The CFAMC...

...seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and help build His kingdom by encouraging the work and witness of Christian composers of symphonic and chamber music, opera, and other concert works. We pray that believers will embrace our musical integrity because of our Christian witness, and that our commitment to musical excellence will allow us to bring our Christian witness to the wider art music world...

News & Upcoming Events

Listen to Walter Saul's "Emmaus" for flute and marimba on Listening Page #39.

CFAMC fellowship group lists and group leadership guidelines are now online.

CFAMC National Conference announced:

The Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers (CFAMC) will hold its national conference on October 10-11, 2008 at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. Proposals are solicited in six categories: (1) Works intended for traditional concert performance; (2) Works suitable for live performance in a casual setting (i.e., a public coffeehouse with patrons coming and going, conversing, etc.); (3) Sacred works suitable for inclusion in a college-wide worship service entitled “Radical Worship;” (4) Recorded works (complete, partial or in progress) that could be shared and discussed during a Peer Feedback Session; (5) Films with original music in DVD format; (6) Panel Discussion Topics. Composers are encouraged to submit entries in multiple categories.

(1) and (2) Composers interested in having a work performed should submit up to three scores for Chamber Choir (SATB), Large Chorus (SATB), Women's Choir (SA), Children's Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Strings, String Quartet, Wind Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet, Brass Quartet or Quintet, Percussion Ensemble, or chamber works for any combination of instrument(s), voice(s) or pre-recorded electronics (CD/DAT). Sacred works are encouraged. Submission for chamber works should include parts.

(3) Composers may submit up to three (3) works of sacred art music suitable for inclusion in a college-wide worship service entitled "Radical Worship". This service will be attended by approximately 3,000 IWU students and faculty Our desire is to present sacred art music in a compelling way and show how it can be effectively used in a worship setting.

(4) Composers may submit up to three (3) recorded works in CD format (with matching scores) that could be discussed during a Peer Feedback Session. If desired, a list of suggested discussion questions may also be submitted.

(5) Film composers may submit up to three (3) film works in DVD format. Film content should reflect a Christian worldview in keeping with the nature of the conference, the CFAMC and the host institution, but may be thought provoking and creative in its methods.

(6) Composers may submit a list of up to five topics relevant to Christian composers that they would be interested in discussing as a participant in a Panel Discussion Session.

Submissions should include a brief biography of the composer and program notes for each work submitted. The cover letter should indicate the scores submitted, durations, composer contact information, and whether the composer is able to supply performers, if needed. Composers desiring to supply their own performers should provide the names, biographies, and contact information of their performers. Include recordings (MIDI renditions are acceptable) when available. A SASE must be included if the composer wishes to have his/her materials returned.

Applicants must be members in good standing of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers at the time of submission. A list of current members and information about how to join or renew membership in the CFAMC may be found at www.cfamc.org. Each participant selected will have their registration fee waived. Since a primary purpose of CFAMC events is to foster Christian fellowship among its members, pre-registration and full attendance at the conference is required for all composers selected. Costs for transportation, housing and meals are the responsibility of each participant. Any costs related to rental or purchase of published pieces must also be borne by the composer.

The postmark deadline for submissions is January 15, 2008 or until all conference slots are filled. Please send materials to: CFAMC 2008 National Conference, c/o Dr. Marc Wooldridge, Professor of Music, Indiana Wesleyan University, 4201 S Washington Street, Marion, Indiana, 46953. For further information,please contact Marc Wooldridge at marc.wooldridge@indwes.edu or 765-677-2038.

Take a listen to "Mary's Gift" by Jacob Nevill.

Frank La Rocca reports: "O Magnum Mysterium," which was premiered at the 10th Anniversary CFAMC conference in
Durham, will be published by Walton Music in January, 2008. Two other works - "Magnificat" and "Expectavi Dominum" - will be
published by Boosey and Hawkes in 2008. The orchestral version of my "Veni Sancte Spiritus," which was
premiered at Houghton with Mark conducting and Kelly singing the soprano part, will receive its European premiere by the Knighton Chamber Orchestra in Leicester, England in December. On November 15, a CD with my "Cantate Domino" (chorus and orchestra) will be released on the ERM Media label, which is distributed by Naxos. The performance is by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

Jesse Ayers reports: I am pleased to announce that tubist Kenyon Wilson will be on tour in a few days with a program that includes my THE DANCING KING for solo tuba and synthesized accompaniment track (composed 1988). ("David danced before the Lord with all his might.") If you live near one of the venues, I'm sure it will be a quality
recital, and I'd love for you to hear my piece.
October 18 Wayne, NE Peterson Fine Arts Center 402-375-7359
October 19 Brookings, SD Lincoln Hall 605-688-5188
October 20 Grand Forks, ND Hughes Fine Arts Center 701-777-2644
October 21 River Falls, WI Abbott Concert Hall 715-425-3183
October 22 Iowa City, IA Harper Hall 319-335-1603

Three premieres by noted young Christian composers take place next spring. "Gilead" by 2004 CFAMC Scholarship winner Devin Arrington will be performed March 8, 2008 by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, PA. Jake Bancks' piano concerto "Lumen de Lumine" will be presented by the South Dakota Symphony March 15-16, 2008 in Souix Fall, SD. "The Fiery Furnace", an oratorio by 1999 CFAMC Scholarship winner Daniel Kellogg will be premiered by the the San Diego Symphony and the San Diego Master Chorale April 25-27, 2008. We encourage members who live near these venues to attend.

Greg Scheer's commissioned composition "Spring & Fall: to a young child" (text by Gerard Manley Hopkins) will be performed at the 20th Anniversary Festival of the Iowa Composers Forum, held on November 3 & 4 at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

Naxos has released a new CD by CFAMC member Carson Cooman, Cooman: Piano Music (Naxos 8.559350). All works are performed by the exceptional pianist Donna Amato. Also available is an April 2007 Naxos release of his orchestral music.

Society of Composers, Inc. events can be found on an ongoing basis at http://www.societyofcomposers.org/calendar.html. Be sure to click on the “Show Big Calendar” link near the bottom of the page. Note especially the SCI National Conference in Atlanta, GA Feb 20-23, 2008. Information: http://www.societyofcomposers.org, and click on the “Conferences” button at the top of the page. DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS: Scores: SEPTEMBER 15, 2007 (Postmark); Papers/Panels/Lecture Recitals: OCTOBER 15, 2007 (Postmark)

College Music Society events can be found on an ongoing basis at http://www.music.org, under the “Professional Activities” button near the top of the page. Note especially the CMS Super Regional conference March 14-15, 2008 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA (SCORE SUBMISSION DEADLINE SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, electronic submission on CMS website), and the 2008 National Conference in Atlanta, GA Sept 24-28, 2008 (SCORE SUBMISSION DEADLINE TBA)

Please be in prayer about a possible CFAMC conference at Houghton College (NY) in September or October, 2008. More info will be posted as it becomes available. If, however, more of us plan to attend the CMS conference September 24-28, we may have CFAMC events within that conference instead… let us know which you’d be more interested in… (cfamc@cfamc.org)

In addition to SCI and CMS regional groups, a few other organizations host activities that members in specific locations may be interested in:

Iowa Composers Forum: http://www.iowacomposers.org

American Composers Forum (lots of events in Minnesota): http://www.composersforum.org

Society for New Music (central New York): http://www.societyfornewmusic.org

The Hill Country Institute is hosting a conference entitled "Transforming Culture: A Vision for the Church and the Arts", April 1-3 2008 in Austin, TX.  Plenary speakers included Eugene Peterson, Jeremy Begbie, and John Witvliet. This is billed as the beginning of a thirty-year conversation.  Some of the questions they are raising are of pertinence to CFAMC members: Does it matter how we the church view art? Does it matter how we treat the artists in our communities? What is our hope to speak as the church to the culture through the arts?

Special Note:

Composers, Inc. Lee Ettelson Award. Information: http://www.composersinc.org, and click on the “Lee Ettelson Award” link. SUBMISSION DEADLINE NOVEMBER 1, 2007. Normally we will not include competitions on this page; however, one of Composers, Inc. founders is our very own Frank La Rocca!

A brand new listening page: "O Ignis Spiritus" by Mark Hijleh. Visit Listening Page #33.

CFAMC member Warren Gooch alerts us that the 2008 Truman State University/MACRO Composers Competition is underway. This year submissions will be accepted for symphony and chamber orchestra works. The deadline is October 15, 2007. Read the complete entry guidelines for more information.

CFAMC members Larry Warkentin and Walter Saul have just released a new CD entitled Songs of Requited Love. Consisting of love songs that they have penned for their wives over their marriages of a combined 70 years, Songs of Requited Love celebrates the love triangles of marriage with the Lord as the first Lover. The 28 love songs on this album are performed by Walter Saul's wife and elder daughter, Daphne Saul and Charity McCallum, sopranos, and Milton Friesen, baritone, with the composers at the piano. The CD is available from Walter Saul, 4926 E Townsend Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727-5007, for $18.00 including postage and handling. Questions? Contact Walter Saul at waltersaul@sbcglobal.net or (559) 252-4064.

Read the latest issue of the CONCERTed offering, the CFAMC's quarterly newsletter.

Please e-mail Greg Scheer with your news items, events and opportunities..