Choral Excellence Awards (“Ovations”). Ms. Gregoryk was honored for her years of contribution to the choral music community with the Excellence in the Arts Award in the spring of 2012 by the City Choir of Washington.
For additional information on CCW and its programs, please visit www.childrenschorus.com.