Works by three Slovene composers performed in Louisville

The University of Louisville School of Music organizes the annual New Music Festival in Kentucky, which featured guest composer Amy Williams as well as choral works by three Slovene composers in its 2018 edition.

On 8 November the select chamber choir of the University of Louisville, the Cardinal Singers, premiered O lux beatissima, a new choral composition by young composer Andrej Makor, as well as Cantate Domino ... omnis terra by choral composer Ambrož Čopi and an older composition, written in 1996 and rearranged for mixed choir in 2015, Acclamation by sacral music composer Damijan Močnik. The first two works were commissioned by the University, while Močnik's composition was created for Gary Graden and his St. Jacobs Chamber Choir in Stockholm.

The Cardinal singers performed under the baton of Kent Hatteberg, who has performed many of Močnik's works throughout his career. Two CD releases by the record label Carus enable Močnik's works to be included in the programme of many radios across Europe. The recordings Et lux perpetua and Verbum supernum prodiens feature central works with tonal language and elements of Gregorian chant, among others.

Composer of contemporary music, Andrej Makor, who in March received the second prize for his composition for viola solo at the London Ear Festival, was invited by Kent Hatteberg to compose for his choir. The conductor was inspired by Makor's musical language and by O lux beata Trinitas, the composer's most often performed piece abroad.  

The Cardinal Singers, who included Slovenia in their European tour in May, belong to the very top of professional ensembles. They are regular invitees at the biennial conference ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), which will take place in March 2019 in Kansas City (Missouri) and will feature Andrej Makor. The composer has also been commissioned to compose a work for the choir’s fiftieth anniversary in 2019. In December a new composition by Makor for women's choir will be performed at Iowa State University by the ensemble Cantamus under the baton of Kathleen Rode.