Commissioned Composers

Commissioned Composer Chair

The MTNA Commissioned Composer program is to encourage the creation of new works by American composers.

NDMTA has been an avid supporter of the MTNA Commissioned Composer program since 1964. Each year NDMTA, through MTNA, commissions a composer to write a work to be performed at the NDMTA Conference. The composition is submitted to the MTNA for consideration for performance at the MTNA national conference and the composer to be named the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year.

Information about how to become a Commissioned Composer is available at:
https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Engage/Commissioned_Composer/Commissioned_Composer.aspx

Commissioned Composers:

Year	Composer	Composition
1964	Daniel Goode, Fargo	"Symphonia" for violin, cello & piano
1976	Theodore Duda, Bismarck	"Cantata #3: All Love Shall Sleep" for baritone, viola, horn and cello
1977	Stuart Glazer, Valley City	Sonata for Trumpet and Piano
1978	Robert Wharton, Grand Forks	"Tangram" for piano, violin & tape
1979	Elwood Brown, Dickinson	"Of Dreams" for voice, piano and two flutes
1980	Edwin Fissinger, Fargo	"Arise Shine, for Thy Light is Come" for chorus
1981	Robert Larson, Minot	"A Christ Cycle" for baritone and piano
1982	Richard H. Smith, Jamestown	"The Shepherd' Christmas Song" for chorus
1983	Tom Porter, Mandan	"Two Pieces for Woodwind Quintet"
1984	Stuart Glazer, Valley City	"Inner City Nightscape" for flute and piano
1985	Elwood H. Brown, Dickinson	"Ascension Motet" for chorus, trumpets and organ
1986	James Fry, Grand Forks	"Homage for Violin, Clarinet and Piano"
1987	Herbert M. Parker Jr., Williston	"Serenity" for piano
1988	Daniel Breeden, Fargo	"A Musical Diary" for piano
1989	Tom Porter, Mandan	"Prairie Sketches" for piano
1993	James Fry, Grand Forks	"Kaleidoscope"(national winner) forpiano & clarinet
1994	Richard Neukom, Devils Lake	"Devils Lake: Winter '93" for violin, viola and cello
1995	Karen Zeller, Fargo	"If A Bird Would Sit On My Finger" for clarinet and flute
1996	Michael Balke, Grand Forks	"Change of Heart" for jazz combo
1997	Carrie Kraft, Jamestown	"Four Songs For Leaves of Grass" for men's chorus
1998	James Thornton, Minot	A Trio written for piano, violin and euphonium
1999	William Tornow, Bismarck	"Psalm 1" for soprano, clarinet and piano
2000	Melody Bober, Detroit Lakes, MN	"Suite North Dakota" for euphonium, piano, flute and soprano
2001	Herb Parker, Williston	"I Will Sing Praise to the Lord on High" for SATB choir a capella
2002	Dr. William Wieland, Aberdeen, SD	"Abraham's Faith" for Wind ensemble
2003	Dr. Michael Wittgraff, Grand Forks	"Child's Play" for clarinet and percussion
2004	Jocelyn Hagen, Valley City	"Songs of Fields and Prairies" for soprano and piano
2005	Dr. Steven Sudduth, Dickinson	"Fantasy for Trombone and Piano"
2006	Dr. Matthew Patnode, Fargo	"Tangato" quintet for woodwinds, vibraphone, violin and bass
2007	Russell Peterson	"Sonata for Piano"
2008	Troy Nies	"The Best Laid Plans..." Inspired by the writings of John Steinbeck for oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon and piano
2009	none
2010	Adam Hochhalter	"Adagio" for piano
2011	Dr. Alan Carter	"Musical Settings of Poems by Shel Silverstein"
2012	Mary Leaf Schneider	"A'Cuimhneachadh - Remembering"
2013	Mike Halstenson	"everything was as it should be"
2014	Tom Gerou	"Circe Invidiosa: Sonata No. 1 for the Piano"
2014	Rebecca Raber	"Jesu, dulcis memoria"
2015	Andrew Miller	"Alleluia"
2016	Susan Clambey	Suite Trio for Piano, Flute and Cello
2017	Michael Langer	Delphia: A Portrait in Three Parts for Piano and Tape
2019	Dr. Nicholaus Meyers	"A Brief Story" for Euphonium and Marimba
2020	Sean Neukom	“19-20 for String Quartet (2020): Screens, Masks, Deception, Ashes”

Member Programs

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