Choral Arts New England | Elevating Choral Music and Creativity through Alfred Nash Patterson Grants

About Choral Arts New England

Choral Arts New England was formed in 1980 as a memorial to Alfred Nash “Bud” Patterson, an inspiring cultural leader, mentor and model for singers, conductors and composers.

Today, Choral Arts New England supports choral singing through Alfred Nash Patterson grants and a Lifetime Achievement Award, both presented annually at the fall awards ceremony; an online choral calendar listing all major choral events in New England; a directory of choruses of New England; and the sharing of news and information about the choral community through this website and a biannual print newsletter.

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Alfred Nash Patterson Grants

Alfred Nash Patterson Grants have been awarded continuously since 1985. These grants support choral music in New England and can be awarded to New England choruses, both volunteer and professional; parent organizations of New England choruses; and New England organizations that provide support to choral music. Grants encourage adventurous programming and broaden repertory; support music education and the training of young choral singers; encourage collaboration and festivals; and strengthen choruses throughout the region, from the heart of the city to remote country towns.

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Upcoming choral events

Tanglewood Festival Chorus / Boston Symphony Orchestra [MA] 1/17: Chichester Psalms.
Cantilena Chamber Choir [MA] 1/18: Martin Luther King Concert.
Nashoba Valley Chorale [MA] 1/18: Hallelujah! 50th Anniversary Concert.
Mystic River Chorale [CT] 1/18: Reflection and Remembrance.
Lexington Pops Chorus [MA] 1/23 & 1/25: At the Opera with Lexington Pops Chorus.
Cappella Clausura [MA] 1/24 & 1/25: In tongues: Ruehr’s “Cassandra”.
The Worcester Chorus [MA] 1/24: Christmas Oratorio.

See full calendar

David Hoose Commissioning Grant

Building on 45 years of supporting choral compositions and performances throughout the region, Choral Arts New England (CANE) is pleased to now offer the David Hoose Commissioning Grant, a biennial $5,000 grant supporting the commission of meaningful new choral music with instrumental accompaniment. This grant supports new compositions that explore choral music’s unique capacity to help us understand our history, reflect on our present, and envision our future.

2025 Alfred Nash Patterson Grant Recipients

Choral Arts New England is delighted to announce the funding of 16 project grants totaling $29,000. Award recipients represent choral organizations from all New England states, and were chosen out of 54 applications.

Award recipients will be honored at our grant ceremony in the fall of 2025, and the projects are described below from excerpts of the applications. In addition, where a recipient received a named grant, is listed next to the recipient’s name.

Congratulations to all our awardees, and please stay tuned for our next application cycle to open for 2026!

BHS Greater Boston Chapter — MA
Singspiration 2025 and Beyond

Featured choral events

Events supported by Alfred Nash Patterson Grants.

Boston Children’s Chorus / Boston City Singers / Handel and Haydn Chamber Choir [MA] 4/11: Langston Hughes and Phillis Wheatley: I Dream a World.
Counterpoint [VT] 4/18, 4/21, 4/25 & 4/28: An Act of Remembrance.
Cantilena Women's Chorus / Worcester Chorus [MA] 5/8 & 5/9: I Rise: Women in Song.
Cappella Clausura [MA] 5/16 & 5/17: Worthy of the Highest Praise: Bembo and Vivaldi.