Page 89 - CJOct24

Standing Committee
for Composition Initiatives

Who is included on the committee?

Chair: Robert Bode; Members: Brandon Boyd, Katie
Houts, and Joni Jensen

What is the committee’s mission?

Officially, we’re the Composition Initiatives Stand-
ing Committee. But our work is more than just “initia-
tives.” You can find more in our Choral Journal Focus Is-
sue (March/April 2023). Our committee encourages the
creation of quality new music for choruses of all sizes,
ages, and abilities by actively supporting the work of liv-
ing composers. We advocate for the composer member-
ship of ACDA and seek to foster increased collaboration
and awareness between conductors and composers.
From Dan Forrest in the editor’s column in the
March/April 2023 focus issue: “As our committee ad-
vocates for composers, we’ve received such encouraging
support from Robyn Hilger and the national leader-
ship. Composers can now join ACDA as ‘Composers’
instead of having to choose some other primary activity.
Our slate of annual awards has been doubled, with new
prize amounts that re-establish ACDA prizes as some of
the most substantial awards in the choral composition
world; the new flexible Focus Prize nurtures the creation
of repertoire to fill identified gaps for ACDA members
and their ensembles, and connects choral publishers to
composers. Brock Prize and Brock Commission pieces
are being performed at every conference (even regional
conferences), and we continue to offer and promote new
and existing channels through which composers can net-
work with each other as well as conductors.”

How can members connect with the committee?

Take advantage of the Composer Membership op-
tion, and stay engaged on both our Facebook pages:
“New Choral Music” and “ACDA Choral Composers.”
You can also email rbode@acda.org

CHORAL JOURNAL October 2024 Volume 65 Number 3 87