Meet our 2009 Finalists

When he entered the University of Georgia, however, he became immersed in the choral arts, as he shifted his involvement from band to choir. He began composing choral music individually in his freshman year, when he sang in the Men's Glee Club. After his first year he changed majors from Physics to Music in order to further study choral composition.

In his two years of study at UGA, Daniel has written two song cycles (Ballades of Guillaume de Machaut, Cinco Sonetos de Amor of Pablo Neruda), a cycle for trumpet and piano entitled Revolutions, two anthems that have been performed at his home church, the First Presbyterian Church of Athens, and numerous hymn tunes, art songs, and choral motets. His influences include Morten Lauridsen, John Ness Beck, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Eric Whitacre, and others.

Daniel currently studies both voice and composition at UGA, and sings in the Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Allen Crowell. He hopes to further his study at the masters and doctoral levels after graduation, and aspires to one day enter the sacred choral market as a church music composer.

Daniel chooses as his subject Edgar Allan Poe’s "A Dream Within a Dream," which laments the transitory nature of life. Daniel's work for a capella chorus uses a variety of compositional techniques and beautiful part-writing to express the poet’s emotions.

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Justin enjoys many other disciplines as well, currently working toward minors in Physics, Math, and Theatre. He had the opportunity to blend all of these areas of study by recently directing Michael Frayn's play "Copenhagen." Justin has been involved in many theatre productions at Covenant College doing everything from acting to directing and technical work. He also will be writing incidental music for Bertolt Brecht's play "The Caucasian Chalk Circle," which will be performed at Covenant College in the fall under the direction of Prof. Claire Slavovsky.

Justin is a student member of the Southeastern Composers League, and his Mass for the Brokenhearted was recently performed at their annual forum. He is currently studying composition under Dr. Brandon Kreuze at Covenant College, where numerous pieces of his have been performed at the college’s annual Composition Exhibitions. Justin has also continued his studies in vocal performance and has participated in multiple vocal ensembles during his time at Covenant College.

Justin’s work "Requiem" intersperses the Latin text from opening movement of a traditional requiem mass with the words of Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem "Requiem" sung by a baritone solo The music is set in an evocative modern style with piano accompaniment that enriches the emotional texture.

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Chris received his B.M. from LaGrange College and currently pursues a M.M. in composition at Georgia State University. He serves as Minister of Music at Wesley Chapel UMC in Marietta and teaches piano and composition lessons at the Harmony House in Kennesaw. He also holds a position as pianist with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.

He interned with the distinguished Atlanta Symphony Chorus, and is a member of several music societies, including ASCAP, SCI, the American Composer's Forum, the College Music Society, ACDA, and the Nashville Songwriter's Association. Chris's current projects include a multi-movement piece for Brass Quintet and a multi-movement piece for solo soprano, SSA chorus, and piano based on the poetry of Steven Crane, commissioned by the LaGrange College Singers.

Chris’s work "O Magnum Mysterium" sets the ancient Latin text that marvels on the “great mystery” of the animals surrounding the manger being the first to see the baby Jesus. The lush, divisi choral writing is underscored with a piano part that enhances the sense of mystery evoked by his setting of the text.

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In the summer of 2008, Thomas attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where he premiered three of his pieces under his teachers John Boyle and Roshanne Etezady. In the spring of 2009, Thomas began studying with Dr. Steve Everett of Emory University. This summer he will attend Interlochen again where he plans to continue his study of composition, preparing himself to enter college in music composition.

Thomas also chose Poe's "A Dream Within a Dream" as the text for his work, set for a capella chorus and soprano solo. The piece has extended use of divisi parts to enhance the harmonic textures and lay bare the poem's deep emotional content.

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Georgia Young Composers Festival
c/o DeKalb Choral Guild
P.O. Box 1931
Decatur, GA 30031-1931

gycf@DekalbChoralGuild.org
Voice Mail: 678-318-1362