Alberto de la Paz has been awarded the Focus Prize in Global Music. Christopher Enloe has been named the runner-up.
The ACDA Composition Focus Prize is a new initiative structured to meet identified gaps in repertoire needs of ACDA members and their ensembles. The specific type of repertoire in the call varies from year to year; the inaugural call was for compositions for Treble Choirs and Tenor/Bass Choirs. The contest drew over 100 applications from the US and abroad. The current prize was focused on Global Music. Global music, for purposes of this ACDA prize, is defined as music heavily influenced by non-American root cultures or folk traditions. One or more musical elements (not merely text) should feature or have origins in the cultural tradition from which they are based.
Alfonsina y El Mar arr. by Alberto de la Paz, original text by Félix César Luna & original melody by Ariel Ramirez, is the competition winner. Halleluyah! (Psalm 150) by Christopher Enloe is the runner-up.
When describing the work, the composer wrote, “The song “Alfonsina y el Mar” originates from Argentina and is a poignant tribute to the poet Alfonsina Storni, written by Ariel Ramírez and Félix Luna. It is rooted in the zamba, a traditional Argentine folk rhythm. The zamba is a graceful, romantic musical style and dance native to Argentina, often associated with storytelling and poetic themes. It is characterized by a slow tempo, a 6/8 rhythm, and a distinctive interplay between the guitar and the bombo legüero (a traditional drum). The melodies are typically wistful and tender, often accompanied by lyrics that evoke deep emotions or pay homage to cultural and historical figures, as in this song’s tribute to poet Alfonsina Storni. Widely celebrated across Latin America, the song has become a cornerstone of the region’s musical heritage, cherished for its emotional depth and poetic beauty.
Born and raised in Mexico, I grew up surrounded by the rich tapestry of Latin American rhythms, styles, and artists. Songs like “Alfonsina y el Mar” were a part of my musical upbringing, connecting me to the vibrant cultures of the region and inspiring my deep appreciation for its artistic legacy. The first time I heard this song was when I was in elementary school. Our choir teacher at the time brought an arrangement of this piece to our children’s choir, for two voices and piano. Since then, I’ve been deeply captivated by its flowing melody and its deeply poetic text. This arrangement is my attempt to honor the lasting impact that this melody has left in my musical life, and my hope that future singers in the United States get an opportunity to be moved by the music of Latin America.”
Alfonsina y El Mar by arr. Alberto de la Paz with text by Félix César Luna & original melody by Ariel Ramirez; perusal score
Halleluyah! (Psalm 150) by Christopher Enloe; perusal score/video
Conductor and tenor Alberto de la Paz has built a multifaceted career as a performer and conductor across a wide range of musical genres. He currently serves as Director of the Cabaret Singers and is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he also earned his Master of Music in Choral Conducting.
Previously, Alberto served as Director of the tenor-bass choir Juncta Juvant and as Assistant Conductor for the Young Professionals Choral Collective. For four seasons, he was Artistic Co-Director and tenor with Cantus, the acclaimed professional vocal ensemble based in Minnesota. During his tenure with the group, he performed in prominent venues including The Kennedy Center, The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Barns at Wolf Trap, the Boston Celebrity Series, and the Tanglewood Music Festival. He collaborated with distinguished artists such as pianist Emanuel Ax, Lorelei Ensemble, and The Bach Society of Minnesota, and appeared in broadcasts and features on SiriusXM Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, and American Public Media. He recorded and released four albums with Cantus.
Alberto’s dedication to the creation of new music is reflected in commissions and premieres by composers including Melissa Dunphy, Mari Esabel Valverde, Yosvany Estepe, and Mariana Sadovska. A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, he is deeply committed to the performance and promotion of Latin American music. This passion was most recently showcased in a concert collaboration between Cantus and two-time Grammy Award winner and Cuban jazz pianist Nachito Herrera, featuring a vibrant program of art songs, choral works, and solo piano pieces from Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, and Argentina.He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Illinois.
Christopher Enloe is a composer of award-winning instrumental and choral works, celebrated for their “highly expressive qualities” and “skillful use of expressionism and sonority” (O/Modernt Award Press Release). He is currently pursuing a DMA in Composition at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, studying under Kevin Puts.
Christopher’s works have been performed in concerts and festivals across the United States and Europe. His collaborators include the Polish Chamber Choir, The Beckenhorst Singers, the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, violist Nadia Sirota, and soprano Ah Young Hong. In the summer of 2023, he served as the Baltimore Symphony’s advising composer and discussion panelist for their “AI in A Minor” concert.
Recent awards for his compositions include the BMI Composer Award (2023), the 2025 AGO Pogorzelski-Yankee Award (2023), the O/Modernt Composition Award (2023), Musica Sacra Nova (Second Prize, 2023), and the John Ness Beck Foundation Award (2019). In masterclasses and workshops, he’s receiving mentorship from Dan Forrest, Howard Helvey, Libby Larsen, and Steven Sametz.
In addition to his concert music, Christopher assisted award-winning film composer Grant Fonda. Christopher has provided additional music, arranging, orchestration, and music editing for clients including Paramount+, FOX Sports, and Amazon.
He holds an MM in Composition from Peabody Conservatory and a BM in Composition from The Master’s University, studying with Michael Hersch, Grant Fonda, Kevin Memley, and Walter Saul. He currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina, where he is assistant professor of theory and composition at Bob Jones University. https://www.enloemusic.com
The Composition Initiatives National Standing Committee is extremely grateful to all who submitted pieces for this year’s ACDA Focus Prize for Global Music. We were delighted to see representation from many different voices and cultures across our world, with selections ranging from the Philippines to Kenya, and from Argentina to China. With such variety, our panel of professional judges found it challenging to choose just one winner from this collection of unique expressions. We extend our thanks to them for their careful attention and the time they devoted to honoring each submission. We are inspired by the continued efforts of all involved to give voice to peoples from across the globe. In this same spirit, we invite all interested to participate in future Focus Prize competitions–Joni Jensen, Chair of the Focus Prize in Global Music
The Focus Prize in Global Music is proudly sponsored by
To learn more about ACDA’s composition initiatives, CLICK HERE.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.