Join us as we celebrate remarkable new works for upper voices
- Amy Bebbington
- Apr 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Our May concert will be a unique opportunity to hear a stunning medley of dynamic compositions from some of today's most talented choral composers.
As a committed advocate for upper voice music, Corra Sound is proud to pave the way for composers of new works by providing creative opportunities and performance platforms. Our next concert is a wonderful example, which will showcase new and vibrant compositions.
Many of you will recall that in 2023, we ran a 'Call for Scores' competition, selecting three overall winners from a total of 90 submissions, with three further fabulous compositions being performed in one of our workshops last year. On Sunday 18th May 2025, we will be unveiling the top three winning works in our Sing Her Tune concert at St Mary’s Church, Guildford.
Creative compositions celebrating female power and energy
These outstanding compositions were selected not only for their musical artistry, but for the themes they portray. Our Call for Scores composers were asked to write music based on the themes of female power, strength, flowing energy, survival and/or parental advocacy. The winning composers certainly answered this remit with deeply creative responses and we are delighted to be able to showcase them all.
British composer and jazz pianist, Kate Hill, wrote A Mother’s Farewell (text: Scarlett Palys) which reflects upon the enduring power of maternal love as well as its vulnerability. The poem poses a mother’s final lingering question as to whether her love has been enough, or indeed whether the depth of it has truly been known. In this work, Kate showcases jazz-inspired voicings, an emotive and rich yet accessible sound-world, and an elegiac soprano lead.
We will also hear Seattle-based composer and pianist, Kari Kruver Medina’s evocative piece, The Land of no more Night (text: Christina Rossetti). This work sets an initially ponderous tone, which is fraught with darkness and despair; but soon a shift in mood brings joyous proclamations that “creation sings its hymn anew” with the promise of a new day.
American composer and organist, Erik Meyer, brings the dark, sarcastic wit of Dorothy Parker to his works. We will perform Unfortunate Coincidence and Social Note, both humorous musical settings, which are laced with acerbic derision, and demonstrate Parker’s penchant for social protest against patriarchal convention.
Illuminating and uplifting repertoire
These winning works feature alongside equally illuminating and uplifting repertoire, such as Eriks Esenvalds’ beautifully evocative Only in Sleep, Elaine Hagenberg’s rousing Measure me sky! and magnificent Shadow River, Don MacDonald’s ethereal Moonset and optimistically powerful She is the river, and Alexandra Olsavsky’s What happens when a woman?
Also featured are two of our workshop winning pieces: Hope is the thing, by local composer Barbara Cobham, written as a heartfelt tribute to her niece who sadly lost her life to bone cancer, and Air, Heart, by Amanda Dean, scored for voices and boomwhackers, hailing the tenacity and adventurous spirit of Amelia Earhart.
We hope you can join us for this dynamically diverse programme celebrating new and established composers, thought-provoking and remarkable repertoire, and challenging yet accessible music for upper voices.
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