Recent Honors and Awards:
- U.S. Senate's Local Legacy Award for the Library of Congress'
2000 bicentennial celebration honoring the nation's most exemplary
cultural programs
- ASCAP Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary
Music, 2001
- llinois Alliance for Arts in Education's Service Recognition
Award - state-wide acclaim for outstanding programs
- Glen Ellyn Jay Cees On the Map Award for bringing international
recognition to the village of Glen Ellyn
- YWCA's Outstanding Leader Award given to Artistic
Director Emily Ellsworth for exceptional achievements
in arts & culture
- Arts & Business Council of Chicago's ABBY award
to excellence in Arts Management was presented
to Executive Director Joan Wells Lombardi
Combined programs:
involve over 1300 children from 50 different towns,
playing a unique role serving children, families,
schools for four decades.
Outreach Programs:
for underserved and disadvantaged populations in
areas where school music programs have been reduced
or eliminated to serve children who wouldn't otherwise
have these opportunities. Many programs free of
charge.
World-class opportunities:
recent performances include concerts with Chicago
Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at Symphony Center
and Ravinia, performance with the Berlin Philharmonic;
400-voice Honors Chorus Workshop, School Exchanges
in area schools, Boy's Only! event, Barenaked Ladies
rock group, the premiere of a groundbreaking new
opera, and many local concerts.
International tours most recently taken:
- 2005 Hong Kong and mainland China with concerts
in Hong Kong, Guilin, Xian and Beijing
- 2003 St. John, Newfoundland for Festival 500
- 2002 Brazil with concerts in Sao Paolo, Rio
de Janiero, Oro Preto.
- 2000 Australia/New Zealand with concerts in Sydney, Canberra,
Melbourne, Auckland;
- 1998 Italy (Tuscany and Umbria) with performances at the Spoleto
Festival, St. Peter's Basilica, etc.
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Special projects:
collaboration with the Soul Children of Chicago, an acclaimed black
gospel choir, for joint concerts, an appearance at the national
convention for American Choral Director's Association, and the filming
of a documentary.
It's about much more than teaching music:
The GECC teaches kids the meaning of excellence and the values
of cultural diversity, hard work, friendship, self expression, discipline,
and commitment, all within a wholesome atmosphere.
Broad-based learning and holistic growth:
Studies repeatedly show a direct and powerful correlation between
children's active participation in the arts and their success in
other studies and life achievements.
National leader in the field:
GECC programs have served as artistic and educational
models for other organizations across North America
for decades, setting a national standard of excellence
as the 1st children's chorus ever funded by the
National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois
Arts Council.
Financial aid:
available for any interested child with economic need, so that
any child may participate regardless of finances. All children are
welcome.
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