Commissions
In 2015, the Stockton Chorale rededicated itself to supporting the creation of new choral music. This page presents an overview of the results of our efforts so far. We are proud to be fulfilling our mission through this activity.
2022 Daniel Hughes Commission
Daniel Hughes is in constant demand as a conductor, accompanist, coach, and choral clinician. He serves as the Artistic Director & Conductor of The Choral Project — an internationally award-winning mixed-voice ensemble specializing in dramatic, conceptual performance of high-level choral music from the medieval period to the contemporary, as well as ethnic and multicultural repertoire. The choir’s vision is “to transform and heal through music and words,” and their mission is “to connect to one another through choral theater, education and musical excellence.” Under his direction The Choral Project has received worldwide recognition, performing to standing ovation crowds in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Wales, and Spain. The ensemble has also received top prizes in international competitions throughout the world. They have recorded nine compact discs available through iTunes, Amazon.com,
and CDBaby.
Hughes has directed many sessions in Vocal Pedagogy and Conducting Technique for the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists, the California Music Educators’ Association, and GALA Choruses. He has been a regular adjudicator for the California Golden State Choral Competitions, and has conducted honor choirs and festival choruses throughout the west coast. Collaborations include international performances with well-known ensembles such as renown mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, The King’s Singers, Canadian Brass, Lisa Vroman, Costa Rica’s Café Chorale, The Australian Voices, the critically-acclaimed San José Chamber Orchestra, and creative work with award-winning Broadway composer & lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Hughes’s concert appearances include performances at Lincoln Center (New York City), Caulkins Opera House (Denver), Gusman Concert Hall (Miami), and Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco). He has also conducted world premiere compositions by many respected composers, including Stephen Schwartz, Nico Muhly, Brent Heisinger, Brian Holmes, Mac Huff, Theodore Lucas, Richard Burchard, Eric William Barnum, and Joshua Shank.
Hughes began studying piano and composition at the age of four. He has extensive training in piano and voice, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Conducting. 1st place (Conductor’s Choice Round), 2nd place (Required Pieces Round), and 3rd place (Folk Music Round) at the 2007 California International Choral Competition); 2nd place (Mixed Choir competition) at the 58th annual International Eisteddfod, Wales; 4th place (Small Ensemble Category) at the 35th International Choral Competition, Gorizia, Italy; the 2nd place award (ACDA National Student Conducting Competition); the Christina Cadena Memorial Accompanying Scholarship; and the California Arts Scholar Awards for piano and composition. He is also a recipient of Arts Council Silicon Valley’s 2013 Artist’s Laureate Award (“On Stage” category), The American Prize Award for Choral Direction, and a 2010 Silicon Valley Arts & Business Award for 20+ years of excellence in the arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. An accomplished composer and arranger with a catalogue of nearly 100 works, he has been a 2015 and a 2016 finalist in The American Prize Competition for Choral Composition. His works are published through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Gentry Publications, National Music Publishing, and earthsongs. Mr. Hughes’s biography is featured in Who’s Who in America. He maintains a private music studio in the Bay Area.
2017 David Conte Commission
Together with the Danville Community Band and the UC Berkeley Wind Ensemble, and in honor of the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we commissioned a new work by David Conte for chorus and band. The poem that supplied the text and title for the piece was “The Dream of Martin Luther King” by Myra Cohn Livingston. We gave the world premiere of the piece in February 2018 during our “Awaken the Dream” concert.
2016 Composition Contest
During the second half of 2016, we sponsored a composition contest with two divisions: Adult and Youth, with the winning pieces to be given its world premiere at our concert on March 25, 2017. After much deliberation, David Hamilton (New Zealand) was announced as the winner of the adult division for his piece, American Triptych. Bernardino Zanetti (Italy) was announced as the winner of the youth division for his piece, Jubilate Deo.
2015 Kirke Mechem Commission
For our first commission in this effort, we asked renowned choral composer Kirke Mechem to produce a new work. We gave the world premiere of “Satan Hates Music” in May 2015 as part of our “Sea to Shining Sea” concert.