Boston Choral Ensemble Announces Winner of Prestigious Commission Competition

The Boston Choral Ensemble released the following press release this morning:

BOSTON – December 21, 2009 – The Boston Choral Ensemble is pleased to announce the winner of its third annual Commission Competition: Armenian composer and conductor Vahram Sargsyan.  A native of Armenia’s capital city, Yerevan, Sargsyan has been awarded numerous prizes for his choral, orchestral, and chamber works, which have been performed throughout Europe and North America. He is also an active member of the Armenian choral community, serving as conductor of the newly-formed New Youth Choir and the Armenian Chamber Voices.

Sargsyan was chosen from more than 80 domestic and international applicants to the competition, which aims to support composers in the creation of new works for unaccompanied chamber choir. The jury agreed that his music revealed a unique blend of Eastern and Western influences that helped to distinguish it from other submissions. The Ensemble’s music director Dr. Miguel Felipe said, “The jury’s work is never easy, but Vahram’s music was immediately of interest to us for its personal and intensely musical voice. We knew that he was special and his proposal for a commission—based on Samuel Barber’s music—convinced us even further! I feel fortunate to know that Vahram will be writing for us and look forward to our international collaboration in the coming months.”

BCE was delighted to learn that Sargsyan plans to base his commissioned work on the music of American composer Samuel Barber, whose centennial will be celebrated by choirs throughout the country in 2010. Sargsyan’s new work will be premiered by BCE as part of their June performance entitled BEG|BORROW|STEAL, and will serve as the culmination of a program exploring the numerous ways that musical parody and borrowing have been utilized by composers throughout the centuries.

The Boston Choral Ensemble is especially excited to bring Mr. Sargsyan’s music to Boston because of the ways in which it will further the ensemble’s mission to provide innovative programs that explore the essential qualities that unite diverse traditions. “Mr. Sargsyan’s composition will highlight threads connecting one of America’s most well-known choral composers to centuries old musical traditions from Eastern Europe,” said BCE President Matthew Baggetta “Bringing to light these kinds of unique connections across time and space is exactly what motivates the group. We seek to creatively expand the choral art in a way that speaks to many listeners coming from varied musical and cultural backgrounds. This commission is another exciting step along that path.”

About The Boston Chorale Ensemble
The Boston Choral Ensemble, one of New England’s premiere chamber choirs, is an auditioned, mixed-voice ensemble dedicated to providing opportunities for singers and audiences to enjoy and learn about challenging, high-quality choral music. Their programs are recognized for their innovative blend of repertoire from across many centuries interspersed with regular commentary from the singers. Under the direction of music director Miguel Felipe, the group presents six to ten performances each season in the greater Boston area including three free programs in Copley Square. The Ensemble has several community outreach partners and sponsors the region’s largest commissioning competition with an annual award supporting the creation of new works for chamber choir.

For more information, visit http://www.BostonChoral.org/ and http://www.BostonChoral.org/competition/.

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