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.
  • 2024: Classical Uprising, for a collaborative project with Reiche Community School, exploring place, identity and the future of Maine.
  • 2023: Kent Signers, for “The Gift to Sing”
  • 2022: Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, for a program entitled "Music She Wrote, Works of Underrepresented Composers"
  • 2021: Worcester Children's Chorus, collaboration with Assumption University Choirs to commission a Worcester-themed work by Grace Brigham
  • 2020: The Hartford Chorale 50th anniversary celebration, featuring a commissioned work by Scott Perkins which will be prepared in 2022, the anniversary year
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.
  • 2024: Milford Middle School Chorus for a commission piece for the elementary/middle school level that celebrates the beauty and nature of New  Hampshire.
  • 2023: Worcester County Mechanics Association for “Many Voices: Mechanics Hall Youth Singers”
  • 2022: Middlebury Community Music Center, for a 12-week community choir session culminating in a big outdoor “community sing”
  • 2021: The Keene Chorale's performance of The Ordering of Moses, a major choral-orchestral work by Black Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett
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.
  • 2024: Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc., for their piloted Youth Chorus, which provides opportunities for youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities to develop their musical abilities as well as an understanding of music fundamentals.   
  • 2023: VOICES 21C for “Reflecting on Music of the Muslim World” the first Sama International Choral Festival (SIFC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka for multidisciplinary musicians
  • 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.
  • 2024: Salisbury Singers Incorporated for the performance and recording of a large-scale orchestra concert showcasing a significant historic work.
  • 2023: Nightingale Vocal Ensemble for “ECLIPTIC,” a series of concerts at the Hayden Planetarium at Boston’s Museum of Science.
  • 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.
  • 2024: Northampton Community Music Center for Hopeful Harmonies Project's Ujima Singers and Pride Chorus for scholarships essential to keeping their program diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive. 
  • 2023: Metropolitan Chorale to engage consultants with the aim of building organizational knowledge and resources centered around fundraising.
  • 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
  • 2021: Coro Allegro, part of the "Amplifying Black Voices" series, supporting virtual choir sessions with The Heritage Chorale of New Haven
  • 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
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.
  • 2024: Vermont Symphony Orchestra for “VSO Visualizer Concert 2025”, an innovative live music event at BETA Technologies in Burlington, VT. 
  • 2023: Boston Choral Ensemble for “Pop-Up Boston,” a one-day series of four free concerts in local venues around the Greater Boston area.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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.
  • 2024: Lorelei Ensemble, Inc. for the production and premiere of an original program called “BREATHE,” with new music by an all-star quartet of performer-composers.
  • 2023: Commonwealth Chorale for Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D, a New England premiere, in collaboration with Cappella Clausura’s roster of professional singers and instrumentalists with the large chorus of Commonwealth Chorale and an orchestra of over forty players.
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Grants