The Robert Shaw Award is the most prestigious award given to a choral musician by the American Choral Directors Association. The honored recipient of the Robert Shaw Choral Award is chosen only every two years by ACDA’s Past President’s Council, and presented to the recipient at our National Conference. Past recipients of this award include such notable choral legends as Charles Hirt, Colleen Kirk, Howard Swan, Harold A. Decker, Weston Noble, Paul Salamunovich, Dale Warland, and Gene Brooks.
In January of 1958, in his response to a letter inviting Robert Shaw to be a charter member of the American Choral Directors Association, Shaw responded: “I should, of course, heartily endorse any organization which can stimulate the finer performance of a finer choral literature in our country.” And of course, that is what Robert Shaw did for us, and that is what ACDA exists for today.
The recipient of the Robert Shaw Award is a member of ACDA, and has spent their career working in the United States making a significant contribution to the cause of the choral art through teaching, conducting, and choral leadership.
In the case of ACDA’s 2011 Robert Shaw Award recipient, all three areas have been a part of her life’s work. One committee member stated, “Ann Howard Jones has made extraordinary contributions to the choral art.” Another stated this categorically: “As a teacher of conducting, she has influenced a generation of choral conductors in the US. Her baton technique, emphasis on scholarship, and expert rehearsal procedures have been passed on to hundreds of conductors through her lectures, articles, and book contributions. She has truly set a standard for conducting pedagogy.” And speaking to her legacy with the Award’s namesake, Robert Shaw, one committee member wrote: “Dr. Jones collaborated with the late Robert Shaw for nearly 15 years, absorbing his rehearsal techniques and preparing his choruses for performance. She also helped to organize the Robert Shaw Institutes in France, providing a tremendous opportunity for singers and educators to prepare the finest repertoire under Shaw’s guidance. Since his death she has worked tirelessly to preserve his legacy through the dissemination of his rehearsal and performance techniques.”
However, it is her own standard and achievement of excellence, indeed in the spirit of Robert Shaw, that confirms the selection of Ann Howard Jones for this award. Dr. Jones, a life member of ACDA, has frequently presented and conducted at our regional and national conferences. She has conducted over 20 All-State choruses. Since 1993, she has been on the faculty of Boston University as Director of Choral Activities. Dr. Jones has taught at the Universities of Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, as well as Wittenberg and Emory. Ann has been a Fulbright Scholar lecturer in Brazil in choral and vocal pedagogy. In 2009, she was conductor of ACDA’s 50th anniversary celebration concert in Oklahoma City in 2009.
Ann Howard Jones honors us all by accepting this award from the American Choral Directors Association. Ann was presented this award in person on March 9, 2011, at the opening concert of ACDA’s Biennial National Conference. It was presented with great admiration and appreciation for her ongoing contribution to the choral art in the United States.
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