ACDA Announces 2010 Student Composition Winner

Derek Myler, sophomore at Weber State University, has been named the Brock Student Composition winner for 2010 for his setting of Psalm 100. The original Raymond W. Brock Commission was established in 1991 and is awarded to established composers. In the American Choral Directors Association's effort to find another means for furthering its mission to promote choral music and ensure its future, in 1998 ACDA initiated the Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest.

Upon receiving word of his winning composition, Derek stated: “Several of my professors have influenced me greatly. Dr. Thomas Root and Dr. Viktor Uzur have both been my theory professors. Theory is my forte and a great love of mine, so I have enjoyed their teaching immensely. Dr. Mark Henderson, the Director of Choral Activities here at Weber State University, is a wonderful director and I have learned a great deal in just the three semesters that I've been under him. All of the music faculty at WSU are superb musicians and teachers, so it would be impossible to list all those who have influenced me as a musician.” Mark Henderson, speaks highly of Derek and his talent. “Derek is a wonderfully gifted and unusually well-rounded musician. He is a fine pianist who is equally comfortable with classical, jazz and gospel styles. He is also an exceptional singer.”

Derek has been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Poland and will miss the premier of his composition at the ACDA Western Division Conference in Tucson, AZ March 3-6, 2010. He is scheduled to begin his service on January 20th, 2010. He says, “The second verse of Psalm 100 admonishes us to "serve the Lord with gladness." I hope you will find it appropriate that I am choosing to live and follow the teachings of the very text I set to music.” A spokesperson at Weber University commented, “We are sad that he will not be able to be there to hear the performance, but we honor him for his dedication to his beliefs.” Derek’s family and school representatives will be present to receive his accolades.

Derek continues to increase his repertoire of compositions saying, “I set a Sanctus a few years ago as well as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Snowflakes, and currently I'm working on a choral song cycle of poetry relating to the gentian flower.”

This contest underwritten by the ACDA Endowment is an opportunity for young composers to showcase their talent through a performance premier at an ACDA conference. In addition, the composer receives a cash prize for their composition.