Join us for our 41st Annual Awards Ceremony

Choral Arts New England will host its annual awards ceremony on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 3:00 PM at First Congregational Church in Winchester, MA. The event will celebrate exemplary contributions to the region’s choral life and recognize recipients of the 2025 Alfred Nash Patterson Grants.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Jane Ring Frank, an influential conductor and artistic leader whose work has shaped and strengthened New England’s choral community for decades. Frank’s leadership includes tenures with Concord Women’s Chorus, Cantemus Chamber Chorus, and Boston Secession, earning acclaim for her artistic excellence and dedication to innovative programming.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually since 1994, honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to choral singing and its culture in New England. Past recipients include Dr. André de Quadros (2024), Alice Parker (2004), and Lorna Cooke DeVaron (1995).

The ceremony also honors recipients of the Alfred Nash Patterson Grants, which have supported over 220 projects — totaling nearly $280,000 — since their inception in 1985. These grants promote adventurous programming, music education, new compositions, and regional collaboration, and they have had a lasting impact on the vitality of choral music across New England.

Special Fall Workshops: Drive Engagement and Belonging in the Choral Arts Using Data Science

Last year, Choral Arts New England sent a survey asking for your feedback on the challenges you faced within your chorale. The results of that survey showed that singer recruitment and retention were primary concerns of New England choruses. To help our choral community address these issues, Choral Arts New England has formed a unique partnership with People First Technologies, a company that uses data science to analyze and develop solutions to increase engagement and retention. PFT has agreed to use its proprietary platform to help address recruitment and retention in choruses.  

Our first workshop to address these issues was held in Newton, MA in April, 2025, with participation from members representing 10 choruses from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Based on the success of the first workshop, we are now planning two more—on September 27 in Cromwell, CT, and on October 4 in Lebanon, NH. Each in-person workshop includes a group of up to 25 people and lasts for about two hours. Advance registration is required.

Awards Ceremony 2024 Recap

Dr. André De Quadros, 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us earlier this month for our 40th Annual Awards Ceremony. It was such a joy to celebrate the recipients of our 2024 Alfred Nash Patterson Grants - choral organizations across New England, including from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts.

And what an honor to be able to recognize our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Dr. André De Quadros. Many thanks to VOICES 21C for their inspiring performance!

During this season of gratitude, we want to express our appreciation to all of the wonderful musicians and organizations elevating choral music and creativity in New England. Learn more about Choral Arts New England and our 2024 award recipients.

Watch a recording of the awards ceremony here and view photos of the ceremony here.

2025 Alfred Nash Patterson Grant Recipients

Choral Arts New England is delighted to announce the funding of 16 project grants totaling $29,000. Award recipients represent choral organizations from all New England states, and were chosen out of 54 applications.

Award recipients will be honored at our grant ceremony in the fall of 2025, and the projects are described below from excerpts of the applications. In addition, where a recipient received a named grant, is listed next to the recipient’s name.

Congratulations to all our awardees, and please stay tuned for our next application cycle to open for 2026!

BHS Greater Boston Chapter — MA
Singspiration 2025 and Beyond

“When things don’t seem right … and the news doesn’t feel good … and you’re singing at the top of your lungs, it’s a gift. There’s no downside to being part of a chorus.”
    — Johanna Hill Simpson, 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient