Vanguard Voices is proud to sponsor Vanguard Premieres, an initiative to promote the creation of new choral works by established and aspiring composers. Introduced in 2003, the program is a combination of commissions, composition contests, and world premiere performances of each new work.

Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest 2008

Composers with a unique creative voice and clear compositional ability are invited to participate in the Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest 2008. Two $1,000 prizes will be awarded; winning compositions in the General and Emerging Composers Categories will be premiered by Vanguard Voices, a 65-voice, mixed adult community choir based in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A.

Deadline for receipt of entries : Friday, April 18, 2008
Guidelines and entry forms

Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest 2006

Vanguard Voices is pleased to announce the final results of the 2006 contest. More than 90 entries were received from 12 countries and 31 states.

Winner - General Category (all composers)
Guy Forbes (Illinois, USA)
O Nata Lux, a lush, beautiful a cappella setting for mixed chorus, in strophic/refrain form,
with subtle, lovely variations.

Winner - Emerging Composers Category (composers age 18 - 30)
Dan Forrest (Kansas, USA)
You Are The Music, a bold and dramatic setting of a very “musical” text for mixed chorus, horn in f,
and piano, which features an angular, powerful melody.

These two compositions were premiered by Vanguard Voices on Sunday, June 3, 2007 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

Honorable Mention
These compositions will be premiered during the 2006-2007 season.

Pater Noster   Sungji Hong, South Korea - June, 10, 2007*
At Midnight   Mark Dal Porto, New Mexico - June 3, 2007
The Lightener Of The Stars   Christopher Beardsley, United Kingdom - June 3, 2007
Listen To The Music   Marco Burak, Canada - June 3, 2007
O, Only For So Short A While   Mary Ann Joyce-Walter, New York - June 3, 2007
Tres Canciones Para La Madre Bendecida   Antonio Martinez, Texas - December 15, 2006

* were premiered by Renaissance Voices & Con Spirito - G. Kevin Dewey, Director

Vanguard Voices Repertoire History

Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest 2004

Vanguard Voices is pleased to announce the winning compositions for the first-ever Vanguard Premieres Choral Composition Contest. Over 120 entries were received from 27 states and 9 countries.

Winner - General Category (all composers)
Larry A. Christiansen (California, USA)
Choral Suite, an a cappella collection of delightful and challenging settings of poems by five different authors.

Winner - Emerging Composers Category (composers age 18 - 30)
Antonio Gervasoni (Lima, Peru)
A-nir, a dramatic, and at times intense, a cappella setting of an ancient Sumerian text.

These two compositions were premiered by Vanguard Voices on Sunday, June 5, 2005 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, Michigan, USA.

Honorable Mention
These compositions were premiered during the 2004-2005 season.

O Bone Jesu   William So - December 5, 2004*
A Basque Lullaby   Dan Forrest - December 18, 2004
Gloria   Edmund Jolliffe - December 18, 2004
Gloria   Ryan D. Neaveill - December 18, 2004
Psalm 42   Andrew Bleckner - April 24, 2005*
When Your Song Rang Out to Me   Mark Dal Porto - June 5, 2005
Eli, Eli!   Frank La Rocca - June 5, 2005
Usquequo, Domine?   Dan Pinkston - June 5, 2005
The Earth Is the Lord’s   Alan Smith - June 5, 2005
Olympiad   John White - June 5, 2005

* were premiered by Renaissance Voices & Con Spirito - G. Kevin Dewey, Director

Steven Errante (North Carolina, USA)
Sing To The Lord A New Song, a joyous and uplifting composition
for mixed chorus, with piano, brass quintet and percussion accompaniment
Premiered June 2003

Augustus O. Hill (Michigan, USA)
Psalms Of Praise, an exciting and rhythmic a cappella work
Premiered December 2004

Stuart Scott (Michigan, USA)
Season Sonnets, an evocative setting of sonnets by four different poets with piano accompaniment
Premiered June 2006