Thank you for supporting The Choralis Foundation’s
2026 Gala and Greater Washington DC Area Choral
Excellence (“Ovation”) Awards

 

The program took place on Saturday, May 2nd at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia.
Over 160 guests were in attendance for this fun and inspiring evening to celebrate the achievements
and brilliance of the DC choral community.

 

A special thanks to guest emcee Ms. Nicole Lacroix, celebrated afternoon host at WETA 90.9 FM,
and to the presenters of the awards. Most of all congratulations to the award winners on May 2, recapped below:

 

Gretchen Kuhrmann, founder and artistic director of Choralis, was presented the prestigious
J. Reilly Lewis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music by last year’s winner Catherine Dehoney,
former President and CEO of Chorus America and currently acting executive director of the Washington Chorus.

 

The Ovation Award for Best 2025-26 Collaboration was presented by
Kathryn Harsha of Encore Creativity to Thea Kano of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.

 

The Ovation Award for Best Holiday Programming was presented by Margaret Clark of the
Children’s Chorus of Washington to Andrea Blackford of the Washington Revels.

 

The Ovation Award for Most Creative Programing was presented by Kara Morrissey of the
Washington Chorus to Victoria Gau of Cantate.

 

Special guests at the gala included Bill Bukowski, WETA Classical’s weekday host
and host of A Choral Showcase; Stuart Holt, President and CEO of ArtsFairfax; and

previous winners of the J. Reilly Lewis Award: Ms. Neeta Helms, Dr. Stan Engebretson,
Mrs. Beth Van Wagoner Lewis, Mrs. Pam Lassell, and Maestra Gisele Becker.

 

Choralis wishes to congratulate all the 2026 Ovation Award nominees and hopes to

welcome their participation in future celebrations of the DC area’s rich choral community.