Lara Hoggard Award

Each year the NC ACDA honors a member for "Distinguished service in Choral Music in North Carolina." This year the recipient is Al Sturgis .

Alfred E. Sturgis was appointed Music Director of the North Carolina Master Chorale in 1993. Under his skilled artistic leadership the NC Master Chorale has made several appearances at state and regional conferences of the American Choral Director’s Association, recorded three Christmas CDs as well as a broadcast for UNC-TV, and been involved in numerous successful collaborations with the Carolina Ballet and the North Carolina Symphony. In addition to his work with the Chorale, Sturgis serves as Music Director of the Carolina Ballet, Tar River Orchestra, and Appalachian Institution.

Sturgis has served as Guest Conductor for the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center, North Carolina Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Carolina Chamber Orchestra, Raleigh Civic Symphony, National Opera Company, Capital Opera, Long Leaf Opera, and North Carolina Theatre. He has conducted orchestral and opera performances overseas in France, Bulgaria, and China, and recently served as a clinician for the inaugural London International Choral Festival. Early in his career he performed a number of roles in musical theatre, opera, and oratorio, in addition to touring and recording in Southern France with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers. Sturgis still performs occasionally as a counter tenor or baritone.

In recognition of his dynamic leadership of the NC Master Chorale, Sturgis was awarded the 1996 Raleigh Medal of Arts. Noted for his energetic, positive teaching style, Sturgis is in great demand as a conductor/clinician for Music Education and Church Music workshops and festivals including All-State and Honors Choirs. Between the numerous festivals, his thirteen years as Director of Choral Music at North Carolina State University, and seven years as a church music director he has taught thousands of students as well as adults. Dr. Sturgis holds degrees from the University of South Florida and the University of Illinois in Voice Performance, Music Education, and Conducting.
The Award was presented at the NC ACDA Luncheon this past November, at the NCMEA Conference.