Orpheus Honored by The American Prize
The Orpheus Club Men's Chorus (Orpheus), the pre-eminent men's chorus in New Jersey, has been honored in two categories for The American Prize for 2019-2020.
Orpheus was a finalist in two categories of The American Prize:
The Ernst Bacon Award recognizes and rewards the best performances of American music by ensembles and individual artists worldwide, based on submitted recordings. Orpheus was recognized for its performance of songs by several American composers, including Orpheus' own Richard Lane. Orpheus has the honor of performing at least one song by the Lane at each of its concerts. Lane was the chorus's pianist/accompanist from 1963 until his death in 2004, and he wrote 20 numbers for Orpheus.
"We are delighted to be recognized as one of the top community choruses in the country, and one of the foremost champions of music by American composers," said John J. Palatucci, Orpheus' music director.
Fifty singers strong, Orpheus delights audiences with eclectic repertoires ranging from Bach and Beethoven to the Beach Boys and Bruno Mars. It holds two major concert series each year, and regularly performs special concerts in the greater New York-New Jersey area. In 2019-2020 Orpheus is celebrating pianist Ron Levy's 15th anniversary with the chorus. In December 2019 Orpheus was one of three choruses to sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral's "A City Singing at Christmas."
Orpheus President Vernon Reed noted that the men of Orpheus hail from throughout Northern and Central New Jersey. "Some of our guys have sung professionally, some have sung for years in schools and churches, and some are musical novices. We welcome men of any voice type, who are serious about singing an enjoyable -- and sometimes challenging -- repertoire."
The American Prize is administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts organization based in Danbury, Connecticut.
The American Prize is a series of non-profit, national competitions designed to recognize and reward the very best in the performing arts in the United States—in schools and churches, and at community and professional levels. The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually. The American Prize is judged solely through recorded performances.
Orpheus, directed by Palatucci, is based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. It was founded in 1909.
More information about The American Prize.
Orpheus was a finalist in two categories of The American Prize:
- The American Prize in Choral Performance, community division. Orpheus was one of 10 finalists, announced in April 2020. The 12 semi-finalists had been announced in February 2020. (The winners were announced on July 27, 2020.)
- The American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the Performance of American Music, community ensemble division. Orpheus was one of 10 finalists, announced in June 2020. The 11 semi-finalists had been announced in February 2020. (The winners were announced on Sept. 8, 2020.)
The Ernst Bacon Award recognizes and rewards the best performances of American music by ensembles and individual artists worldwide, based on submitted recordings. Orpheus was recognized for its performance of songs by several American composers, including Orpheus' own Richard Lane. Orpheus has the honor of performing at least one song by the Lane at each of its concerts. Lane was the chorus's pianist/accompanist from 1963 until his death in 2004, and he wrote 20 numbers for Orpheus.
"We are delighted to be recognized as one of the top community choruses in the country, and one of the foremost champions of music by American composers," said John J. Palatucci, Orpheus' music director.
Fifty singers strong, Orpheus delights audiences with eclectic repertoires ranging from Bach and Beethoven to the Beach Boys and Bruno Mars. It holds two major concert series each year, and regularly performs special concerts in the greater New York-New Jersey area. In 2019-2020 Orpheus is celebrating pianist Ron Levy's 15th anniversary with the chorus. In December 2019 Orpheus was one of three choruses to sing in St. Patrick's Cathedral's "A City Singing at Christmas."
Orpheus President Vernon Reed noted that the men of Orpheus hail from throughout Northern and Central New Jersey. "Some of our guys have sung professionally, some have sung for years in schools and churches, and some are musical novices. We welcome men of any voice type, who are serious about singing an enjoyable -- and sometimes challenging -- repertoire."
The American Prize is administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts organization based in Danbury, Connecticut.
The American Prize is a series of non-profit, national competitions designed to recognize and reward the very best in the performing arts in the United States—in schools and churches, and at community and professional levels. The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually. The American Prize is judged solely through recorded performances.
Orpheus, directed by Palatucci, is based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. It was founded in 1909.
More information about The American Prize.