Submissions for the 10th Annual Composer's Competition are now complete! Thank you to all of the talented composers who submitted their work for this incredible competition. We are proud to have accepted applications from all over the world, and winners from France, South Africa, and across the United States. Winners will be selected by March 11, 2023, and winning pieces will be performed and recorded on next season's "Hear Our Prayer" concert. Scroll down to see this year's winners, and learn more about our past winners here!
If you have any questions, email youngcomposer@chorusaustin.org
If you wish to be notified of future competition dates, please join our email newsletter.
For questions or more information about this or any future Composers Competition, please email composerscompetition@chorusaustin.org
If you wish to be notified of future competition dates, please join our email newsletter.
For questions or more information about this or any future Composers Competition, please email composerscompetition@chorusaustin.org
Congratulations to the winners of our 2023 Composers Competition!
2023 Young Composers Division
Winner: Aurélien Hallopeau,
Sub tuum praesidium
Born in 1995, Aurélien Hallopeau is a French composer who currently mainly writes for choir, while keeping composing for other instruments. He also sings as a baritone in the chamber choir Ensemble vocal Évohé, directed by Fruzsina Szuromi.
Some of Aurélien Hallopeau’s choral works have been awarded prizes and premiered during international composition competitions, such as Petit Bestiaire (“1st Prize” of Eufonia-Bordeaux’s 2021 composition competition, France), and Gaudeat iuventus (“Best composition by a young composer” of the 2° Concurso de Composición Coral Cármina Nova, Spain). In January 2023, Analemme -a composition for choir, vibraphone and tubular bells setting scientific texts about the phenomenon of equinox- also received a prize during FestyVocal festival’s composition competition, France.
Aurélien Hallopeau’s compositions are as well regularly performed in Switzerland, such as in Geneva’s Cathedral in April 2022, with Surge amica mea, et veni -a choral piece commissioned by Ensemble vocal Évohé- and in Geneva’s Temple de la Madeleine in November 2022, with professional vocal ensemble L’Horizon Chimérique, conducted by Benoît Dubu. Other works were premiered in London, UK, as part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music, and of pianist Maria Marchant’s 7 notes in 7 days at 7pm project.
Sub tuum praesidium
Born in 1995, Aurélien Hallopeau is a French composer who currently mainly writes for choir, while keeping composing for other instruments. He also sings as a baritone in the chamber choir Ensemble vocal Évohé, directed by Fruzsina Szuromi.
Some of Aurélien Hallopeau’s choral works have been awarded prizes and premiered during international composition competitions, such as Petit Bestiaire (“1st Prize” of Eufonia-Bordeaux’s 2021 composition competition, France), and Gaudeat iuventus (“Best composition by a young composer” of the 2° Concurso de Composición Coral Cármina Nova, Spain). In January 2023, Analemme -a composition for choir, vibraphone and tubular bells setting scientific texts about the phenomenon of equinox- also received a prize during FestyVocal festival’s composition competition, France.
Aurélien Hallopeau’s compositions are as well regularly performed in Switzerland, such as in Geneva’s Cathedral in April 2022, with Surge amica mea, et veni -a choral piece commissioned by Ensemble vocal Évohé- and in Geneva’s Temple de la Madeleine in November 2022, with professional vocal ensemble L’Horizon Chimérique, conducted by Benoît Dubu. Other works were premiered in London, UK, as part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music, and of pianist Maria Marchant’s 7 notes in 7 days at 7pm project.
Runner Up: Riley Ferretti,
A Prayer
Riley Ferretti (b.2000) is a Japanese-American composer and vocalist whose music explores the idea of human connection through choral, instrumental, and electronic music. Her inspiration spans numerous sources, from poetry to nature to personal experiences. She recently graduated from the University Of Louisville with a B.M. in Music Composition, where she won the 2021-2022 KMEA Collegiate Composition Competition for her choral piece, The Oak, and received the Sixty-Second Annual Alumni Award. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Music Composition at the University of Florida, where she is concentrating on the connection between the voice and live electronics as well as the creation of unique textures in instrumental and vocal music.
A Prayer
Riley Ferretti (b.2000) is a Japanese-American composer and vocalist whose music explores the idea of human connection through choral, instrumental, and electronic music. Her inspiration spans numerous sources, from poetry to nature to personal experiences. She recently graduated from the University Of Louisville with a B.M. in Music Composition, where she won the 2021-2022 KMEA Collegiate Composition Competition for her choral piece, The Oak, and received the Sixty-Second Annual Alumni Award. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Music Composition at the University of Florida, where she is concentrating on the connection between the voice and live electronics as well as the creation of unique textures in instrumental and vocal music.
2023 Open Division
Winner: Ben Kaye-Skinner,
Sing Unto God
Ben Kaye-Skinner is a Nebraska-based composer, performer, and educator. Composing and improvising since age 7, Ben was able to flourish under many mentors who encouraged his creative work. He graduated with a degree in music education from Doane College and went on to teach for 14 years at Fillmore Central Public Schools in Geneva, Nebraska before stepping down to work on his MFA in Music Composition at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
His first work for wind ensemble was premiered in 2006 at age 19, and since then he has composed dozens of works for wind groups of all ages and instrumentations, as well as extensive custom arranging for high school bands and choirs for bands across Nebraska. Other credits include writing for and conducting the orchestra of the Colonel Mustard Amateur Attic Theatre and numerous instrumental performances, most often as a pianist.
The winning composition is a setting of Psalm 108, which was originally written while hand-washing dishes in January of 2009 and edited in 2022. A dishwasher was acquired in June of 2009 and since then his choral output has been far outpaced by instrumental works. Is it a coincidence? We may never know...
Sing Unto God
Ben Kaye-Skinner is a Nebraska-based composer, performer, and educator. Composing and improvising since age 7, Ben was able to flourish under many mentors who encouraged his creative work. He graduated with a degree in music education from Doane College and went on to teach for 14 years at Fillmore Central Public Schools in Geneva, Nebraska before stepping down to work on his MFA in Music Composition at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
His first work for wind ensemble was premiered in 2006 at age 19, and since then he has composed dozens of works for wind groups of all ages and instrumentations, as well as extensive custom arranging for high school bands and choirs for bands across Nebraska. Other credits include writing for and conducting the orchestra of the Colonel Mustard Amateur Attic Theatre and numerous instrumental performances, most often as a pianist.
The winning composition is a setting of Psalm 108, which was originally written while hand-washing dishes in January of 2009 and edited in 2022. A dishwasher was acquired in June of 2009 and since then his choral output has been far outpaced by instrumental works. Is it a coincidence? We may never know...
Runner Up: Motshwane Pege
I Believe
Motshwane Pege is a captivating composer and percussionist from Johannesburg, South Africa. He began composing during his time as a chorister at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School in KwaZulu-Natal. His interests in composition and percussion flourished during his high school years, where he was given numerous opportunities to arrange and compose new music for vocal and instrumental ensembles. One of his most notable works from this time is Mandela's Last Prayer, written for the Midlands Chamber Choir.
Motshwane then went on to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and Orchestral Percussion at the University of Pretoria. Motshwane received notable commissions to compose for the TUKS Camerata, UP Ensemble Orchestra, UP String Quartet, and Dr Michael Barrett's Chamber Singers. In recent years, Motshwane has received invaluable masterclasses from celebrated choral composer Jake Runestad, who guided him in crafting more mature and impactful compositions.
At present, Motshwane teaches music and percussion at a number of schools in Johannesburg and Pretoria whilst being an active percussionist, performing with many ensembles in South Africa.
I Believe
Motshwane Pege is a captivating composer and percussionist from Johannesburg, South Africa. He began composing during his time as a chorister at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School in KwaZulu-Natal. His interests in composition and percussion flourished during his high school years, where he was given numerous opportunities to arrange and compose new music for vocal and instrumental ensembles. One of his most notable works from this time is Mandela's Last Prayer, written for the Midlands Chamber Choir.
Motshwane then went on to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and Orchestral Percussion at the University of Pretoria. Motshwane received notable commissions to compose for the TUKS Camerata, UP Ensemble Orchestra, UP String Quartet, and Dr Michael Barrett's Chamber Singers. In recent years, Motshwane has received invaluable masterclasses from celebrated choral composer Jake Runestad, who guided him in crafting more mature and impactful compositions.
At present, Motshwane teaches music and percussion at a number of schools in Johannesburg and Pretoria whilst being an active percussionist, performing with many ensembles in South Africa.
Open Division Honorable Mentions: Roydon Tse and Suzette Emberton
See our past winners here!
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