The deadline for 2016 grant applications has passed.
Choral Arts New England extends the mission of the Alfred Nash Patterson (ANP) Foundation, providing grants that support innovative programming, commissions, and improved management for choral organizations. Alfred Nash Patterson Grants have been awarded continuously since 1985. In 1994, Choral Arts New England initiated a Lifetime Achievement Award to honor significant contributions to choral singing and its culture within New England.
About Choral Arts New England
Choral Arts New England was formed in 1980 as a memorial to Alfred Nash “Bud” Patterson, the founder of Boston's Chorus pro Musica and the Master Singers of Worcester and leader, at various times, of the Cape Cod Chorale, the Worcester County Music Association, the Worcester Festival Chorus, and the Brandeis University Chorus. Bud Patterson loved the choral arts and all those who practiced them. In his teaching at Tanglewood and Brandeis and through his personal example, he inspired a whole generation of singers and choral directors throughout New England. He was a cultural leader, articulating ambitious goals for choral music performance, chorus development, and choral music composition. He was a mentor and model for singers, conductors and composers. Upon his death in 1979, many spontaneous gifts were received in his memory; from those seeds, the present organization has grown.
Today, Choral Arts New England conducts the following activities to support choral singing. Further information can be found by following the indicated links.
- Alfred Nash Patterson Foundation grants are given annually for outstanding projects that further the choral arts. The grants support adventurous programming and broaden repertory by encouraging performance of new compositions and long-neglected works, support music education and the training of young choral singers, encourage festivals and other cooperative choral projects, and otherwise enrich the quality of choral singing in all six New England states. Grants are carefully evaluated, including a review of applying choruses by a committee of distinguished artistic advisors. Grant application schedule: Applications are due by the end of February for projects that will begin on or after the following July. Decisions are made and applicants notified by the beginning of May, whether or not the application is granted.
- The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually by Choral Arts New England to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to choral singing and its culture within New England.
- Awards and grants are presented at the annual fall awards ceremony, which is usually held in mid or late October. The ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to meet representatives of various choruses, choral directors, composers, members of the Choral Arts board of directors, and other supporters of our cause.
- An online newsletter continually publishes information of interest to New England choral singers, and accepts submissions of items of interest. It is supplemented by a biannual print newsletter, sent to our mailing list.
- An online choral calendar that aims to list all major choral events in New England (it can be customized to show only local events). Anyone can submit calendar events.
- A directory of choruses of New England, listing all choral societies throughout the region. Anyone can submit a new directory listing for consideration.
Choral Arts New England is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, run by a Board of Directors. We welcome your comments.
Choral Arts New England 2016 Awards Ceremony
The 32nd annual Choral Arts New England Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at 3:00 p.m., at The Newton Cultural Center at Newton City Hall, in Boston, Massachusetts honoring the recipients of Alfred Nash Patterson Grants for 2016.
Prof. Joshua R. Jacobson, acclaimed conductor, composer, author, educator, and visionary Founder and Director Zamir Chorale will be presented with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alfred Nash Patterson grant recipients named
Choral Arts New England has announced the 2016 recipients of Alfred Nash Patterson grants. The ten recipients were chosen from 42 proposals that were received by the February 29 deadline. Funded projects are listed below. The awards will be presened at the annual Awards Ceremony in the fall of 2016; details of the ceremony will be posted when available.
- Berkshire Lyric Theater, Pittsfield, Massachusetts
New composition for the "Ubi Caritas" ensemble by Berkshire resident Steve Murray.
The ensemble, formed in 2011, is a select group of twenty-two singers age 16 to 26 who, meeting for two months every summer, present a series of a cappella sacred concerts in August that raise funds for area food pantries. - Cantata Singers, Boston, Massachusetts
Classroom Cantatas for Inclusion Classrooms.
To expand the Classroom Cantatas residency program into two second grade inclusion classrooms during the 2016-2017 school year. - Cantemus Chamber Chorus, Ipswich, Massachusetts
Cantemus Meets Rumbarroco: a Latin-American Celebration
To support a collaboration between Cantemus Chamber Chorus and Rumbarroco, a Latin-American fusion ensemble, for a multicultural choral/instrumental program that will be presented at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport and at the Cabot Performing Arts Center in Beverly in late April/early May 2017. - Choral Art Society, Portland, Maine
Performance of Donald McCullough’s "Holocaust Cantata" and James Whitbourn’s "Luminosity."
- Concord Women's Chorus, Concord, Massachusetts
Commission: "The Tree House"
For Boston composer Beth Denisch to set three poems by Kathleen Jamie, one of Scotland's most-lauded living poets. The work will be premiered in Concord, Massachusetts, on May 13, 2017, and will be part of a concert tour of Scotland and England’s Lake District in June 2017. - Genesis Chamber Singers, Quincy, Massachusetts
China in Song 2017.
To commission an original choral work in Mandarin by Jerry (Chiwei) Hui, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, to be to be premiered as a part of the ensemble's second annual "China in Song" concert series in March 2017. - Massachusetts ACDA, Amherst, Massachusetts
Bringing public school teachers to the MassACDA Summer Conference
To pay for registration and transportation costs of some music teachers working in underserved urban school districts in Holyoke and Springfield, Massachusetts who wish to attend the Massachusetts ACDA Summer Conference in Northampton from July 19 to July 22, 2016. - New Hampshire Music Festival, Plymouth, NH
The New England Choral Institute at New Hampshire Music Festival
The Institute is a new collaboration between Plymouth State University and the New Hampshire Music Festival for experienced undergraduate, graduate, and community musicians. Under the direction of Dr. Dan Perkins, a nationally based faculty will provide lessons and masterclasses during the fourth week of the Festival's five week season. - Providence Singers, Providence, Rhode Island
"Requiem for the Living" Recording Project.
- The Vermont Choral Union, Essex Junction, Vermont
Choral Commission in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Vermont Choral Union
To commission a suite for a cappella chorus and flute by Christina Whitten Thomas on texts by Vermont poets, including Abigail Carroll, Jay Parini, and Jean Killary.
Choral Arts New England has given Alfred Nash Patterson grants, established in memory of the legendary founding music director of Chorus pro Musica, since 1985. The purpose of the grants is to support choral music in New England. More information, including application guidelines and past recipients, are elsewhere on this site.
Commissions supported by Choral Arts New England
A new list has been compiled of commissions supported by Choral Arts New England grants. The list may be found at:http://www.choralarts-newengland.org/commissions-sponsored.html.