Vancouver's world-class choral scene just got another big accolade: Jon Washburn, artistic director of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, has won a North American award for his lifetime contribution to the art form.

Washburn is the recipient of the Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Choral Art, handed out by Chorus America.

He'll receive the prize June 12 at the group's annual conference in Washington, DC.

Washburn founded the choir in 1971 and has built it into one of the premiere ensembles of its kind in Canada. He's also a teacher, and  travels as a guest conductor around the world. 

Said Washburn in a press statement: "It's one that means a lot to me, because it's from my peers and it represents the cause that I've been so avid about for 45 years. My friend Michael Korn and I shared the passion for professional choirs and worked together in the early days of Chorus America. He was a larger-than-life icon. It's a special honour to receive the award with his name on it."