News

JOHN WINS A 2022 AMERICAN PRIZE TRIFECTA!
“It was a very good year!”

 

2022 American Prize Honored Artist: Composer

The inscription on the certificate reads: “Composer John Muehleisen has been selected as an Honored Artist of The American Prize, 2022. Honored Artists are individuals (or ensembles) who have proven themselves to be of ‘sustained excellence’ over a number of seasons as laureates of The American Prize competitions. Presented by The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, the award consists of a beautifully framed citation recognizing John Muehleisen’s contributions to the art.”

Co-Winner of 2022 American Prize, Social Justice Related Division for Professional Composers
for Consolation: Requiem for Parkland (below)

2022 American Prize 2nd Place
for Larger Choral Works, Professional Division
also for Consolation: Requiem for Parkland (below)

I’m grateful to the American Prize and to their Chief Judge, David Katz, for these awards, the mission of which, as David states, is “to recognize and reward excellence in the arts wherever in America it is found.” And as the inscription reads on every American Prize certificate, “May this honor inspire you to continue to strive for the highest levels of quality in all your musical endeavors….” And it certainly does!

Featured Works

Cantata Caffeinata will be available in October!
Pre-order now by clicking here.

What do you get when you:

  • Take a disillusioned member of the corporate class who longs to be a barista;
  • Mix in a frazzled coffee-house manager who has difficulty hiring good help; and
  • Top it off with a choir of over-caffeinated employees and customers who order their pretentiously complicated beverages while extolling the praises of the magical bean?

You get the clever, witty, and whimsical Cantata Caffeinata: a 21st-century response to Bach’s famous Coffee Cantata and a perfect companion piece to Bach’s original.

At 26 minutes in length, the cantata is scored for Soprano solo, Baritone solo, SATB choir, Soprano saxophone, Percussion, and Organ.

Please visit the new webpage for Cantata Caffeinata to listen to a recording of the premiere performance, to view the score, and to read the libretto, a synopsis, and program notes from John and Tony.

Watch this space for information about John’s other cantatas and oratorios, which will be added to the website throughout the summer. Those works include:

  • PIetà – 2012
  • But Who Shall Return Us Our Children: A Kipling Passion (WWI Oratorio) – 2017

MORE New Works (Somethings old, somethings new)

 

NEW! And Music Shall Untune the Sky – SATB choir + soprano saxophone
The libretto for And Music Shall Untune the Sky is what might be called a “poetic mashup” because it is composed of excerpts from three different poems about music and Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music. Two of the poems are by the famous 17th-century English poet, John Dryden; the third is by the lesser-known Joseph Addison. Two of Handel’s most well-known works—composed a decade apart—set both poems by Dryden: A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day aka Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (1687) and Alexander’s Feast, or the Power of Music (1697). While the opening and closing sections of the work describe the influence that music has on the cosmos, the middle section focuses on a contest between Timotheus and St. Cecilia to win over the souls of human beings. Together, they represent the power of music to influence our emotions and our souls, respectively. St. Cecilia—the patron saint of music and musicians—is associated with music that inspires holy love and spiritual unity. In contrast, Timotheus was a renowned player of the aulos—an ancient double-reed instrument represented here by the soprano sax—whose music was known to provoke a range of emotions from “rage” to “soft desire” (i.e., from anger to lust or profane love).

NEW! Jabberwocky – SATB choir + piano (with choir percussion + vocalization effects)
My BRAND NEW setting of Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky is unlike any setting you’ve ever heard of that iconic poem. My research into Carroll’s unique use of language—especially into the so-called “nonsense” words in the poem, many explained by Humpty-Dumpty himself!—revealed hidden meanings that I transformed into musical gestures and motives that bring the poem alive in fresh, exciting, and entertaining ways and that cover the full range of Carroll’s poem from epic parody to side-splitting humor. The premiere of the work in May 2026 was greeted with hearty laughter throughout and received a rousing standing ovation and “bravos!” from the audience after its unique and unexpected ending. You can be assured that Jabberwocky will be as much fun for your performers as it will be for your audience!

Borders – Soprano solo, Children’s choir (2-part), SATB choir, 3 Readers, strings, 2 percussion, piano (2019/2023)
Borders not only traces the history of immigration in the United States, but addresses many of the challenges that have been faced by immigrants over the years, as well as many of the artificial “borders“ that separate us from one another and that create division where there should be unity. Most importantly, it offers solutions and hope for restoring the unity that is at the core of the American spirit: E pluribus unum (“Out of many, One”)

Pilgrim Beatitudes – Tenor solo, Baritone solo, SATB choir, strings, 2 percussion, piano (2023)
Pilgrim Beatitudes was commissioned by Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble as a dramatic retelling of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–10) that calls us to notice and to care for those treated as unwanted strangers among us. The Beatitudes (“blessings”) open the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, 7). In opening His sermon, Jesus enumerates a litany of those who are “blessed”: the poor in spirit (those who recognize their own spiritual poverty, their need for God), those who mourn, the meek (i.e. the humble), those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for being righteous. Manifesting these virtues in our lives helps us learn how to treat the strangers amongst us, whether they be a homeless person, a refugee, other people in need, or just people who are different than we are in various ways; these virtues help us to avoid “otherizing” people. Genesis 1:27 and James 3:9 say collectively that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. And shortly after enumerating the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Luke 6:31) Because these principles apply to all people, regardless of race, creed, color, class, etc. we can apply them to all whom we meet, whether stranger or friend, known or unknown, ultimately allowing us to transform strangers into friends.

Two Vespers Hymns – SATB (min. div) a cappella (2008)
Although these two Vespers hymns were composed in 2008 at the invitation of the esteemed British composer, Fr. Ivan Moody, for the Jubilee for the 90th Anniversary of Orthodox Theological Education in Finland and the 20th Anniversary of Orthodox Theological Education at Joensuu University, I have only recently released them for sale with the hope that these works will serve as the beginning of a body of new works composed specifically for liturgical use. Although some of my sacred choral works could be used in worship services, most of them were originally commissioned as concert works. That said, please browse the sacred works in my catalog to see if any would fit your needs.

Dawn – SATB (div) a cappella (2024)
I’m honored that Dawn was recently accepted into the Q2 release of PROJECT : ENCORETM, an exclusive, competitively adjudicated online catalog of post-premiere, new choral music, reviewed and endorsed by an international panel of prominent conductors. Here is the review of Dawn from the PROJECT : ENCORETM NEWS in ACDA’s Choral Journal, August, 2024.

“Exquisite poetry, and music that emerges from it as if inevitable. Dawn is the birth of what is new following ‘that last hour’ on this earth, after striving, after fear … comfort. The writing is full without being dense. The ensemble must have beautiful tone and be secure with the eight parts, but it sings very naturally. Stunning!” – Deborah Simpkin King, PHD., Conductor. P:E Director and FounderProject Encore

 


Non si levava (after Monteverdi) – SATB (div) a cappella (2024)
This luminous reimagining of the first of Monteverdi’s Madrigals in Book Two uses the same poem by Torquato Tasso on which Monteverdi based his own setting, preserving the original Italian text. Muehleisen also utilizes musical material from Monteverdi’s madrigal to paint a radiant, impressionistic portrait of two lovers waking at dawn after a blissful night, reluctantly “separated by the new dawn” as the rays of the sun begin to fill their bedchamber with a “faint light” revealing “two souls in love.”

Performances

Upcoming Performances

2026

  • Oct. 27 – “Aversion to Carrots” from Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One for SATB choir +
    Bb Clarinet – Skyline High School Concert Chorale, Benjamin Sederquist, cond. (Sammamish, WA)
  • Dec. 5 – Invocation for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Mercer Island, WA)
  • Dec. 5 – Pleiades’ Path for SATB choir, Violin, + Piano – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Mercer Island, WA)
  • Dec. 5 – The Great ”O” Antiphons for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Mercer Island, WA)
  • Dec. 5 – The Stars Still Shine for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Mercer Island, WA)
  • Dec. 6 – Invocation for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • Dec. 6 – Pleiades’ Path for SATB choir, Violin, + Piano – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • Dec. 6 – The Great ”O” Antiphons for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • Dec. 6 – The Stars Still Shine for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)

2027

  • Jan. 2 – Snow. The King’s Trumpeter (Anonymous Epitaph) for SATB choir (div) + Trumpet in C – Mystic Rose Consort, Ben Geier, cond. (Ft. Wayne, IN)
  • March 6 – Kyrie in angustiis (Kyrie in Troubled Times) for SATB choir, a cappella – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontèn, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • March 13 – Making Peace for SATB choir, Saxophone, + Piano – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • March 13 – Kyrie in angustiis (Kyrie in Troubled Times) for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • March 14 – Making Peace for SATB choir, Saxophone, + Piano – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • March 14 – Kyrie in angustiis (Kyrie in Troubled Times) for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • May 2 – Borders (Seattle Premiere) for soprano solo, children’s choir (2 part), SATB choir, 3 Readers, strings, timpani, percussion, and piano – Seattle Peace Chorus, Will Rand, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • May 15 – When This Old Ring Was New – Commission (World Premiere) for SATB choir + Piano – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontèn, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • May 16 – When This Old Ring Was New (Commission) for SATB choir + Piano – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontèn, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • June 5 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One for SATB choir + Clarinet – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 5 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set Two for SATB choir, Trumpet, + Percussion – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 5 – Sing to Me! for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 5 – Singing Together for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 5 – Tides of Peace for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 6 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One) for SATB choir + Clarinet – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • June 6 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set Two) for SATB choir, Trumpet, + Percussion – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Bellevue, WA)
  • June 6 – Sing to Me! for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • June 6 – Singing Together for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)
  • June 6 – Tides of Peace for SATB choir, a cappella – Cascadian Chorale, Gary D. Cannon, cond, (Redmond, WA)

Past Performances

2026

  • Feb. 28 – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir, a cappella – Northwest Boychoir, Jacob Winkler, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • March 1 – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir, a cappella – Northwest Boychoir, Jacob Winkler, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • March 5 – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir, a cappella – Northwest Boychoir, Jacob Winkler, cond. (Northwestern Region ACDA Conference in Tacoma, WA)
  • March 28 – “Arrorró mi Niño” (Traditional Mexican Lullaby) from Borders, arranged for Soprano solo, SSA choir, and piano – Seattle Peace Chorus, Will Rand, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • April, 17 – I think I was enchanted  (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSAA choir, a cappella – World premiere* of commission from Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • April, 18 – I think I was enchanted  (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSAA choir, a cappella – Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • April, 19 – I think I was enchanted  (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSAA choir, a cappella – Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • May 2 – From a Railway Carriage  (poem by Robert Louis Stephenson) for SA choir and piano, four-hand – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 2 – Jabberwocky  (poem by Lewis Carroll) for SATB choir and piano – World premiere* of commission from Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 2 – Toccata I for solo flute – Texas premiere*;  Martin Godoy, flute. (Dallas, TX)
  • May 8 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – Estonian premiere* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Tallinn, Estonia)
  • May 13 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – Latvian premiere* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Riga, Latvia)
  • May 16 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – Lithuanian  premiere* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Vilnius, Lithuania)
  • June 5 – Borders (Complete Version) – Great Bend Chorale and Orchestra; Tess Altiveros, sop; Matthew Melendez, cond. (Faith Lutheran Church, Shelton, WA)
  • June 7 – Borders (Complete Version) – Great Bend Chorale and Orchestra; Tess Altiveros, sop; Matthew Melendez, cond. (Olympia First Methodist Church, Olympia, WA)
  • June 13 – “Welcome Song” from Borders – Greater New Haven Community Chorus, Alysoun Kegel, cond. (New Haven, CT)
  • June 26 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir, Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • July 2 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – Dutch premiere* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
  • July 4 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – Belgian  premiere* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Ghent, Belgium)
  • July 5 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Bruges, Belgium)
  • July 7 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – French  premiere* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Paris, France)
  • Oct. 10 – Hope for SSA choir, a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir, Sarra S. Doyle, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • Oct. 17 – Love Is for SATB choir + Trumpet – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren W. Pontén, cond, (Seattle, WA)

2025

  • Feb. 8 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Cleveland State University Chorale, Brian K. Bailey, cond. (Cleveland, OH – Ohio Music Educators Conference)
  • March 8 – Dawn – Evergreen Ensemble, David Hendrix, cond. (Lynnwood, WA)
  • March 9 – Dawn – Evergreen Ensemble, David Hendrix, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • April 12 – Sing to Me! – Chorus Austin, Ryan Heller, cond. (Austin, TX)
  • April 13 – Sing to Me! – Chorus Austin, Ryan Heller, cond. (Austin, TX)
  • April 25 – Prairie Waters by Night – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Vashon Island, WA)
  • May 4 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – No-Name Chorale, Andy Jensen, cond. (Belleville, IL)
  • May 10 – Prairie Waters by Night – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 23 – Sing to Me! – Vokalensemble Capella Moguntina, Hedwig Maria Klein, cond. (Hochheim, Germany)
  • May 25 – Sing to Me! – Vokalensemble Capella Moguntina, Hedwig Maria Klein, cond. (Mainz, Germany)
  • June 4 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Muskego High School Chorale, Matthew Wanner, cond. (Muskego, WI)
  • June 29 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Oriana Chorale, Dan Walker, cond. (Canberra, Australia)
  • Sept. 12 – Kryie in Angustiis – University of Missouri University Singers, Brandon Boyd, cond. (Columbia, MS)
  • Oct. 17 – Kryie in Angustiis – University of Missouri University Singers, Brandon Boyd, cond. (Columbia, MS)
  • Oct. 25 –Hope, The Tilden Songbook (complete),          After Love (complete)– Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • Oct. 25 – The Gathering – Cascadian Chorale, Gary Cannon, cond. (Seattle Sings Festival – Seattle, WA)
  • Dec. 6 – The Gathering – Cascadian Chorale, Gary Cannon, cond. (Mercer Island, WA)
  • Dec. 7 – The Gathering – Cascadian Chorale, Gary Cannon, cond. (Redmond, WA)
  • Dec. 7 – “O Rising Dawn” from The Great ‘O’ Antiphons – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontèn, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • Dec. 19 – Da Pacem – Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • Dec. 20 – Da Pacem – Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • Dec. 21 – Da Pacem – Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA

2024

  • January 23 – Make a Joyful Noise for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by Our Joyful Noise Baltimore for The Nightingale Trio. (American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge: Baltimore, MD)
  • January 24 – Make a Joyful Noise (The Baltimore Station for Homeless Veterans: Baltimore, MD)
  • January 25 – Make a Joyful Noise (St. Luke’s Youth Center: Baltimore, MD)
  • January 26 – Make a Joyful Noise (Edenwald Memory Care: Towson, MD)
  • January 27 – Make a Joyful Noise (Maryland Correctional Institution for Women: Jessup, MD)
  • January 28 – Make a Joyful Noise (Azure Concert for Autistic Individuals and Their Families: Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Pikesville, MD)
  • February 19 – Da Pacem – Waukee High School Cantate Treble Choir, Tony Dam, cond. (Waukee, IA)
  • March 9 – Life has Loveliness to Sell – Choir of the Sound, Jeremy Matheis, cond. (St. Marks Cathedral: Seattle, WA)
  • March 10 – Life has Loveliness to Sell – Choir of the Sound, Jeremy Matheis, cond. (Bastyr University Chapel: Kenmore, WA)
  • March 14 – ““RAH!” from Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Appleton East High School Choirs, Dan van Sickle, cond. (Appleton, WI)
  • March 23 – The Gathering – Reprise Choir Sings,April Duvic & Janet Reiter, conds. (Vancouver United Methodist Church: Vancouver, WA)
  • March 23 – Dawn for SATB a cappella choir (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by The Singers—Minnesota Choral Artists, Matthew Culloton, cond. (Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd: Minneapolis, MN)
  • March 24 – The Gathering – Reprise Choir Sings,April Duvic & Janet Reiter, conds. (Vancouver United Methodist Church: Vancouver, WA)
  • March 24 – Dawn for SATB a cappella choir (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by The Singers—Minnesota Choral Artists, Matthew Culloton, cond. (House of Hope: St. Paul, MN)
  • March 31 – The Gathering – Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Donald Milton , cond. (Atlanta, GA)
  • April 4 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – George Fox University Concert Choir, Danielle Warner, cond. (Newberg, OR)
  • May 11 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Camerata Singers, Becky Snider cond. (Goshen, IN)
  • May 11 – And Music Shall Untune the Sky for choir and soprano saxophone (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by Brian Gorelick for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Soren Hamm, soprano sax; Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 11 – Non si levava (after Monteverdi) for choir a cappella (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by Brian Gorelick for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • June 1 – Humpty Dumpty’s Recitation – Seattle Children’s Choir – Arioso Treble Choir, Jean-Marie Kent, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • June 9 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set Two – The Boychoir of Ann Artbor, John Boonenberg, cond. (Ann Arbor, MI) – Michigan premiere
  • Aug. 3 – When the Great Sea Roars for choir and piano (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by Washington Sings Project. Dean Luethi, cond. (Pullman, WA.)
  • Oct. 8 – “RAH!” from Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Cleveland State University Chorale, Brian Bailey, cond. (Cleveland, OH)
  • Oct. 19 – “Welcome Song” and “Arrorró mi niño” from Borders – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble; Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • Oct. 26 – Borders (MIDWEST PREMIERE of Complete Version) – NewVoices Choir, High School Master Singers, members of the Appleton Boychoir and Lawrence Community Girl Choirs, and Chamber Orchestra; Estelí Gomez, soprano; Phillip Swan, cond. (Appleton, WI)
  • Nov. 30 – “O Sapientia (O Wisdom) from The Great “O” Antiphons – Vokalensemble Josquin des Prés Nürnberg, Annabelle Weinhart, cond. (Erlangen, Germany)
  • Dec. 1 – “O Sapientia (O Wisdom) from The Great “O” Antiphons – Vokalensemble Josquin des Prés Nürnberg, Annabelle Weinhart, cond. (Nürnberg, Germany)
  • Dec. 6 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Choirs for Change – Polaris, Ryan Henwood, cond. (Halifax, NS, CA)
  • Dec. 7 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Cleveland State University Chorale, Brian K. Bailey, cond. (Cleveland, OH)
  • Dec. 8 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Choirs for Change – Polaris, Ryan Henwood, cond. (Halifax, NS, CA)
  • Dec. 8 – This Night – Cantate Chamber Singers, Victoria Gau, cond. (Bethesda, MD)
  • Dec. 15 – “O Rex Gentium (O King of Nations)” from The Great “O” Antiphons – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)

2023

  • Jan. 20 – A Psalm of Life – Broken Arrow High School Chamber Choir, Justin Rosser, cond. (Oklahoma Music Educators State Conference; Oklahoma City, OK)
  • March 23 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – 3. RAH! – Appleton West High School, Autumn Meyers, cond. (Appleton, WI)
  • April 23 – Two River Nocturnes: 1. Prairie Waters by Night, 2. River Moons – The Sunday Night Singers, Mike McCullough, cond. (Lancaster, CA)
  • May 11 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – 3. RAH! – Shepherd High School Concert Choir, Claire Ingersoll, cond. (Shepherd, MI)
  • May 13, 2023 – Pilgrim Beatitudes (libretto by Euan Tait) for Tenor + Baritone Soloists, SATB choir, 2 Percussion, Piano, and Strings (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble to celebrate their 30th Anniversary Season. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 19 – Eternity Passing Over, Making Peace, and The Stars Still Shine – Cantabile Chamber Choir, Dustin Willetts, cond. (Venue TBD, WA)
  • May 24 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – 3. RAH! – Mesa Grande Academy 7–12 Choir, Alissa Tanguay, cond. (Calimesa, CA)
  • June 2 – Singing Together – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (Campbell, CA)
  • June 3 – Singing Together – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (San Francisco, CA)
  • June 4 – Singing Together – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (Palo Alto, CA)
  • July 19–22 – Two River Nocturnes: 1. Prairie Waters by Night, 2. River Moons – Sunday Night Singers, Michael McCullough, cond. (Missoula International Choral Festival, Missoula, MT)
  • Nov. 19 – Invocation – Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, cond. (Olympia, WA: St. John’s Episcopal Church)
  • November 17 – Borders, (WORLD PREMIERE of Complete Version) – Great Bend Center for Music: Great Bend Chorale, Youth Chorale, and Orchestra; Tess Altiveros, sop; Matthew Melendez, cond. (Bastyr University Chapel, Kenmore, WA )
  • Dec. 9 – Invocation – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA)
  • Dec. 9, 3pm + 7:30pm – Invocation – Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, cond. (Kenmore, WA: Bastyr University Chapel)
  • Dec. 15, 8pm – Invocation – Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, cond. (Seattle, WA: First Baptist Church)
  • Dec. 16, 3pm – Invocation – Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, cond. (Seattle, WA: First Baptist Church)
  • Dec. 22, 7:30pm – Invocation – Seattle Pro Musica, Karen P. Thomas, cond. (Streaming Broadcast)
  • Date TBD – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Beijing Normal University – Northland Choir, Su Xin, cond. (Beijing, China) – CHINESE PREMIERE

2022

  • Feb. 12 – The Gathering – newVoices Choir, Phillip Swan, cond. (Appleton, WI)
  • March 10 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Cleveland Statue University Chorale, Brian Bailey, cond. (Cleveland, OH)
  • March 27 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Ohio Wesleyan University Choral Art Society, Xin Su, cond. (Delaware, OH)
  • April 2 – De Profundis – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • April 25 – The Soul’s Expression – Baylor University Chamber Singers, Brian Schmidt, cond. (Waco, TX) – TEXAS / MIDWEST PREMIERE
  • April 30 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Lakeshore Chorale, Neil Bubke, cond. (Sheboygan, WI)
  • May 21 – “Nor I for You” from After Love – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 21 – Singing Together – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • June 3 – Sing to Me! – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (Campbell, CA)
  • June 4 – Sing to Me! – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (San Francisco, CA)
  • June 5 – Sing to Me! – Bay Choral Guild, Sanford Dole, cond. (Palo Alto, CA)
  • June 5 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set One – Boychoir of Ann Arbor, John Boonenberg, cond. (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • June 11 – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir: Prime Voci, Sarra Sharif Doyle, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • June 12 – Imagination! (poem by Phillis Wheatley) for SATB choir a cappella (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by The Donald Brinegar Singers in honor of the conductor’s 70th birthday, The Donald Brinegar Singers, Donald Brinegar, cond. (Pasadena, CA)
  • June 26 – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir: Prime Voci, Jacob Winkler, cond. (Seattle, CA)
  • Various Dates – Hope (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSA choir a cappella – Seattle Girls Choir: Prime Voci, Jacob Winkler, cond. (Summer 2022 Tour)
  • July 6 (2 performances) – Cantata Caffeinata (libretto by Charles Anthony Silvestri) for Soprano + Baritone Soloists, SATB choir, Soprano Saxophone, Percussion, and Organ (WORLD PREMIERE) – Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the Biennial National Convention in Seattle, WA, Anne Lyman, conductor. (Seattle, WA)
  • October 15 – The Gathering – newVoices Choir, Phillip Swan, cond. (Appleton, WI)
  • October 21 – A Psalm of Life – Ensign Chorus, Steve Danielson, cond. (Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA)
  • October 22 – Eat Your Vegetables! – Set Two – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • December 4 – “O Adonai” and “O King of Nations” from The Great “O” Antiphons – Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul, Charlene Angelini, cond. (Philadelphia, PA)
  • December 10 – “The First Miracle” from This Night and “O Emmanuel” from The Great “O” Antiphons – Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (St. James Cathedral, Seattle, WA)
  • Date TBD – The Gathering – Unitarian Universalist Congregation Atlanta Choir, Donald Milton, cond. (Atlanta, GA)

Commissions/Premieres

Upcoming Premieres

  • May 2, 2027 – Borders (Seattle Premiere) for soprano solo, children’s choir (2 part), SATB choir, 3 Readers, strings, timpani, percussion, and piano – Seattle Peace Chorus, Will Rand, cond, (Seattle, WA)
  • May 15 + 16, 2027 – When This Old Ring Was New for SATB choir and piano – WORLD PREMIERE* of commission for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)

Recent Premieres

  • July 2, 2026 – Hope for SSA choir a cappella – DUTCH PREMIERE* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
  • July 4, 2026 – Hope for SSA choir a cappella – BELGIAN PREMIERE* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Ghent, Belgium)
  • July 7, 2026 – Hope for SSA choir a cappella – FRENCH PREMIERE* by Seattle Girls Choir (2026 Tour), Sarra S. Doyle, cond. (Paris, France)
  • May 16, 2026 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – LITHUANIAN  PREMIERE* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Vilnius, Lithuania)
  • May 13, 2026 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – LATVIAN PREMIERE* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Riga, Latvia)
  • May 8, 2026 – “He Who Hung the Earth Upon the Waters” from Pietà for SATB choir a cappella – ESTONIAN PREMIERE* by Columbia International University Ambassador Choir, Bryce Thompson, cond. (Tallinn, Estonia)
  • May 2, 2026 – Jabberwocky  (poem by Lewis Carroll) for SATB choir and piano – WORLD PREMIERE* of commission from Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 2, 2026 – Toccata I for solo flute – TEXAS PREMIERE*;  Martin Godoy, flute. (Dallas, TX)
  • April, 17 (18, 19), 2026 – I think I was enchanted  (poem by Emily Dickinson) for SSAA choir, a cappella – WORLD PREMIERE* of commission from Vox Musica, Daniel Paulson, cond. (Sacramento, CA)
  • Sept. 12, 2025 – Kryie in Angustiis – University of Missouri University Singers, Brandon Boyd, cond. (Columbia, MS) – MISSOURI PREMIERE*
  • May 23 + 25, 2025 – Sing to Me! – Vokalensemble Capella Moguntina, Hedwig Maria Klein, cond. (Hochheim + Mainz, Germany) – EUROPEAN PREMIERE*
  • April 12 + 13, 2025 – Sing to Me! – Chorus Austin, Ryan Heller, cond. (Austin, TX) – TEXAS PREMIERE*
  • March 8 + 9, 2025 – Dawn – Evergreen Ensemble, David Hendrix, cond. (Lynnwood + Seattle, WA) – WEST COAST PREMIERE*
  • October 26, 2024 – Borders (MIDWEST PREMIERE* of Complete Version) – NewVoices Choir, High School Master Singers, members of the Appleton Boychoir and Lawrence Community Girl Choirs, and Chamber Orchestra; Estelí Gomez, soprano; Phillip Swan, cond.
  • October 19, 2024 – “Arrorró mi niño” from Borders (WORLD PREMIERE of SSA + Soprano solo arrangement)- Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble; Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • Aug 3, 2024 – When the Great Sea Roars for choir and piano (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by Washington Sings Project. Dean Luethi, cond. (Pullman, WA)
  • May 11, 2024 – And Music Shall Untune the Sky for SATB choir and soprano saxophone (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by Brian Gorelick for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Soren Hamm, soprano sax; Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • May 11, 2024 – Non si levava (after Monteverdi) for SATB choir a cappella (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by Brian Gorelick for Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble. Loren Pontén, cond. (Seattle, WA)
  • March 23 + 24, 2024 – Dawn for SATB a cappella choir (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by The Singers—Minnesota Choral Artists, Matthew Culloton, cond. (Minneapolis + St. Paul, MN)
  • January 23, 2024 – Make a Joyful Noise for mezzo-soprano, viola, and piano (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by Our Joyful Noise Baltimore for The Nightingale Trio. (American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge: Baltimore, MD and other venues: see Performances)
  • November 17, 2023 – Borders (WORLD PREMIERE* of Complete Version) – Commissioned by Matthew Melendez and the Great Bend Center for Music in collaboration with the Distinguished Concerts International New York Premiere Project, with support from the Mason County Washington Historic Preservation Commission and Sierra Pacific Industries – Great Bend Chorale and Youth Chorale, and Orchestra; Tess Altiveros, soprano; Matthew Melendez, cond. (Commercial recording session on Nov. 18)
  • May 13, 2023 – Pilgrim Beatitudes (libretto by Euan Tait) for Two  Soloists, SATB choir, 2 Percussion, Piano, and Strings (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble to celebrate their 30th Anniversary Season. (Seattle, WA)
  • July 6, 2022 (2 performances) – Cantata Caffeinata (libretto by Charles Anthony Silvestri) for Soprano + Baritone Soloists, SATB choir, Soprano Saxophone, Percussion, and Organ (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the Biennial National Convention in Seattle, WA, Anne Lyman, conductor. (Seattle, WA)
  • June 12, 2022 – Imagination! (poem by Phillis Wheatley) for SATB choir a cappella (WORLD PREMIERE*) – Commissioned by The Donald Brinegar Singers in honor of the conductor’s 70th birthday, The Donald Brinegar Singers, Donald Brinegar, cond. (Pasadena, CA)

Please contact composer for perusal scores of “non-linked” works above.