The Greater Washington D.C. Area Choral Excellence (“Ovation”) Awards were inaugurated by Choralis in 2010 to celebrate the achievements of the DC area’s rich choral community. The 2025 Ovation Awards will be presented in three categories.

The nominees are:

Exemplary Community Engagement

The Alexandria Singers
Bill Colosimo, Music Director

Encore Creativity for Older Adults
Kathryn Harsha and Ethan Lolley, Interim Artistic Directors

NOVA Community Chorus
Mary-Hannah Klontz, Artistic Director

Best 2024-25 Collaboration

The Alexandria Choral Society
Kathryn Harsha, Artistic Director

Children's Chorus of Washington
Margaret Nomura Clark, Artistic Director

Congressional Chorus
Allan Laino, Artistic Director

Best Symphonic Chorus

Baltimore Choral Arts Society
Anthony Blake Clark, Music Director

City Choir of Washington
Erin Freeman, Artistic Director

The Washington Chorus
Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director

Ovation award winners will be announced during the May 3rd Gala program.

To learn more about the Ovation Awards click here

The 2025 J. Reilly Lewis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music will be presented to Catherine Dehoney, former president and CEO of Chorus America, whose 40-year career has centered in arts management and fundraising, particularly in the choral field.