The IL-ACDA Composer Award
The 2026-2027 IL-ACDA Composer Award Winner
Isaac Lovdahl
Isaac Lovdahl is an award-winning composer, conductor, educator, and bass-baritone vocalist who serves as Director of Choral Activities at Bemidji State University. Under his direction, The Bemidji Choir (BSU’s premier choral ensemble) was invited to perform as a featured ensemble at the 2025 ACDA-MN state conference.
His compositions have been described as “a revelation” and “remarkable” (The American Prize), and his writing continues to garner acclaim for its emotional depth, distinct harmonic palette, and innovative treatment of text and texture. Isaac’s choral compositions and art songs have been performed internationally by educational, community-based, and professional ensembles and soloists.
Isaac’s recent achievements include commissions, performances, and premieres by renowned ensembles such as Cantus, the Yale Glee Club, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, Choral Arts Initiative, the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus, VocalEssence, and the Cambridge Chamber Singers, among others. He has also been recognized by organizations and festivals including the Festival of New American Music, The American Prize, the Ithaca College Choral Composition Festival, and the North Dakota Music Teachers Association in collaboration with the Music Teachers National Association.
To learn more, please visit isaaclovdahl.com.
Apply for the IL-ACDA Composer Award
Eligibility
Composers within ACDA’s Midwestern Region (including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin) with a creative voice and clear compositional ability are invited to enter the annual IL-ACDA Composer Contest. Composers are invited to apply for the IL-ACDA Composition Award, a commission in collaboration with the William Ferris Chorale and MusicSpoke
Submission Information
All applications must include:
- PDF of at least two scores (each as individual documents). At least one must be a composition for voice(s)/
- Name/any identifying information should be removed – only list your name on the submission FORM
- Any additional documentation (text/translation, etc)
- (Optional) audio recording of any/all submitted work
- Live, studio, or midi acceptable (if submitting live recordings, make sure to remove any introduction or portion of the performance that may indicate the composer’s name)
Applicants must be:
- 18 years of age or older
- A resident of a state within the Midwestern Region of ACDA (including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
Contest Timeline
- Submissions open: March 15th, 2026
- Submissions due: August 1st, 2026
- Winner announced: October 1st, 2026
- Finished score due: January 1st, 2027
- Premiere: TBF Winter 2027
The winner of The IL-ACDA Composer Award receives a $1,000 prize and has their commissioned new work performed by the William Ferris Chorale in Chicago.
To submit your application, please click the online form button below. Entries for the 2026 IL-ACDA Composer Award are open!
A reminder that all submitted materials (PDFs, MP3s, WAVs, etc) must be free of markings or speaking that identify the composer.
Please send questions to cwindle@williamferrischorale.org
Past Recipients of the IL-ACDA Composition Contest
| 2025 | ~ Benjamin T. Martin | The Unlived Life (After Ivor Gurney) | benjaminmartincomposer.com |
| 2024 | ~ Ed Frazier Davis | I Will Ride | efdavis.com |
| 2022 | ~ Philip Spencer | That Would Be the Day | |
| 2020 | ~ Cole Reyes | Oh Lord, Support Us (SATB) | colereyes.com |
| 2019 | ~ William V. Malpede | Due (SATB) | Hear “Duet” See the score |
| 2018 | ~ Robert Applebaum | Rain Music (SSAA) | bobapplebaum.com |
| 2017 | ~ Andrew Bruhn | Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (SATB) | Parcelete Press 1940M Listen here! |
| 2016 | ~ Deanna Witkowski | Where Shadow Chases Light (SSAA) | See the premiere! |
| 2015 | ~ Richard Rossi | O Sacrum Convivium (SATB) | See and hear the score! |
| 2014 | ~ Philip Spencer | Tune Thy Music to Thy Heart (SSA) | |
| 2013 | ~ Tim Blickhan | Life Has Loveliness to Sell (SATB) | |
| 2012 | ~ | On Wings of Prayer (SSAA, piano) | |
| 2011 | ~ Wayland Rogers | When Daisies Pied (SATB) | |
| 2010 | ~ Donald Frasier | In Moonlight (TTB) | |
| 2009 | ~ Karen Ball | A Light Exists In Spring (SATB, piano) | |
| 2008 | ~ Edwin Childs | Peace (SSA, piano) | |
| 2007 | ~ Paul Carey | Thou Art the Sky (SATB, piano) | Roger Dean 15/2430R |
| 2006 | ~ Christopher Walters | Weary with Toil (SATB, unaccompanied) | Colla Voce 15-96040 |
| 1999 | ~ Anne Heider | Jesous Ahatonnia: A Huron carol (TTBB, piano) | |
| 1998 | ~ Edwin Childs | Three Poems from the Chinese | Mark Foster Music 3066 |
| 1997 | ~ Paul Steg | Vocalise (SATB) | |
| 1996 | ~ Bart Bradfield | To The Thawing Wind (SATB, piano) | |
| 1995 | ~ Clyde Thompson | Three Dickinson Poems (SSA, piano, flute) | |
| 1994 | ~ Joel Ross | Sweet Was the Virgin Song (TTBB, harp) | |
| 1993 | ~ Mark Ray Hollman | Hope is a Thing with Feathers (SAB, piano) | |
| 1990 | ~ Ellen Keating | Ave Maria (SSA) | Mark Foster MF922 |
| 1985 | ~ Lee Kesselman | Two Meditations on Yeats (SATB) | |
| 1984 | ~ Michael Kosch | spring! may… (SATB, divisi) |