Choral Arts New England will host its annual awards ceremony on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry, CT. The event will celebrate exemplary contributions to the region’s choral life and recognize recipients of the 2026 Alfred Nash Patterson Grants.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Jamie Spillane, a distinguished conductor and educator whose nearly three decades of teaching, conducting, mentoring, and leadership have had a profound impact on choral music throughout New England and beyond.

Spillane recently concluded a distinguished tenure as Director of Choral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Connecticut, where he led a vibrant multi-ensemble choral program and mentored generations of conductors and singers. His career has also included significant leadership in secondary education, festival and honor choir conducting, guest residencies, adjudication, and clinician work. Across these settings, his commitment to artistic excellence, education, mentorship, and the transformative power of choral singing has influenced thousands of musicians.

The ceremony will feature performances by two ensembles with deep connections to Spillane: the Ledyard High School Chamber Choir, directed by Melanie Cometa, and the UConn Chamber Singers led by former CANE Board member, Ellen Gilson Voth. Both ensembles will perform in his honor as part of the ceremony.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually since 1994, honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to choral singing and its culture in New England. Spillane joins a distinguished group of past recipients whose work has strengthened the region's choral community.

The ceremony will also honor recipients of the Alfred Nash Patterson Grants, which have supported More than 360 grants to over 180 organizations, totaling some $490,000, have been awarded since 1985. The grants promote adventurous programming, music education, new compositions, and regional collaboration, contributing to the vitality of choral music across New England.