Members of WomenSing are hitting the high notes as they celebrate receiving the 2010 national Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award for adventurous programming. With artistic director Martín Benvenuto at the helm, a proud contingent of singers and board members traveled to Atlanta on June 18th to accept their prize.

The award, presented by Chorus America and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), recognizes one choral ensemble each year for performing recently-composed music that challenges the chorus’s audience in a new way. The honor goes to choruses that stretch beyond traditional repertoire to include new music.

Alice Parker (in purple), Martín Benvenuto, and members of WomenSing

“We are thrilled to be recognized both for our efforts to preserve the great choral tradition and to assure that it remains vibrant and relevant in the 21st century,” said director Martín Benvenuto. “This award confirms our contribution to the choral literature for women’s voices through our Youth Inspiring Youth project.” Youth Inspiring Youth (YIY), a WomenSing outreach program entering its third season, pairs young writers (winners of the River of Words poetry competition in Berkeley) with young composers to create new music. The young composers are mentored in lively fashion by nationally recognized composer Libby Larsen.

Travelers to Atlanta to accept the noteworthy award included artistic director Martín Benvenuto, board president Ann Dzuna, board member /singer Ann Pearson, singers Patty Murray and Patty Sax, and YIY project manager Rachel Eidbo.