FY 2006 Grant Awards: American Masterpieces:
Choral Music

Some details of the projects listed below are subject to change, contingent upon prior Endowment approval.

Brazeal Dennard Chorale
Detroit, MI
$20,000
To support a regional choral festival in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Brighton, Michigan. Performances of American choral repertoire as well as choral workshops for adults and youth will be presented. Partnering choruses are Our Own Thing Chorale in Ann Arbor, MI and Livingston County Chorale in Brighton, MI.

Cantus, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
$70,000
To support a regional choral festival in three northern Minnesota communities (Virginia, Hibbing, and Grand Rapids) as well as Minneapolis. Performances of American choral repertoire and educational workshops will be presented. VocalEssence of Minneapolis will partner with Cantus.

Chorus America
Washington, DC
$90,000
To support AMERICA SINGS! This free concert takes place on June 11, 2006 at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. It will showcase significant American choral works and American composers, performed by as many as 325 singers from a dozen choruses, including the U.S. Army Band and Chorus. The audience will have an opportunity to hear an extravaganza of choral music as the hall is transformed into a space where performances occur in the aisles, amidst the audience, and on the stage. An estimated audience of 1,800 is expected to attend the concert.

Conspirare, Inc.
Austin, TX
$75,000
To support a regional choral festival in Austin. Plans include performances of American choral repertoire, educational workshops, consultations by guest composers and conductors, and commissions. Six choruses will collaborate for the festival including: University of TX, Austin choir; Texas State University at San Marcos choir; Conspirare Children's Choir; and the following high school choirs; Judson High School from Converse, Faith Family Academy from Dallas, and Stephen's School from Austin.

Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation
Statesboro, GA
$45,000
To support a regional choral festival focusing on spirituals. The festival will bring together choirs, choral directors, and scholars in Statesboro and Savannah, Georgia. Choirs include Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers from Los Angeles and the Fisk University Jubilee Singers from Nashville.

Providence Singers, Inc.
Providence, RI
$50,000
To support a regional choral festival. Activities will include commissions; concerts of American repertoire; workshops; a community sing led by composer, conductor, and educator Alice Parker; and the development of education materials for local music educators.

Seattle Pro Musica Society
Seattle, WA
$70,000
To support a regional choral festival. The project will feature concerts of American repertoire performed by the Society and choruses from throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as workshops by composer-in-residence Morten Lauridsen and guest conductor Dale Warland. Activities during the festival also will include master classes in conducting and composition by Artistic Director Karen Thomas, choral clinics with local choirs, educational workshops in schools, and pre- and post-concert discussions.

Virginia Symphony
Norfolk, VA
$70,000
To support a regional choral festival including performances of American choral repertoire with orchestra and chorus broadcast on local public television station WHRO. Other activities will be an a cappella mass chorus performance, family concerts that will include multimedia components, lecture programs, and a composer-in-residence. Participating choruses include Virginia Chorale and Virginia Symphony Chorus from Norfolk, Virginia's Children's Chorus, and Hampton University Choir; Conductors will be JoAnn Falletta and Robert Shoup. The composer in residence will be Dan Locklair from Wake Forest University.

Number of Grants: 8          Total Amount: $490,000

National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506