Posted by The CBAY Awards were created during the 2024–2025 bar year by Past President John Sciaccotta to personally recognize and say thank you to the people who made his bar year extraordinary.
President Judge Nichole C. Patton continued this tradition by presenting the 2025-2026 bar year CBAY Awards on May 20, 2026. This blog post is the fourth in a series of posts highlighting the winners of the CBAY Awards.
CBA & The Arts Awards
The Chicago Bar Association members are not just lawyers. They are musicians, performers, choristers, and artists. They stand in courtrooms during the day and on concert stages at night. The CBA is proud to offer a variety of musical and entertainment programs to its members.
The Maestro Award
The Maestro Award is presented to the Music Director of the CBA Symphony Orchestra — in recognition of extraordinary artistic leadership and a dedication to the unique tradition of bringing Chicago’s legal community together through the power of orchestral music.
Jennifer Huang took over as Music Director of the CBA Symphony Orchestra after the retirement of founding director David Katz — a role he held for 38 years. Jennifer has filled that chair with grace, artistry, and an unmistakable passion for this orchestra and the community it serves.
The Outstanding Chorister
The Outstanding Chorister Award recognizes a member of the CBA Chorus whose dedication, collaborative spirit, and musical excellence elevated the ensemble during the 2025–2026 bar year. This award was shaped with input from Chorus Director Lisa Fredenburgh and the chorus leadership — because they know their members best.
We honor Allyn Rawlings, a chorus member whose commitment to this ensemble reflects everything the CBA Chorus stands for.
The Outstanding Instrumentalist Award
The Outstanding Instrumentalist Award recognizes an individual whose musicianship within the CBA’s ensembles has made an exceptional contribution to the musical life of this bar.
Neil Posner is a trained classical pianist who has performed with the CBA Symphony Orchestra — including as a featured piano soloist. By day, he is a Partner and Chair of the Policyholder Insurance Coverage Practice Group at Much Shelist. By evening, he is an artist. The kind of versatility and excellence that Neil brings to both of those worlds is exactly what this award was created to celebrate.
The Best Leading Performance
The Best Leading Performance Award is presented to the standout leading performer from the CBA Bar Show’s 102nd annual production, Moo Court. The Bar Show has been a tradition at The Chicago Bar Association since 1923. One hundred and two years of lawyers and judges taking to the stage to make each other laugh, to perform, and to remind everyone in the audience that the legal community has more talent than any of us let on. Kellie Snyder brought exceptional talent, commitment, and pure joy to that stage this year. She reminded everyone in the audience why they love being part of this bar.