Accolades from critics and national awards are part of our legacy.
“It’s no accident that this choir is considered one of the best in the country.”
We strive to make great music in the here and now, and along the way, we're often honored with great reviews and prestigious awards from our peers.
Awards
Mayor's Arts Award - Karen P. Thomas
Artistic Director Karen P. Thomas was named a 2018 Mayor's Arts Awards recipient by the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle in recognition of her work to make Seattle Pro Musica fully welcoming for LGBTQ individuals.
GRAMMY Award
Seattle Pro Musica was a participating artist on the GRAMMY Award-winning album Winds of Samsara by Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman.
The American Prize
Seattle Pro Musica was awarded second place (community choir category) in The American Prize, a competition which provides annual awards and international recognition to outstanding conductors, performers, and ensembles throughout the United States. Karen P. Thomas was also a finalist in the conducting category.
American Masterpieces Choral Initiative, 2006-2007
Seattle Pro Musica received an $84,000 American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. Nationwide, only seven choirs were selected to participate in the American Masterpieces project for the 2006-2007 season.
With these funds, Seattle Pro Musica undertook a subscription concert series, a number of regional outreach appearances, and unique choral educational programs in local schools. The season culminated in a regional choral festival hosted by Seattle Pro Musica, June 15-17, 2007, highlighting a select repertoire by American composers.
The festival included performances by Seattle Pro Musica and participating choirs from the Pacific Northwest, as well as a Festival Youth Honor Choir of middle school students from throughout the region. The event, which took place in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall and Town Hall, included master classes and seminars with conductor Dale Warland and composer Morten Lauridsen. Mr. Warland was featured as guest conductor for the festival, conducting the final festival massed choir concert. Mr. Lauridsen was the festival’s guest composer, and his works were featured prominently on the festival programs.
Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, 2003
Presented by Chorus America, this one-time award is presented annually to an ensemble that demonstrates artistic excellence, a strong organizational structure, and a commitment to outreach and educational and/or culturally diverse activities. The award recognizes the late Margaret Hillis for her more than 40 years of professional achievement and outstanding contributions to the choral art.
ASCAP-Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music, 1996
This honor recognizes the depth and diversity of an ensemble’s programming throughout the year. To be considered, the music must be deemed “adventurous” by the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers. Commissions, local premieres, and performances of worthy but underperformed works all play a part in earning this distinction.
Grants
We are thankful for generous grants that further our mission to bring the choral arts to the community.
Seattle Pro Musica is supported by these organizations:
For the 2009-2010 season, Seattle Pro Musica was one of only two choirs to receive funding through the Washington State Arts Commission, and the only adult choir in the state to be supported by the City of Seattle (Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs), 4Culture (King County), and the state.
Seattle Pro Musica is also supported through Classical KING FM 98.1's Arts Channel: The KING FM Arts Channel presents artists, art experts, and those working behind the scenes in all arts disciplines via conversations, discussions, interviews, readings, performance, and other features. Listen to KING FM online.
Seattle Pro Musica has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to music in the Northwest with generous grants from the following organizations:
National Endowment for the Arts
ArtsFund
Seattle Foundation
The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Nesholm Family Foundation
Washington State Arts Commission
4Culture
City of Seattle, Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Meet the Composer
Standing Ovation
Young Singers Foundation
Aaron Copland Fund for Music
Guest Appearances
Seattle Pro Musica has performed by invitation at national and international festivals.
On March 5, 2016, Seattle Pro Musica appeared at the American Choral Director's Association NW Conference, in Seattle.
In March 2013, Chroma, the soprano-alto ensemble of Seattle Pro Musica, performed at the National Conference of the American Choral Director's Association in Dallas.
Seattle Pro Musica co-hosted the 2013 National Conference of Chorus America, June 12-15, in Seattle. We collaborated with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Chorale to host this prestigious national gathering and to present two performances of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" at Benaroya Hall.
In March 2010, Seattle Pro Musica was the featured choir in the opening concert of the ACDA (American Choral Director's Association) NW Region conference. At this performance, we presented the world premiere of "You have ravished my heart" by Karen P. Thomas.
Seattle Pro Musica began the 2008-2009 season by joining the Seattle Symphony (September) for three appearances of Mahler's 8th Symphony, and ended the season with a special guest appearance at the American Guild of Organists national convention, offering the world premiere of Bruce Neswick's "Psalm 150," commissioned especially for the concert.
Seattle Pro Musica has also appeared as a featured ensemble on the NPR radio show Saint Paul Sunday.
The choir has performed by invitation at the following festivals:
World Festival of Women’s Singing
Festival Vancouver in Canada
American Guild of Organists National Convention
American Choral Directors Association Division Convention