Competition Results 2016
Congratulations to all the talented young composers who submitted entries for A Hymn For Mercy 2016.
The task of this year’s competition was to write a carol for unison, SA or SSA choir, or for choir and congregation. Sixteen entries were received, and the judges had the challenging task of singing and playing through each piece, and evaluating them on their liturgical, musical and textual merits.
The first prize was awarded to Fergus Hall (pictured) from Scotland for his stunning piece “A Mother’s Child”, featuring lush Romantic choral writing and symphonic piano accompaniment.
The judges found that two carols were worthy of joint second prize: “Drop Down Dew” by US composer Wilhelmina Esary, for unaccompanied SSA choir, with excellent word-painting and adventurous harmonies; and “Dormi Jesu” by Nyi Nyi Myin, also from the USA, which had a very memorable choral ritornello, and is a lyrical and attractive setting that is ideal for school choirs.
The high standard of compositions meant that the judges felt that a number of pieces deserved special mention. Highly commended were “Come See the Child” by Abe Eui Hyeon Song (USA), and “Shout! Hallelujah, Glory to God” by Hunter Chang (USA). Two other carols were commended, both by Irish composers: “The Little Churchyard” by Tara Scanlon, and “Verbum Caro Factum Est” by Sean Tunney.
The Schola from St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School Navan will perform the winning carol in the annual Mercy Carol Service this coming December.
The task of this year’s competition was to write a carol for unison, SA or SSA choir, or for choir and congregation. Sixteen entries were received, and the judges had the challenging task of singing and playing through each piece, and evaluating them on their liturgical, musical and textual merits.
The first prize was awarded to Fergus Hall (pictured) from Scotland for his stunning piece “A Mother’s Child”, featuring lush Romantic choral writing and symphonic piano accompaniment.
The judges found that two carols were worthy of joint second prize: “Drop Down Dew” by US composer Wilhelmina Esary, for unaccompanied SSA choir, with excellent word-painting and adventurous harmonies; and “Dormi Jesu” by Nyi Nyi Myin, also from the USA, which had a very memorable choral ritornello, and is a lyrical and attractive setting that is ideal for school choirs.
The high standard of compositions meant that the judges felt that a number of pieces deserved special mention. Highly commended were “Come See the Child” by Abe Eui Hyeon Song (USA), and “Shout! Hallelujah, Glory to God” by Hunter Chang (USA). Two other carols were commended, both by Irish composers: “The Little Churchyard” by Tara Scanlon, and “Verbum Caro Factum Est” by Sean Tunney.
The Schola from St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School Navan will perform the winning carol in the annual Mercy Carol Service this coming December.