The 2025 Choralis Gala and Greater Washington DC Area Choral Excellence (“Ovation”) Awards program was held on May 3rd at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia.
It was a fun and inspiring evening to celebrate the contributions 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, representing the winning choruses from 2024. Hearty congratulations to the 2025 award winners on May 3:

 

Catherine Dehoney, former President and CEO of Chorus America, was presented the prestigious J. Reilly Lewis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music by last year’s winner Neeta Helms, president and CEO of Classical Movements;

 

The Ovation award for “Best 2024-25 Collaboration” was presented by Victoria Gau of Cantate to Margaret Nomura Clark of the Children’s Chorus of Washington;

 

The Ovation Award for “Best Symphonic Chorus” was presented by David Brian Lang of the Reston Chorale to Eugene Rogers of The Washington Chorus; and

 

The Ovation Award for “Exemplary Community Engagement” was presented by Dr. Ingrid Lestrud of the Arlington Chorale to Anthony Tambasco, Board President of Encore Creativity for Older Adults.

 

The Gala photo gallery is available to view and download mementos of the gala: https://donlassell.zenfolio.com/f488579063; please note that these photos are complimentary (close the “visit shop” pop-up that appears on the site). Questions for the photographer can be addressed to Don Lassell: lassell@verizon.net.

 

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Choralis Gala and Ovation Awards, which will return to the Fairview Park Marriott on Saturday May 2, 2026! Tickets will go on sale in February, when nominees for the 2026 Ovation Awards will be announced.