AcD List

of Composers and Compositions to check out

This is a short list of compositions for strings, choir, band, and symphony that I hope will spark your interest.

My goal is to introduce you to composers and compositions that may be new to you.

If you would like to explore more compositions like these, have easy access to publishers, recordings, and other helpful information, please check out my database. I update the site with new music each month as well as offer ideas for listening and performing.

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WMEA Project with SSO/WMEA/CWU/ACD 2024 

Performed Compositions 

William Grant Still: Mother and Child

conductor - Joseph To

Renard Burns: Ride That Chariot

conductor - Lillian Hollyday

Florence Price: Adoration 

conductor - Gabrielle Nickell

Session Break

Adolphus Hailstork: Sonata da Chiesa (Jubilate & Agnus Dei movements)

conductor - Cori Smith

Kenji Bunch: Supermaximum

conductor - Joshua Parrill

Yukiko Nishimura: Orange Moon 

conductor - Ume Lindemeier

Suggested Repertoire

Strings

1.     Maria Newman

Dorian Overture

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 – (middle school and above)

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 07'30

2.     Kenji Bunch

Supermaximum for string orchestra

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 – (high school advanced)

Demographic: Asian

Length - 12'00

3.     Reynard Burns

Ride That Chariot

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 Grade 4

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 05'30

4.     Yukiko Nishimura

Orange Moon

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 Grade 4

Demographic - Asian

Length - 03'45

5.     William Grant Still

Mother and Child

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 (high school – advanced)

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 07'30

6.     Lauren Bernofsky

Abendstern

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1, Grade 3

Demographic: Caucasian, Jewish

Length - 04'00

7.     Jerod Tate

Chokfi'

Instrumentation: String orchestra, percussion

Level 1 (high school)

Demographic: Indigenous, Chickasaw

Length: 07'00

8.  Rain Worthington

Turning Tides for Youth String Orchestra

Instrumentation: String Orchestra

Level 1 (high school)

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 04'00

9.  Adolphus Hailstork

Sonata da Chiesa for String Orchestra

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 (high school – advanced)

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 19'30

10.  Florence Price

Adoration

Instrumentation: String orchestra

Level 1 (high school)

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 4'00

Choir

1.     Viet Cuong

Still So Much To Say

Instrumentation: Chorus - a cappella

Demographic: of Asian descent

Length: 03’40

2.     Caroline Shaw

It’s Motion Keeps

Instrumentation: Chorus – Upper Voices, Viola or Cello

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 07’30

3.     Tracy Wong

Kira!

Instrumentation: Chorus - SSA, with hand drum

Demographic: of Asian descent

Length - 15'00

4.     Cait Nishimura

See You In the Stars

Instrumentation: Chorus - SATB, piano

Demographic: of Asian descent

Length: 003’15

5.     Elaine Hagenberg

Caritas (from Illuminare)

Instrumentation: Chorus - Chorus - SATB, piano, opt violin (Opt. fl.ob.hn - perc, pf - strings)

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 04'20

6.     Susan LaBarr

The Dream Ship

Instrumentation: Chorus - SATB, piano, cello

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 08'00

7.     Jerod Tate

We are the Storm

Instrumentation: Chorus – Upper Voices, piano

Demographic: Indigenous

Length: 04'20

8.     Katerina Gimon

A Path to Hope

Instrumentation: Chorus - SATB, piano, opt violin (Opt. fl.ob.hn - perc, pf - strings)

Demographic – Caucasian

Length 04'20

9.     Joel Thompson

America Will Be!

Instrumentation: Chorus - SATB, 2 soprano soli

Demographic – Black, of African descent

Length 06’50

10.  Texu Kim

Chopsalteok (2012)

Instrumentation: Chorus – SATB, with Male Voice

Demographic – of Asian descent

Length 04’00

11.  Florence Price

Wander-Thirst

Instrumentation: Chorus – SATB, piano

Demographic – Black, of African descent

Length 02’30

12.  Han Lash

From the Depths I Cry Out

Instrumentation: Chorus – SATB, a cappella

Demographic – Caucasian

Length 11’50

Band

1.     Anthony Barfield

Here We Rest

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 – grade 5+ (high school and above)

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 08’15

2.     Carol Barnett

Cyprian Suite

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 – grade 4 (high school and above)

Demographic: Caucasian, Jewish

Length - 15'00

3.     Katahj Copley

Backlash

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 (grade 3)

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 03'30

4.     Darryl Johnson II

Waltz and Chaconne for Wind Band

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1, Grade 4

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 08'00

5.     Cindy McTee

Fanfare from Soundings for Wind Symphony

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 Grade 5 (high school and above)

Specific Length 02'30

Demographic – Caucasian

6.     Cait Nishimura

Echoes of a Northern Lake

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 Grade 4.5 (high school and above)

Demographic: Asian

Length: 09'40

7.     Yukiko Nishimura

Water Reflections

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 Grade 5 (high school and above)

Demographic: Asian

Length: 04’50

8. Sonya Leonore Stahl

Piltdown Man

Level 1 Grade 4 (high school and above)

Demographic: Caucasian, Jewish

Length: 03’10

9.     Chen Yi 

Spring Festival

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 (high school and above)

Demographic: Asian

Length - 03'00

10.     Judith Lang Zaimont

City Rain

Instrumentation: Concert Band

Level 1 Grade 4.5 (high school and above)

Demographic: Caucasian, Jewish

Length: 07'00

Symphony

1.     Kenji Bunch

Supermaximum (full orchestra)

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1 – (high school and above)

Demographic: Asian

Length: 12’00

2.     Carol Barnett

American Kaleidoscope

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1 Grade 5

Demographic: Caucasian, Jewish

Length: 07'15

3.     Katahj Copley

Equinox

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1 Grade 4.5

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 07'00

4.     Libby Larsen

Overture for the End of a Century

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 06'00

5.     Arturo Márquez

Alas (a Malala)

Instrumentation: Symphony with chorus

Level 1 (middle school and above)

Demographic: Hispanic or Latino/a/x

Length: 08'30

6.     Quinn Mason

Heroic Overture (Overtura Eroica) for Orchestra

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level: 1

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 09'45

7.     Fanny Mendelssohn (Hensel)

Overture

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1 (high school and above)

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 11’00

8.     Sonya Leonore Stahl

Princess of the Northern Lights

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level: 1

Demographic: Jewish

Length: 09'00

9.     John Wineglass

Portraits of a Theme Overture No. 1 for Orchestra 

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1

Demographic: Black, of African descent

Length: 05'30

10.  Rain Worthington

Dream Vapors Suite: Three movements for Orchestra

Instrumentation: Symphony

Level 1

Demographic: Caucasian

Length: 22'20