Chorus America to Establish Grant Program Supporting Collaborative Programs Between Choruses and Schools

Chorus America, the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field, is thrilled to announce a new Chorus America Music Education Collaboration Grants program.

This program, made possible through a new funding partnership, will support collaborations between community choruses and schools over a two-year period, plus workshops, peer learning, and participation in Chorus America’s annual conferences for the grantee cohort. This program will provide greater access to choral music education for young people, including opportunities to develop skills in music, enhance their personal growth, and be exposed to their own and other cultures.

The $2 million program includes $900,000 in subgrants to choruses along with learning cohort activities, music education access mapping, and other initiatives. Chorus America will subgrant two-year grants ranging from $15,000-$50,000 to 24 choruses. Programs will be based in national standards for kindergarten through ninth grade music education and be accessible to students with differing abilities and socioeconomic backgrounds. These subgrants to choruses will leverage choral singing and music literacy to promote non-arts learning and cultural literacy, while upholding the principles of access, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI).

Grants will support projects specifically in regions of the U.S. and Canada that are focuses for the new funding partnership, including the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, the Southwest, the Upper Midwest and Central Appalachia. More information about the program and application process will be available in late Spring 2021, with grants awarded in Fall 2021. Choruses who would like to receive more information when it becomes available can submit contact information through this online form.

“One of Chorus America’s strategic objectives is to support the role of choruses in music education, and this grant program is a huge step for us,” said Chorus America President and CEO Catherine Dehoney. “Choral music education impacts students’ lives in powerfully positive ways. We are so excited that the Chorus America Music Education Collaboration Grants will offer more opportunities for young people to express themselves through music, learn about their own and other cultures, and experience personal growth.”

The Chorus America Music Education Collaboration Grants program is made possible by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

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About Chorus America

Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. We support and serve choral conductors, administrators, board members, and singers with tools, training, peer networking, and access so that choruses are better able to contribute to their communities.

More than 2,000 choruses, individuals, businesses, and organizations are members of Chorus America and have access to a wide array of programs, publications, research, and personal services developed for their benefit. These services strengthen their ability to build strong organizations that foster quality choral performances.

Chorus America is governed by a diverse board of accomplished arts leaders from across North America, and the executive staff is headquartered in Washington, DC. Learn more at chorusamerica.org.

About Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) supports efforts to enhance quality of life and prevent and relieve suffering of children, families, and seniors; preserve and promote the environment and the arts; and encourage the humane treatment of animals. Founded by the late Margaret A. Cargill, MACP actively partners with capable organizations to make a lasting difference for individuals and communities, with particular attention to overlooked causes.