I just spent another really inspiring, engaging week in Austin with the incomparable Conspirare.  This concert series included two major works: the Victoria Requiem (music of the Renaissance) and recent work The Little Match Girl Passion by David Lang, which received a Pulitzer Prize in 2008.

Everything was lovely and special, as is always the case with a Conspirare experience.  But that’s not why I’m writing.  I just wanted to announce 3 more exciting awards that Conspirare has received.  The group already has a good number of feathers in its cap, including 5 Grammy nominations and the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence (basically the gold medal in the choral world).  Apart from these awards, Conspirare has recently been honored with the following:

2009-2010 Austin Critics Table Awards
Conspirare was nominated in multiple categories.  The winners will be announced June 7.

2010 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award
Given by Chorus America, this award/grant gives Conspirare the opportunity to commission a new work to be written by composer Eric Banks.

Edison Award for Requiem
Conspirare’s CD Requiem was released in Europe last year and has been nominated for an Edison Award, which is the Dutch equivalent of a Grammy award.  The winners will be announced on June 18.

What is really interesting about all this is that, while the awards are such an honor, we really don’t operate ourselves in such a way as to win lots of awards!  Conspirare is always about sharing and communicating, first and foremost.  With the groups members and our leader, Craig Hella Johnson, we really do get together just to create a unique experience for ourselves and our listeners.  Receiving such special honors just feels like a nod from others saying, “We hear you and we appreciate what you are doing.  Thank you.”  You’re welcome…and thank you!