Chorus award introduces Waring to new generation of musicians

Shawnee Press, Inc. and The Instrumentalist magazine recently unveiled The Fred Waring Director's Award for Chorus, with the endorsement of Waring's widow Virginia Waring and Fred Waring's America, part of the Special Collections Library at Penn State University.

The award honors deserving middle- and high-school students for outstanding achievement in chorus. Recipients of the award get their names engraved on a permanent plaque placed in the chorus room by the choral director and an engraved take-home plaque, which includes a brochure describing Waring's life and contributions. Shawnee Press introduced the idea of the award to The Instrumentalist as a means to introduce the legacy of Waring to a new generation of musicians.

In 1939 Waring and some of his friends formed a music publishing company called Words and Music, Inc. As he and his famous singing group, The Pennsylvanians, grew in stature and popularity, school choral and church choir directors began requesting copies of his unique arrangements.

In 1947 Waring changed the name of the company to Shawnee Press and moved the headquarters to Pennsylvania — an obvious site and name since his home was located in Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. Shawnee Press grew to become the publisher of a universal catalog of sacred and secular music, ranging from children's songs to symphonic works.

Virginia Waring directed Shawnee Press until October 1989 at which time she sold it to Music Sales Corporation, a London based firm with offices in New York City and other locations. Currently, Shawnee Press, Inc. operates as an independent subsidiary of Music Sales Corporation and continues to offer diverse musical materials.

Mark Cabaniss, president of Shawnee Press said of the award, "Since Shawnee Press was founded by Fred Waring, I feel it is part of our ongoing responsibility to help perpetuate his tremendous legacy. Partnering with The Instrumentalist magazine on this idea is a natural since they are the exclusive manufacturers of other well known awards such as the John Phillip Sousa Band Award and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award." For more information on the award, go to http://www.instrumentalistmagazine.com.

Fred Waring's America is located on the third floor of Pattee Library at University Park and is accessible during regular business hours.

Information about the collection also can be found at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/waring/ or by calling Eileen Akin, coordinator, at (814) 863-2911. Research inquiries are encouraged, and many materials are available for use by music educators, researchers and community groups.

 

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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