Composition Contest

ORE THAN THIRTY years ago, the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul in my native Philadelphia was a rallying point for an important musical association in its infancy. In those days, our cathedral and seminary music programs were led by the great Dr. Peter LaManna, whose illustrious career earned him the moniker ”Mr. Church Music.”

In 1983, in collaboration with Gerald Muller and Richard Proulx, LaManna set out to form a professional organization that would bring together cathedral musicians from across the country. In November 1984 (ten months before I was born!), seventeen choir directors from cathedrals across America gathered in Philadelphia for the first meeting of the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians (CRCCM).

In the intervening years, the CRCCM has grown significantly in membership, held annual conferences, and made several significant statements on issues related to sacred musicianship.

One of the special projects of CRCCM in recent years has been a Composition Contest. This year’s contest is especially interesting, because it seeks submissions that set the entrance and communion antiphons (with their verses) for the ordination of priests.

It is very encouraging that this contest is focusing on music for proper texts of the sacred liturgy. This not only focuses our attention on the propers for an occasion at which propers are rarely heard, but it will also provide practical resources to sing proper texts that have rarely been set to music.

Full details of the competition are available here. The deadline is October 30, 2016, and the cash award is $2000 to the winning composer.

Could that composer be among our readers?