Village Voices Chorale - Annual Music Awards Program

A Gift to the Community

The Village Voices Music Awards Program consists of annual scholarships awarded to local students majoring in vocal music, and financial donations to local elementary school music programs. A highlight of the Village Voices Chorale spring concerts is the appearance of our winners and recipients - gifted young performers and delightful elementary school choral groups.

Concert goers are treated to graceful presentations from scholarship winners who are considering a career in vocal music, perhaps even in opera, and whose command of the art form is already impressively apparent.

In 2006 a total of $8000 was donated to six vocal scholarship winners and nine elementary schools in the Annual Music Awards Program sponsored by the Village Voices. The 2007 Individual Vocal Scholarship Recipients were Aubrey Scarr and Christy McClarty from CSUN, Keith ColClough and Davia Bandy from Pepperdine University, and Raina Witt from California Lutheran University.

Pictured above are Village Voices President, Bob Kracker and
Director, Gloria Hilliard with 2007 scholarship winners Raina Witt
of California Lutheran University (left) and Keith ColClough of
Pepperdine University (right).

From Ventura County, the 2007 Elementary School Grant Recipients were: from Moorpark, Arroyo West Elementary, Mountain Meadows Elementary and Peach Hill Academy - from Newbury Park was Banyan Elementary - and from Thousand Oaks were Wildwood Elementary, Manzanita Elementary and Park Oaks Elementary.

Pictured above are the Arroyo West Elementary School Choir directed
by Mary Messick (left), and the Wildwood Elementary School Chorus
directed by Dr. Amy R. Corin (right).

Since the inception of the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program, the chorale has donated over $50,000 to support its favorite cause - vocal music in the community and is the recipient of the 1993 Certificate Award of Excellence in the Arts awarded by the Thousand Oaks Arts Commission.

If you would like to make a donation to help support vocal music in the community,please complete the Music Awards Contribution Form and email it to: info@villagevoiceschorale.org.

Funding provided through Village Voices scholarships enables vocal students to reach for the next step of professional training and musical development-attending a prestigious school or traveling to Europe for special training. For elementary school choruses, the music awards may help purchase a keyboard, otherinstruments, or new music, while building in these children a love and respect for different types of music.

We salute all who have competed in the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program, and congratulate the winners! Village Voices also expresses thanks toindividuals in the Conejo Valley, and surrounding communities, who have made contributions to the music awards. We join with you in celebrating the joy and intrinsic value of vocal music!

Who is eligible for a music award?
College or university students studying vocal music are eligible to apply for a Village Voices Vocal Music Scholarship.

If you direct an elementary school chorus in the Conejo Valley, Simi Valley or the greater Ventura County area, you may apply for a music award to benefit your choral program.

Final decisions on distribution of the awards are based on live auditions and aremade by the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Committee and the Village Voices Board of Directors.

What types of awards are available?
Two types of awards are given through the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program. A scholarship award for young adults studying voice may be awarded to one or more applicants.
Download this form here.

In addition, music awards are granted to elementary school choral groups to use for any costs associated with choral activities.
Download this form here.

How do I apply?
To apply, download and complete the online application and return to Village Voices by mail or email.

Applications for the 2007 Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program will be accepted from elementary schools and individual vocal students beginning in February 2007. For more information, please contact: info@villagevoices.org

How Can I Support the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program?
We thank all our friends who have contributed to the Village Voices Annual Music Awards Program. If you would like to make a donation and help support vocal music in the community, please complete the Music Awards Contribution Form