The Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission

The Raymond W. Brock Memorial Choral Series was established in 1991 to honor the life and contributions of Raymond W. Brock, who served as Administrative Assistant for ACDA from 1987 until his untimely death in 1991.

Annually, the ACDA Executive Committee will commission a recognized composer to write a choral composition in an effort to perpetuate quality choral repertoire. Funds for this commission will be paid from the Raymond W. Brock Memorial Endowment.

Guidelines for commissioned compositions:

• Compositions that have a sacred text are preferred, however it is not required that the text come from the Bible.
• Compositions that use voices are preferred.
• The music must be substantial and accessible.
• The music must be of a kind and quality that will live and last for a long period of time.
• All commissioned compositions will be performed publicly for the first time at a National or Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association.

Commissioned Works

1991

O For A Thousand Tongues by Theron Kirk

Performed at: Raymond W. Brock's Memorial Service
Text: Charles Wesley
Music: Carl G. Glaser; Arrangement: Theron Kirk
Published by: Oxford University Press

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

1993

A Time to Dance by Carlisle Floyd

Commissioned for: the 1993 ACDA National Convention
Published by: Boosey & Hawkes
First Performance: Westminster Choir and San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Flummerfelt

1994

Sing a Mighty Song by Daniel Gawthrop

Commissioned for: the 1994 Division Conventions
Text: Jane Griner
Published by: Alliance Music Publications
First Performances:

Central: Anderson University Chorale, Richard L. Sowers
Eastern: U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants, Captain A. Phillip Waite
North Central: U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeant, Captain A. Phillip Waite
Northwestern: NWACDA Combined HS & College Choirs, Jo-Michael Scheibe
Southern: Louisiana State University A Cappella Choir, Kenneth Fulton
Southwestern: High School Honor Choir, Hugh Sanders
Western: St. Charles Borromeo Church Choir, Paul Salamunovich

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

1995

Alleluia for the Waters by Daniel Pinkham

Commissioned for: the 1995 ACDA National Convention
Text: Daniel Pinkham
Published by: ECS Publishing
First Performance: 1995 ACDA National Men’s Honor Choir, Allen C. Crowell

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

1996

That I Shall Never Look Upon Thee More by James Mulholland

Commissioned for: the 1996 Division Conventions
Text: John Keats
Published by: JEHMS, A Division of Alliance Music Publications
First Performances:

Central: University of Michigan Chamber Singers, Jerry Blackstone 
Eastern: Albany Pro Musica, David Griggs-Janower 
North Central: Clarion Chamber Singers, Stanley Schmidt 
Northwestern: Combined Men’s and Women’s HS Honor Choir, Scott Eric Anderson and Debra L. Glaze
Southern: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Choir, John H. Dickson 
Southwestern: Two-Year College Honor Choir, Jo-Michael Scheibe 
Western: Consort Singers Loyola Marymount University, Mary C. Breden 

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

1997

Jacob’s Prayer by Gian Carlo Menotti

Commissioned for: the 1997 ACDA National Convention
Published by: G. Schirmer

First Performance:
Oklahoma State University Concert Chorale, Jerry McCoy, conductor
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Concert Choir, Gary Schwartzhoff, conductor
Texas Christian University Concert Chorale, Ronald Shirey, conductor
San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Roger Melone, conductor

God Be With Us by Stephen Paulus

Commissioned for: the 1997 ACDA National Convention
Text: Anonymous from Carmina Gadelica
Published by: ECS Publishing
First Performance: National Two-Year Honor Choir and National Community Honor Choir
William B. Hatcher, conductor

1998

A Psalm Trilogy by Samuel Adler

Commissioned for: the 1998 Division Conventions
Text: Psalm 84, 42, 113
Published by: Theodore Presser Company
First Performances:

Eastern: United States Navy Sea Chanters, Chuck Yates
Northwestern: Portland State University Choir, Bruce Browne 
Southern: Virginia Tech University Meistersingers, Kevin Fenton 
Southwestern: University of Tulsa Chorale, Ed Byrom 
Western: University Singers, CSU Fullerton, John Alexander 

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

1999

The God of Glory Thunders by Adolphus Hailstork

Commissioned for: the 1999 ACDA National Convention
Text: Psalm 29: 3-11
Published by: JEHMS, A Division of Alliance Music Publishing
First Performance: Oklahoma State University Chamber Choir, Jerry McCoy 

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

I Thank You God by Gwyneth Walker

Commissioned for: the 1999 ACDA National Convention
Text: e. e. cummings
Published by: ECS Publishing
First Performance: National Women’s Honor Choir, Diane Loomer and Morna Edmundson

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

2000

The Circles of Our Lives by David Brunner

Commissioned for: the 2000 Division Conventions
First Performances:

Central: Children’s Honor Choir, Judith Willoughby 
Eastern: Children’s Chorus of Washington, Joan Gregoryk 
North Central: Milwaukee Children’s Choir, Emily Crocker 
Northwestern: Children’s Honor Choir, Anton Armstrong 
Southern: Charlotte Children’s Chorus, Sandy Holland 
Southwestern: Children’s Honor Chorus, Henry Leck 
Western: Contra Costa Children’s Chorus, Iris Lamanna

Piece included on the Raymond Brock Endowment Trust Commissioned Choral Works, Vol. 1

2001

Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine by Eric Whitacre

Commissioned for: the 2001 ACDA National Convention
Text: C.A. Silvestri.
Published by: Walton Music
First Performance: Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy

2002

Psalm 36 by Richard Nance

Commissioned for: the 2002 ACDA Division Conventions
Text: Psalm 36                      
Published by: Walton Music
First Performances:

Central: North Central High School Counterpoints, Patricia Wiehe 
Eastern: Princeton Singers, Steven Sametz 
North Central: University Singers, University of Nebraska, Peter A. Eklund 
Northwestern: Portland State University Chamber Choir, Bruce Browne 
Southern: Furman Singers, Bingham Vick Jr. 
Southwestern: Southwest Texas State University Chorale, John Paul Johnson and Joey Martins
Western: Brigham Young Singers, Ronald Staheli

2003

Memorial by René Clausen

Commissioned for: the 2003 ACDA National Convention
Published by: Mark Foster
First Performance: The Concordia Choir, René Clausen and Concordia Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Houglum

2004

We Behold Once Again the Stars by Z. Randall Stroope

Commissioned for: the 2004 ACDA Division Conventions
First Performances:

Central: Anderson University Chorale, Richard Sowers 
Eastern: West Singers, Cherry Hill HS West, Christine Bass 
North Central: University of Nebraska-Omaha Concert Choir, Z. Randall Stroope 
Northwestern: Western Washington Univ Concert Choir, Leslie Guelker-Cone 
Southern: A Cappella Choir, Louisiana State University, Kenneth Fulton 
Southwestern: Ouachita Baptist University Ouachita Singers, Charles L. Fuller 
Western: Donald Brinegar Singers, Donald Brinegar

2005

Nocturnes by Morten Lauridsen

Commissioned for: the 2005 ACDA National Convention – Los Angeles, CA
Text: Rainer Maria Rilke, Pablo Neruda and James Agee
Published by: Faber Music
First Performance: The Donald Brinegar Singers, Donald Brinegar

2006

Dances to Life by Mack Wilberg

Commissioned for: the 2006 ACDA Division Conventions
Published by: Oxford University Press
First Performances:

Central: Michigan State University Chorale, David Rayl 
Eastern: The Choir of St. Ignatius Loyola, Kent Tritle  (first performance)
North Central: Lawrence University Concert Choir, Richard Bjella
Northwestern: Pacific Lutheran University Choir of the West, Kathryn Lehmann 
Southern: Murray State University Concert Choir, Bradley L. Almquist
Southwestern: Drury University Singers, Allin Sorenson 
Western: Brigham Young University Concert Choir, Rosalind Hall 

2007

The Nine Muses by David Conte

Commissioned for: the 2007 ACDA National Convention – Miami, Florida
Text: John Stirling Walker
First Performance: The University of Florida Frost Chorale, Jo-Michael Scheibe

2008

Life's Mirror by Eleanor Daley

Commissioned for: the 2008 ACDA Division Conventions
Text: Madeline Bridges (1844-1920)
First Performances: To be Announced

2009

by Dominick Argento

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