The Peninsula Girls Chorus has been named the 2008 recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music.  Given to only one children’s or youth chorus in North America each year, the award recognizes a chorus for programming significant recently composed music that expands the mission of the chorus and challenges the chorus's audience in a new way.

The award was presented at the Chorus America National Conference, held in conjunction with the National Performing Arts Convention, in Denver, Colorado.  The Peninsula Girls Chorus’ Founder & Artistic Director, Catherine Doyle Wesolek, received the award and $1000 at the conference on June 12.

The Peninsula Girls Chorus received this award for its 2006 – 2007 season; one of the unique programming features of the Peninsula Girls Chorus is to give its members and their audiences the chance to become familiar with a composer’s work by performing multiple pieces, including commissioned, premiered and older works sung at different concerts during the season. This ASCAP/Chorus America award acknowledges the commitment of the Peninsula Girls Chorus dedicated singers, hard-working Board, and loyal community," Ms. Wesolek said.

Chorus America, founded in 1977, strengthens choral organizations and provides their leaders with information, research, leadership development, professional training, and advocacy to help them deliver the best possible contributions to their communities and to the choral art. Chorus America presents two annual awards in conjunction with ASCAP. The other ASCAP/Chorus America Adventurous Programming award winners this year are San Francisco’s Chanticleer and Seattle, The Esoterics, as well as the Monmouth Civic Chorus, 2008 recipient of the Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award, for programming significant recently composed music that expands the mission of the chorus and challenges the chorus's audience in a new way.

Established in 1914, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 320,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.

Commenting on the awards, ASCAP Vice President and Director of Concert Music Frances Richard said: "With these awards, the members of ASCAP congratulate those choruses whose past season featured performances of music written by the composers of our time. These choruses not only preserve the great tradition of the 'first art,' choral music, but assure that it remains vibrant and relevant in the 21st century."

The Peninsula Girls Chorus celebrated its 15th season in 2007-2008, with a massed performance of all singers, ages 6-18, and also the world premiere of a commissioned work by internationally renowned composer David L. Brunner. Information about the Peninsula Girls Chorus is available at www.peninsulagirlschorus.org or 650-347-6351.