National Choral Awards Past Winners
Outstanding Choral Publication
2020 Pierre Robert, Motets pour la Chapelle du roy, Vol. 1, Andrée Dagenais
2018 I Didn't Want It To Be Boring: Conversations about Ruth Watson Henderson's Life and Music by Hilary Apfelstadt ; published by Prism Publishers (2017)
2014 Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers and Singers by Julia Davids; published by Waveland Press (2012)
2012 The Well-Tempered Listener by Mary Willan Mason; published by Words Indeed Publishing Inc., Toronto
2010 Elmer Iseler Choral Visionary by Walter Pitman; published by Dundurn Press
2008 Sing Better As You Age by Dr. Victoria Meredith; published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc.
2006 no submissions
2004 Sound Advice: Becoming a Better Children’s Choir Director by Jean Ashworth Bartle; published by OUP
2002 In Their Own Words: Canadian Choral Conductors by Holly Higgins Jonas, editor; published by Dundurn Press
2000 Gestures – the Video Series, Dr. George Evelyn, University of Lethbridge; produced by George Evelyn, George Gallany, ACCESS The Education Station Elaine Hoogewoonink, ACCESS TV, Edmonton
1998 Handbook of Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts by Dr. Melvin P. Unger (Edmonton, AB); published by Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1996
1996 not awarded
1994 not awarded
1992 Reflets du Canada: arrangements de folklores canadiens by Kenneth Bray, Nancy Telfer and Gerhard Wuensch, edited by John Barron; published by Frederick Harris Music Co. Ltd.
1990 Le geste musicien by Jean-François Sénart; published by Louise Courteau, Éditrice Inc.
1988 Reflections of Canada, Vol. I, II, III by Kenneth Bray, Nancy Telfer and Gerhard Wuensch, edited by John Barron; published by Frederick Harris Music Co. Ltd.
2018 I Didn't Want It To Be Boring: Conversations about Ruth Watson Henderson's Life and Music by Hilary Apfelstadt ; published by Prism Publishers (2017)
2014 Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers and Singers by Julia Davids; published by Waveland Press (2012)
2012 The Well-Tempered Listener by Mary Willan Mason; published by Words Indeed Publishing Inc., Toronto
2010 Elmer Iseler Choral Visionary by Walter Pitman; published by Dundurn Press
2008 Sing Better As You Age by Dr. Victoria Meredith; published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc.
2006 no submissions
2004 Sound Advice: Becoming a Better Children’s Choir Director by Jean Ashworth Bartle; published by OUP
2002 In Their Own Words: Canadian Choral Conductors by Holly Higgins Jonas, editor; published by Dundurn Press
2000 Gestures – the Video Series, Dr. George Evelyn, University of Lethbridge; produced by George Evelyn, George Gallany, ACCESS The Education Station Elaine Hoogewoonink, ACCESS TV, Edmonton
1998 Handbook of Bach's Sacred Cantata Texts by Dr. Melvin P. Unger (Edmonton, AB); published by Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1996
1996 not awarded
1994 not awarded
1992 Reflets du Canada: arrangements de folklores canadiens by Kenneth Bray, Nancy Telfer and Gerhard Wuensch, edited by John Barron; published by Frederick Harris Music Co. Ltd.
1990 Le geste musicien by Jean-François Sénart; published by Louise Courteau, Éditrice Inc.
1988 Reflections of Canada, Vol. I, II, III by Kenneth Bray, Nancy Telfer and Gerhard Wuensch, edited by John Barron; published by Frederick Harris Music Co. Ltd.
Outstanding Choral Composition
2020 This Thirsty Land, Leonard Enns
2018 Words, Stories, Truth by Mark Sirett, poetry by Vera Wabegijig, commissioned by Gloria Gassi
2016 The Far West by Zachary Wadsworth
2014 Open Road by James Rolfe
2012 The Soul of God by R. Murray Schafer; commissioned by Soundstreams Canada
2010 The Stars Point The Way by Mark Sirett
2008 Now Goth Sonne Under Wode by Allan Bevan, for soprano solo, narrator, SATB chorus, organ and orchestra.
2006 Angels' Voices by John Burge
2004 Rose Trilogy by Eleanor Daley
2002 One Drop by Stephen Hatfield
2000 Four Eulogies by John Estacio, for unaccompanied SATB chamber choir; Two Roads to the Heartland by Allan Gordon Bell, for children's choir and piano
1998 For the Children: A Cantata (for treble chorus, narrators, clarinet, percussion and string orchestra) by Robert Evans (Elora, ON) Commissioned by the Toronto Children's Chorus, 1997
1996 Stabat Mater by Ramona Luengen
1994 Four Grassi Lakes Seasons by Allan Gordon Bell; Requiem by Eleanor Daley; Veni Sancte Spiritus by Imant Raminsh
1992 Voices of Earth by Ruth Watson Henderson
1990 Magnificat by Imant Raminsh
1988 Night Songs by Derek Holman
2018 Words, Stories, Truth by Mark Sirett, poetry by Vera Wabegijig, commissioned by Gloria Gassi
2016 The Far West by Zachary Wadsworth
2014 Open Road by James Rolfe
2012 The Soul of God by R. Murray Schafer; commissioned by Soundstreams Canada
2010 The Stars Point The Way by Mark Sirett
2008 Now Goth Sonne Under Wode by Allan Bevan, for soprano solo, narrator, SATB chorus, organ and orchestra.
2006 Angels' Voices by John Burge
2004 Rose Trilogy by Eleanor Daley
2002 One Drop by Stephen Hatfield
2000 Four Eulogies by John Estacio, for unaccompanied SATB chamber choir; Two Roads to the Heartland by Allan Gordon Bell, for children's choir and piano
1998 For the Children: A Cantata (for treble chorus, narrators, clarinet, percussion and string orchestra) by Robert Evans (Elora, ON) Commissioned by the Toronto Children's Chorus, 1997
1996 Stabat Mater by Ramona Luengen
1994 Four Grassi Lakes Seasons by Allan Gordon Bell; Requiem by Eleanor Daley; Veni Sancte Spiritus by Imant Raminsh
1992 Voices of Earth by Ruth Watson Henderson
1990 Magnificat by Imant Raminsh
1988 Night Songs by Derek Holman
Outstanding Choral Recording
2020 Handel: Dixit dominus, Bach and Schütz: Motets, Ottawa Bach Choir, Ensemble Caprice, Lisette Canton
2018 The Far West (Zachary Wadsworth) by Luminous Voices
2016 Felix Mendelssohn- Te Deum, Luminous Voices, Timothy Shantz, Conductor
2014 Let Us Keep the Feast: Music for the Church Year, University of King’s College Chapel Choir; Paul Halley, conductor
SouNZsCApes: From our Lands, Toronto Children’s Chorus; Elise Bradley, conductor
2012 ALLAN BEVAN parlez-moi, Concerto Della Donna directed by Iwan Edwards; Engineer: Mark Corwin
2010 Shadowland, DaCapo Chamber Choir directed by Leonard Enns; Recording Producer: Earl McCluskie; Recording Company: Chestnut Hall Music; Engineer: Ed Marshall, Marshall Arts Productions
2008 Circle of Compassion, Chor Leoni Men's Choir; Diane Loomer, conductor; Jonathan Quick, recording producer; Cypress Choral Recordings
2006 The Passing of the Year, University of Alberta Madrigal Singers; Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor; Jochen Eggert Record Company, recording producer; Arktos
2004 Yuletide Fires, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir; Diane Loomer, Artistic Director; Jonathan Quick, producer; Don Harder, recording engineer; Skylark Music
2002 Songs of the Spirit, The Amadeus Choir of Toronto; Lydia Adams, conductor; Maura McGroarty, producer
2000 Balulalow: Anthems, Carols and Lullabies for Christmas, University of Alberta Madrigal Singers; Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor
1998 A Boy Was Born, Toronto Children's Chorus; Jean Ashworth Bartle, Founder/Music Director; Ruth Watson Henderson, Accompanist; The Elmer Iseler Singers and MacMillan Singers, Elmer Iseler, conductor; Lois Marshall, narrator; Members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,TCC-015
1996 An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts, Vancouver Chamber Choir; Jon Washburn, conductor; Virgin Classics/EMI Canada
1994 Venetian Vespers of 1640, Vancouver Cantata Singers; James Fankhauser, conductor; Skylark Records
1992 Amabile Youth Singers with Kevin MacMillan, baritone; John Barron and Brenda Zadorsky, conductors; Canadian Artists Label
1990 Sir Christëmas, Canadian Children's Opera Chorus; John Tuttle, conductor; Disque Americ
1988 BaroqueFest, Vancouver Chamber Choir with the Lausanne Chamber Choir and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra; Jon Washburn and Michel Corboz, conductors; CBC Enterprises
2018 The Far West (Zachary Wadsworth) by Luminous Voices
2016 Felix Mendelssohn- Te Deum, Luminous Voices, Timothy Shantz, Conductor
2014 Let Us Keep the Feast: Music for the Church Year, University of King’s College Chapel Choir; Paul Halley, conductor
SouNZsCApes: From our Lands, Toronto Children’s Chorus; Elise Bradley, conductor
2012 ALLAN BEVAN parlez-moi, Concerto Della Donna directed by Iwan Edwards; Engineer: Mark Corwin
2010 Shadowland, DaCapo Chamber Choir directed by Leonard Enns; Recording Producer: Earl McCluskie; Recording Company: Chestnut Hall Music; Engineer: Ed Marshall, Marshall Arts Productions
2008 Circle of Compassion, Chor Leoni Men's Choir; Diane Loomer, conductor; Jonathan Quick, recording producer; Cypress Choral Recordings
2006 The Passing of the Year, University of Alberta Madrigal Singers; Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor; Jochen Eggert Record Company, recording producer; Arktos
2004 Yuletide Fires, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir; Diane Loomer, Artistic Director; Jonathan Quick, producer; Don Harder, recording engineer; Skylark Music
2002 Songs of the Spirit, The Amadeus Choir of Toronto; Lydia Adams, conductor; Maura McGroarty, producer
2000 Balulalow: Anthems, Carols and Lullabies for Christmas, University of Alberta Madrigal Singers; Leonard Ratzlaff, conductor
1998 A Boy Was Born, Toronto Children's Chorus; Jean Ashworth Bartle, Founder/Music Director; Ruth Watson Henderson, Accompanist; The Elmer Iseler Singers and MacMillan Singers, Elmer Iseler, conductor; Lois Marshall, narrator; Members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra,TCC-015
1996 An Apostrophe to the Heavenly Hosts, Vancouver Chamber Choir; Jon Washburn, conductor; Virgin Classics/EMI Canada
1994 Venetian Vespers of 1640, Vancouver Cantata Singers; James Fankhauser, conductor; Skylark Records
1992 Amabile Youth Singers with Kevin MacMillan, baritone; John Barron and Brenda Zadorsky, conductors; Canadian Artists Label
1990 Sir Christëmas, Canadian Children's Opera Chorus; John Tuttle, conductor; Disque Americ
1988 BaroqueFest, Vancouver Chamber Choir with the Lausanne Chamber Choir and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra; Jon Washburn and Michel Corboz, conductors; CBC Enterprises
Outstanding Innovation
2020 Pro Coro Canada and Michael Zaugg for their program, Choral Art: Composers, Conductors and Choirs, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
2018 Nordic Light Festival by the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and the Adlers Agency
2016 Indiekör. Coastal Sound Youth Choir- conceptualized and artistic directed by Carrie Tennant.
2014 Music of the Spheres. On the eve of Earth Day 2012, the Ontario Science Centre in collaboration with the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers presented Music of the Spheres: A Fusion of Music, Art and Science. Celebrating Roberta Bondar’s 20th anniversary of flight in space, her photographic explorations were interwoven with the sounds of the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers for a performance of two world premieres: Light in the Darkness—The Earth Sings by Lydia Adams (text by Roberta Bondar) and Geometry of Light by Jason Jestadt (text by Carole H. Leckner).
2012 Long-time Sponsorship of Cantabile Choirs Concert Seasons; Swyrich Corp, Sherry and Dave Richardson, owners
2010 Cypress Choral Music for promotion of Canadian choral literature and sponsorship of the ACCC Choral Composition Competition
2008 Healing Voices Recording Project: Chor Leoni Men's Choir
2006 Anju and Chander Datta, Cancoil Thermal Corporation
2004 Harborlynx Ferries, for sponsoring the Vancouver Bach Choir’s performance of Messiah in Nanaimo
2002 Portland Hotel Society, for sponsoring the Vancouver Bach Choir’s Blood Alley Messiah in one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods
2000 W.H. (Bill) and Shirley Loewen; Donation of $1 million to choral music in Manitoba, used to establish the Foundation for Choral Music in Manitoba
1998 not awarded
1996 The Rotary Club of Halifax, for its sponsorship of the Rotary Youth Choir
1994 Vancouver Goethe Institut, for its sponsorship of the 1993 World Symposium on Choral Music's production of Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons)
1992 David Lemon, for his sponsorship of the Vancouver Bach Choir's production of Mahler's 8th Symphony
1990 Lloyds Bank Canada, for its sponsorship of the 1989 International Choral Festival: The Joy of Singing, Toronto
1988 Tree Island Industries, for its on-going sponsorship of the Vancouver Chamber Choir
2018 Nordic Light Festival by the Orpheus Choir of Toronto and the Adlers Agency
2016 Indiekör. Coastal Sound Youth Choir- conceptualized and artistic directed by Carrie Tennant.
2014 Music of the Spheres. On the eve of Earth Day 2012, the Ontario Science Centre in collaboration with the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers presented Music of the Spheres: A Fusion of Music, Art and Science. Celebrating Roberta Bondar’s 20th anniversary of flight in space, her photographic explorations were interwoven with the sounds of the Amadeus Choir and the Elmer Iseler Singers for a performance of two world premieres: Light in the Darkness—The Earth Sings by Lydia Adams (text by Roberta Bondar) and Geometry of Light by Jason Jestadt (text by Carole H. Leckner).
2012 Long-time Sponsorship of Cantabile Choirs Concert Seasons; Swyrich Corp, Sherry and Dave Richardson, owners
2010 Cypress Choral Music for promotion of Canadian choral literature and sponsorship of the ACCC Choral Composition Competition
2008 Healing Voices Recording Project: Chor Leoni Men's Choir
2006 Anju and Chander Datta, Cancoil Thermal Corporation
2004 Harborlynx Ferries, for sponsoring the Vancouver Bach Choir’s performance of Messiah in Nanaimo
2002 Portland Hotel Society, for sponsoring the Vancouver Bach Choir’s Blood Alley Messiah in one of Canada's poorest neighbourhoods
2000 W.H. (Bill) and Shirley Loewen; Donation of $1 million to choral music in Manitoba, used to establish the Foundation for Choral Music in Manitoba
1998 not awarded
1996 The Rotary Club of Halifax, for its sponsorship of the Rotary Youth Choir
1994 Vancouver Goethe Institut, for its sponsorship of the 1993 World Symposium on Choral Music's production of Haydn's Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons)
1992 David Lemon, for his sponsorship of the Vancouver Bach Choir's production of Mahler's 8th Symphony
1990 Lloyds Bank Canada, for its sponsorship of the 1989 International Choral Festival: The Joy of Singing, Toronto
1988 Tree Island Industries, for its on-going sponsorship of the Vancouver Chamber Choir
Outstanding Thesis or Dissertation (category established in 2006)
2020 Choral Arrangements of Nueva Canción Chilena: Exploring Socially Committed Song in the Choral Context, Allison Pauls (University of Alberta)
2018 Improvisation in Choral Settings by Frances Farrell
2014 Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year and Other Works for Chorus and Keyboard by Brendan Lord.
2012 The Passion in Latin America: Examination of three choral movements from Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos by Irene Apanovitch
2010 Adult Community Choirs: Toward a Balance Between Leisure Participation and Musical Achievement by Rachel Rensink-Hoff
2008 Toward Musical Independence: Metacognitive Strategies Employed by Young Choristers Engaged in National Reading Tasks by Marlene Nolet
2006 The Acoustical Effects of the Core Principles of the Bel Canto Method on Choral Singing by Laurier Fagnan
2018 Improvisation in Choral Settings by Frances Farrell
2014 Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year and Other Works for Chorus and Keyboard by Brendan Lord.
2012 The Passion in Latin America: Examination of three choral movements from Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos by Irene Apanovitch
2010 Adult Community Choirs: Toward a Balance Between Leisure Participation and Musical Achievement by Rachel Rensink-Hoff
2008 Toward Musical Independence: Metacognitive Strategies Employed by Young Choristers Engaged in National Reading Tasks by Marlene Nolet
2006 The Acoustical Effects of the Core Principles of the Bel Canto Method on Choral Singing by Laurier Fagnan
Distinguished Service Award
2020 Ki Adams, honorary research professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, founding co-director of the Singing Network and Victoria Meredith, choral conductor, professor emerita at Western University
2018 Lydia Adams (Toronto, ON), conductor & Leonard Ratzlaff (Edmonton, AB), conductor and professor
2016 Robert Cooper, CM (Toronto, ON), conductor
2008 Barbara Clark, CM (Ottawa, ON), conductor, music educator, volunteer board member & The Honourable Barbara Hagerman, Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island (Summerside and Charlottetown, PEI), conductor, voice teacher, church musician, volunteer board member
2006 Henry Engbrecht (Winnipeg, MB), conductor and music educator
2004 Howard Dyck, CM (Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto, ON), conductor and long-time host of CBC Radio Two’s Choral Concert
2002 Patricia Abbott (Montreal, QC), arts administrator and conductor
2000 Georgie Crawford (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC), Founder and Executive Director of the English Montreal School Board (Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal) Chorale 1980-2000 Fondatrice et Directrice générale de la Chorale de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal (CEPGM) 1980-2000
1996 Chantal Masson-Bourque (Québec, QC), conductor, teacher & Jon Washburn (Vancouver, BC), conductor
1994 Madge McCready (Edmonton, AB), arts administrator
1992 Wayne Riddell (Montreal, QC), church musician, teacher, lecturer, conductor & Deral Johnson (London, ON), choral music educator
1990 Dr. Elmer Iseler (Toronto, ON), conductor
1988 Nicholas Goldschmidt, O.C., artistic director
2018 Lydia Adams (Toronto, ON), conductor & Leonard Ratzlaff (Edmonton, AB), conductor and professor
2016 Robert Cooper, CM (Toronto, ON), conductor
2008 Barbara Clark, CM (Ottawa, ON), conductor, music educator, volunteer board member & The Honourable Barbara Hagerman, Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island (Summerside and Charlottetown, PEI), conductor, voice teacher, church musician, volunteer board member
2006 Henry Engbrecht (Winnipeg, MB), conductor and music educator
2004 Howard Dyck, CM (Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto, ON), conductor and long-time host of CBC Radio Two’s Choral Concert
2002 Patricia Abbott (Montreal, QC), arts administrator and conductor
2000 Georgie Crawford (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC), Founder and Executive Director of the English Montreal School Board (Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal) Chorale 1980-2000 Fondatrice et Directrice générale de la Chorale de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal (CEPGM) 1980-2000
1996 Chantal Masson-Bourque (Québec, QC), conductor, teacher & Jon Washburn (Vancouver, BC), conductor
1994 Madge McCready (Edmonton, AB), arts administrator
1992 Wayne Riddell (Montreal, QC), church musician, teacher, lecturer, conductor & Deral Johnson (London, ON), choral music educator
1990 Dr. Elmer Iseler (Toronto, ON), conductor
1988 Nicholas Goldschmidt, O.C., artistic director
Outstanding Student Essay
2020 To Blend or not to Blend: a Solo Singer's Guide to Singing in Choral Ensembles, Leslie Higgins (Western University)
Outstanding Choral Event (category ended in 2012)
2012 The Sealed Angel by Rodion Shchedrin. Presented by Soundstreams Canada and featuring Toronto's Elmer Iseler Singers and the Amadeus Choir
2010 Brown Eagle, Black Raven–Cantabile Choirs of Kingston
2008 Poetry and Music Project — Oriana Women's Choir
2006 Coast-to-Coast Premières of Christos Hatzis' Sepulcher of Life
2004 Unisong - Ottawa / Choral Riffs - BC
2002 World of Children’s Choirs 2001, March 18-22, 2001 in Vancouver
2000 Voices of the Klondike —The Whitehorse Community Choir, Rachel Grantham, conductor/directrice; A series of concerts celebrating the centennial of the Klondike Gold Rush
1998 Festival 500: Sharing the Voices; An International Festival of Choral Music and Celebration of Song. June 18-20, 1997, NF
1996 World Première of Ramona Luengen's Stabat Mater, Vancouver, BC
1994 1993 World Symposium on Choral Music, Vancouver, BC
1992 Kathaumixw '90, Powell River, BC
1990 1989 International Choral Festival: The Joy of Singing, Toronto, ON
1988 Nova Scotia Choral Federation's 10th Anniversary performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah
2010 Brown Eagle, Black Raven–Cantabile Choirs of Kingston
2008 Poetry and Music Project — Oriana Women's Choir
2006 Coast-to-Coast Premières of Christos Hatzis' Sepulcher of Life
2004 Unisong - Ottawa / Choral Riffs - BC
2002 World of Children’s Choirs 2001, March 18-22, 2001 in Vancouver
2000 Voices of the Klondike —The Whitehorse Community Choir, Rachel Grantham, conductor/directrice; A series of concerts celebrating the centennial of the Klondike Gold Rush
1998 Festival 500: Sharing the Voices; An International Festival of Choral Music and Celebration of Song. June 18-20, 1997, NF
1996 World Première of Ramona Luengen's Stabat Mater, Vancouver, BC
1994 1993 World Symposium on Choral Music, Vancouver, BC
1992 Kathaumixw '90, Powell River, BC
1990 1989 International Choral Festival: The Joy of Singing, Toronto, ON
1988 Nova Scotia Choral Federation's 10th Anniversary performance of Mendelssohn's Elijah