The Falls Church-based Choralis Foundation earlier this month presented its 2014 Greater Washington D.C. Area Choral Excellence Ovation Awards to outstanding individuals and organizations from the local choral music community.
On June 4, Choralis honored Pamela Lassell, an orchestra contractor, with the Ovation Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music. This award recognized Lassell’s work in assembling instrumental ensembles to accompany area choral concerts for more than 25 years.
Coral Cantigas and its artistic director, Diana Sáez, received the Ovation Award for Most Creative Programming, based on its season titled “Music Bridges Between Diverse Cultures.” The Ovation Award for Best Educational Outreach was awarded to the Children’s Chorus of Washington and Joan Gregoryk, founder and artistic director, recognizing its comprehensive youth choir and music education programs. The Ovation Award for Best Specialty Group: Gospel Choir Category went to the Washington Performing Arts Society’s Men and Women of the Gospel Choir and Stanley J. Thurston, artistic director, reflecting its decades of performances and community outreach.
