The Ann Stookey Fund for New Music has announced that it has awarded grants totaling $36,400 to underwrite the commissioning of new music by five choral organizations.

“With the help of our distinguished advisory board, we have chosen five wonderful projects, representing a cross-section of the American choral community – professional, academic, and volunteer choirs, and music both secular and sacred, from coast to coast,” said Joe Waz, ASFNM chair. “We are very happy to launch our program with these grants, and to begin building a musical legacy that honors Ann’s memory.”

The grantees, and the composer each will commission, are as follows:

Seraphic Fire, Miami, FL, will commission a new work from composer Jake Runestad.

Cantori New York, New York City, will commission a new work from composer Jacques Bank.

NOTUS: the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Bloomington, IN, will commission a new work from composer Dominick DiOrio.

St. Paul’s Parish K Street, Washington, DC, will commission a new work from composer Zachary Wadsworth.

I Cantori of Walla Walla University, College Place, WA, will commission a new work from composer Paul Ayres.

More details on the grants and the works they will make possible can be found in our press release at www.annstookeyfund.org. The application period for commissioning grants to be made in February 2015 will begin around Labor Day. Please "Like" the Ann Stookey Fund for New Music on Facebook to stay up-to-date on the grant process.