The Triangle Youth Chorus Trophy

For seven years, the Triangle Youth Chorus Trophy honored local school choruses and their directors. Its purpose was to encourage and promote choral singing in public schools, and to recognize the achievements of youth ensembles and music educators. (See a composite flash show of the first four years.)

Triangle Youth Chorus TrophyThe Trophy served as a sort of "Stanley Cup" for young choruses: presented in the spring and retained by the winning school for one year. Along with it came a substantial grant, music scores, a recording session and Trophy t-shirts. All applicant ensembles had their work aired on a special segment of WCPE-FM’s “Great Sacred Music” (like the 2007 Radio Feature by former program host Ken Hoover); they also received a master class with a stellar choral leader.

Big, fun and festive, the Trophy was designed by North Carolina artist Lyle Estill. It feeatures 14 choristers made of recycled industrial metal parts; the annual winners were engraved on plaques on the wooden base. The Trophy was awarded annually to an ensemble at a public school in Wake, Durham, Orange or Chatham County. Evaluation was based on musical excellence and other factors - such as the choir's impact on members and others, chorus development (vocal quality, repertoire, number of participants, member diversity), etc.

The most recent winner was Sirens, women's ensemble at Riverside High School in Durham. Directed by Jill Boliek, Sirens is an auditioned honors choir of 40 singers. It has performed at local and regional concerts and national choral competitions, consistently receiving highest ratings. Sirens formed the core of a model "inclusive choir," in collaboration with the nonprofit organization, Voices Together; this ensemble brings in a dozen students with physical and mental disabilities to rehearse regularly and perform with Sirens. See the photo/audio montage of the surprise April 2010 Sirens tribute.

Previous recipients of the Triangle Youth Chorus trophy were:

Serving on the Tropy's Advisory Board were local educators, conductors, reviewers and other choral enthusiasts: Dr. Lance Buhl, Buhl & Associates; Beverley Francis, Triangle Community Foundation (TCF); Scott Hill, Durham Children's Choir; Ken Hoover, WCPE; John Lambert, Classical Voice of North Carolina; Lisa McIver, Brightleaf Music Institute; Lori O'Keefe, TCF; Dr. Fran Page, Capital City Girls Choir/Meredith College; Carol Robbins, TriangleSings!; Leandra Strope, Sisters' Voices. The director of the Trophy-winning choir joined the Board annually for a one-year term.

The Trophy initiative was funded by TriangleSings!, Hinshaw Music, Inc., Alice and Lance Buhl, Walton Music Corporation, Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse, Lisa and Tom McIver, John Lambert, Scott Hill, and Burrage Music Company. Mark Manring contributed photography of the award ceremony and& a CD for the winning ensemble each year. Master classes were offered gratis by Bill Carroll, Dan Huff, Sue Klausmeyer, Fran Page, Larry Speakman, Al Sturgis and Rodney Wynkoop.