New Work by Ēriks Ešenvalds, ACDA 2022 Brock Memorial Commission, to Be Premiered at ACDA Region Conferences

The work of Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, who received this year’s ACDA Brock Memorial Commission, is to be first performed at American Choral Directors Association’s (ACDA) region conferences beginning this month. Entitled “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” set to the Robert Frost poem, the piece will be performed in six locations throughout the months of February and March.

In notes on his composition, Ešenvalds writes, “The song, with its subtle musical brushstrokes, paints on the canvas of Frost’s poem, which to me, is very visual.” He continues, “The setting of the peaceful winter night called for static music to build the impressionistic feeling of the dark and snowy scene. In the middle part, the tempo speeds up gradually but almost imperceptibly, as the trotting horse is brought to a sudden stop and, bewildered, shakes its head, sleigh bells tinkling and resonating with the gently falling snowflakes. Yet this is but a brief hesitation and contemplation before the driver continues on his way through the dark woods. With the words ‘But I have promises to keep / And miles to go before I sleep,’ the journey continues into the distance along with the music, arching the song with a reprise.”

Attendees at ACDA’s region conferences will have the opportunity to hear the performance of this piece. Performing ensembles and conductors at those conferences are as follows:

• Eastern Region conference – Takoma Academy Camerata, Lulu Mwangi Mupfumbu, conductor
• Midwestern Region conference – Indiana University NOTUS, Dominick DiOrio, conductor
• Northwestern Region conference – Pacific Lutheran University Choir of the West, Richard Nance, conductor
• Southern Region conference – University of Mississippi Concert Singers, Donald Trott, conductor
• Southwestern Region conference – Arkansas Tech University Choral Artists, Christopher Harris, conductor
• Western Region conference – Brigham Young University Singers, Andrew Crane, conductor

Born in Priekule, Latvia, in 1977, Ēriks Ešenvalds studied at the Latvian Baptist Theological Seminary (1995–97) before obtaining his Master’s degree in composition (2004) from the Latvian Academy of Music under the tutelage of Selga Mence. He took master-classes with Michael Finnissy, Klaus Huber, Philippe Manoury, and Jonathan Harvey, amongst others. From 2002–11 he was a member of the State Choir Latvija. In 2011 he was awarded the two-year position of Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He is married with four children and gives students his expertise as composition teacher at the Latvian Academy of Music.

The Raymond W. Brock Memorial Choral Series was established in 1991 to honor the life and contributions of Raymond W. Brock, who served as administrative assistant for ACDA from 1987 until his untimely death in 1991. Annually, the ACDA executive director and the Executive Committee will commission a recognized composer to write a choral composition in an effort to perpetuate quality choral repertoire. Funds for this commission are paid from the Raymond W. Brock Memorial Endowment.

Previous Brock Memorial commissions include works by Bob Chilcott (2021), Ivo Antognini (2020), Alice Parker (2014), Steven Stucky (2013), Joan Szymko (2010), Morten Lauridsen (2005), Eric Whitacre (2001), Stephen Paulus (1997), Gian Carlo Menotti (1997), and Daniel Pinkham (1995). See the complete list of commissions and information on premieres here.

Ēriks Ešenvalds has won multiple awards for his work, including the Latvian Grand Music Award three times (2005, 2007, and 2015). The International Rostrum of Composers awarded him first prize in 2006 for his work The Legend of the Walled-in Woman. He was The Year’s New-Composer Discovery of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2010. In 2018 he was bestowed Officer in the Order of the Three Stars, the highest state decoration of his home country Latvia, for merits in the field of culture.

About ACDA: American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is made up of approximately 14,000 members who represent more than 1 million singers across the country. ACDA members conduct and teach a range of choirs, including school and university-based choirs, community choral groups, professional ensembles, and music in worship. ACDA’s mission is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition, and advocacy.