Named grants

As part of the 2020 "Voice for Voices" campaign, Choral Arts New England instituted a program of named grants, whereby major donors could designate a grant in honor of an individual or institution to commemorate their dedication to the choral arts. The named grant may highlight a particular aspect of choral music, consistent with the mission of Choral Arts New England. Recipients are selected by the Choral Arts New England grants committee, keeping in mind the focus requested by the donor. Named grants will be given each year as part of the Alfred Nash Patterson grants program, which was begun in 1985. Please note that there is no separate application process for these named grants—they are selected as part of the regular annual grants process.

Listed here are Choral Arts New England's named grants and their recipients.

The Hammond Family grant, instituted by Carrie and Jonathan Hammond, is intended to support a collaborative effort or to celebrate a milestone, preferably in Connecticut.
  • 2020: The Hartford Chorale 50th anniversary celebration, featuring a commissioned work by Scott Perkins which will be prepared in 2022, the anniversary year
  • 2021: Worcester Children's Chorus, collaboration with Assumption University Choirs to commission a Worcester-themed work by Grace Brigham
  • 2022: Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, for a program entitled "Music She Wrote, Works of Underrepresented Composers"
The Saxton Family grant, instituted by Jonathan Saxton and Barbara Fox, is intended to support a unique, engaging effort in an underserved area or by a non-auditioned choir.
  • 2020: Capella Clausura's collaborative performance (with Chorus pro Musica) of Dame Ethel Smyth's Mass in D
  • 2021: The Keene Chorale's performance of The Ordering of Moses, a major choral-orchestral work by Black Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett
  • 2022: Middlebury Community Music Center, for a 12-week community choir session culminating in a big outdoor “community sing”
The Richard Coffey Grant, instituted by friends of the visionary conductor and organist Richard Coffey, seeks to support projects of any kind that are transformative for the funded institution, whether musical, organizational, or experiential.
  • 2022: GMChorale, for a performance illustrating the musical connection between Baroque and contemporary choral music, combining the Connecticut premier Martin Sedek’s “The Four Seasons: A Cantata'' with a performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria.”
The Irving Forbes Centennial Grant, instituted by friends of the distinguished educator Irving Forbes, is intended to support projects involving community choruses performing large works with orchestra, and/or music that celebrates nature and the outdoors.
  • 2022: The Seraphim Singers, to support a commission from Edie Hill setting a text by Danielle Cadena Deulen on the climate crisis.
The Choral Arts New England Board grant, sponsored by contributions from the Board members of Choral Arts New England, is intended to advance the priorities of the Board in any given year.
  • 2020: Handel and Haydn Society’s Every Voice Community Concert Series, a series of five free uplifting choral concerts for justice and peace that honor the many voices of Boston and highlight those of members of our community who are not often in positions of power.
  • 2021: Coro Allegro, part of the "Amplifying Black Voices" series, supporting virtual choir sessions with The Heritage Chorale of New Haven
  • 2022: Chorus of Westerly, R.I., for a free choral after-school program to nurture interest and excitement for singing at local elementary and middle schools
The Choral Arts New England Board Chairs' and Vice Chairs' grant is sponsored by contributions from the former Chairs and Vice Chairs of Choral Arts New England.
  • 2021: Metropolitan Chorale: "No Place Like Home!", a multimedia performance including a world premiere of a commissioned work by Steven Sametz with text drawn from reflections submitted by singers about what home has meant for them during the pandemic.
  • 2022: Lorelei Ensemble, for "Look Up", a program of new works for women's/treble voices that depict present and future worlds affected by climate change.
The Lorna Cooke deVaron grant, named in memory of one of the leading women choral conductors of the 20th century and instituted by Joseph and Fiona Horning, is intended to support new music or adventurous programming.
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Grants