ACDA-PA Awards

The American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania annually recognizes the accomplishments of two individuals at the summer conference.  The awards presented represent both ends of the spectrum in the career of a choral director.  The Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence highlights the accomplishments of a veteran choral director who exemplifies outstanding work in the choral art.  And the Outstanding Young Conductor Award recognizes the efforts of a new or aspiring choral director who, in their first 3 to 5 years of experience has already demonstrated outstanding leadership or musicianship in the field of choral music.  Read below to learn more of the specific criteria for nominees, as well as, a listing of past recipients.

The Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence

The Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence is presented to an individual for outstanding lifelong work in the choral art.  Started in 1998, this award is named in honor of Elaine Brown, the founder/director of Singing City in Philadelphia, PA.

From the Singing City Website:

She was born Elaine Isaacson in the northeast Pennsylvania town of Ridgeway in 1910. Her mother was an organist and choirmaster, taking her to choir rehearsals as a baby in a basket and later serving as her first piano teacher. She left Ridgeway at the age of sixteen to pursue a degree in music education at the Bush Conservatory (now Northpark College) in Chicago. In 1929 Dr. Brown began her first teaching job in Jamestown NY, but when Westminster Choir College under the direction of John Finley Williamson, came through Jamestown on a concert tour, she became so inspired she gave up her teaching job to pursue another bachelors degree at Westminster, receiving that degree in 1934. She received a Master degree from Temple in 1945.

At that time she joined the faculty at Temple University. It was during this period of her career that she was contacted by Fellowship House to discuss the establishment of a volunteer choir open to community members. Within the first few seasons, the Choir was presenting over 45 performances each year. After a one year sabbatical spent serving on the faculty of the Julliard School at the invitation of William Schuman, she returned to Philadelphia and in 1948, transformed the Fellowship House Choir into Singing City, now one of the most respected cultural institutions in the City. Elaine Brown resigned her appointment at Temple in 1956 and Singing City became her "life" (and some would say obsession) until her retirement in 1987. Elaine Brown passed away in 1997 at the age of 87.

The recipient of many awards and recognitions from musical and humanitarian organizations, Elaine Brown was also the first American woman to conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra. Her honors are impressive but it was Singing City that held her heart.

Past Recipients

1998 - Elaine Brown
1999 - Fred Waring
2000 - Robert Page
2001 - Elma Heckler
2002 - Douglas Miller
2003 - Pierce Getz
2004 - Helen Kemp
2005 - Lois Williams
2006 - Cyril M. Stretansky
2007 - Alan Harler
2008 - Marvin Huls
2009 - William Payn
2010 - Peggy Dettwiler

Nomination Process

Any member of ACDA-PA is eligible to nominate a candidate for the award by submitting a letter of nomination by June 1st of the nominating year. A nominating letter should be sent to:

Eileen Hower, ACDA-PA Vice President
101 Old Field Drive
Bloomsburg, PA 17815

by June 1st. The selection will be made by the Executive Board of ACDA-PA and will be presented at the ACDA-PA Summer Conference. The award shall consist of: $200 and a commemorative plaque.

Criteria

Nominating letters should evidence examples of the following criteria used to evaluate eligible honorees. Candidate must demonstrate:

1. outstanding, lifelong achievements in the choral art

2. a minimum of 15 years experience as a choral musician

3. musical/choral leadership in the state of Pennsylvania

4. high, consistent musical standards

5. his/her active participation in ACDA

   Download Nomination Form (.pdf)

The Outstanding Young Conductor Award

ACDA-PA annually recognizes the efforts of a new or aspiring young conductor at its summer conference.  Recipients of this award, which began in 2003, meet the following criteria:

1. full or part-time continuous employment as a choral conductor in Pennsylvania for 3 - 5 years

2. outstanding leadership and musicianship in any choral field - education, sacred music, or other professional choral music making

3. impact on the size or quality of their program including significant contributions to the program and/or musical life of others as measured by the number of participants, improved quality, and/or community impact

4. special consideration may be given to active members of ACDA.

Past Recipients

2003 - Joseph Farrell
2004 - Sharon Rotuna
2005 - Mark Dolan and Jill Tocket
2006 - Shaun Cloonan
2007 - Andreas Cladera and Charles Masters
2008 - Brian Winnie
2009 - Jason Bishop
2010 - Christie McKinney
 

Nomination Process

Any member of ACDA-PA is eligible to nominate a candidate for the award by submitting a letter of nomination by June 1st of the nominating year. Nominating letters should include: name/address of nominee, name/address of professional position, and should contain evidence of the criteria listed above. Supporting documents (vita, programs, optional recordings) are encouraged. The name of nominator along with his/her contact information should also be included.

Members of the ACDA-PA Board will make the final selection. The letter of nomination should be sent to:

Eileen Hower, ACDA-PA Vice President
101 Old Field Drive
Bloomsburg, PA 17815

by June 1st. The award will be presented during the Summer Conference and will consist of:

1. a check for $200 offered as payment towards an ACDA conference

2. free membership in ACDA for one year

3. a commemorative plaque.

   Download Nomination Form (pdf)