Chorus America Awards: Deadline March 4

The text of this announcement is taken from an email sent by Chorus America.

Does your chorus or choral colleague deserve recognition for the important work they're doing? The Chorus America Awards Program seeks to recognize—and foster—meaningful contributions to the choral field from remarkable individuals and choruses. The deadline for nominations and applications for all awards is March 4, 2013**. 

Eligibility and application guidelines for each award are posted on the Awards section of our website. Awards are presented at the Annual Conference in June. You can watch the tribute videos for past winners on our YouTube channel. Read below for a brief introduction to the awards:

1) The Chorus America Distinguished Service Award honors a member whose long-term service to the choral field is judged to have significantly furthered Chorus America’s mission to "build a dynamic and inclusive choral community so that more people are transformed by the beauty and power of choral singing.” Applications consist of a letter of nomination and two letters of recommendation.

2) The Dale Warland Singers Commission Award: presented in partnership with the American Composers Forum, this award encourages the commissioning of new music and recognizes meaningful partnerships between choruses and composers. Prize: $5,000 to be used toward the commissioning fee. This year's award will be given to a professional or professional-core chorus.

3) The Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence: one of the most prestigious awards a chorus can receive. This year, the award will be given to an adult volunteer chorus. Prize: $5,000 and an engraved plaque.

4) The Chorus America Education Outreach Award: recognizes education or outreach programs that expand a chorus's role in its community. This year, the award will be given to the best program by a chorus with a budget under $200,000. Prize: $2,500 to help support the winning program and an engraved plaque.

5) The Chorus America/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming: reward choruses who are dedicated to programming music written within the last 25 years and who demonstrate a significant commitment to fostering and promoting new music. Two awards are given to adult choruses and one is given to a children's or youth chorus. Prize: $1,000 and a framed citation.

6) The Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award: honors a chorus that does not traditionally program new music, but which has adventurously expanded its programming beyond its standard repertoire. Prize: $1,000 and a framed citation.

7) The Louis Botto Award: recognizes a mid-career choral leader (not limited to conductors) for their innovative action and entrepreneurial zeal in developing a professional or professional-core ensemble. A letter of nomination and three supporting letters of reference constitute the application.

8) The Michael Korn Founders Award: a lifetime achievement award for an individual who has dedicated his/her career to the development of the professional choral art. No application form is necessary and nominations are accepted from the entire membership.

**Please note: the March 4, 2013 awards deadline is when your materials must arrive in the Chorus America office or PO Box. It is no longer a postmark deadline.