The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Chamber Choir recently paid homage to the prolific Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds in a concert dedicated to his works. Under the direction of Joe Miller, who is both the lead conductor and professor of choral studies at CCM, the choir invited audiences on April 26th to experience musical pieces not only by Ešenvalds but also by fellow Latvian composers Alfrēds Kalniņš, Uģis Prauliņš, Pēteris Vasks, and Juris Karlsons.
Graduate assistant conductors Rachel Feldman and Sergey Tkachenko had the opportunity to showcase their talents alongside Miller during the performance. According to a recent write-up by the University of Cincinnati, the event was part of the final concert for the CCM Chamber Choir's 2025-26 season.
Award-winning composer Ešenvalds has achieved international recognition and is renowned for a schedule brimming with commissions. His compositions have been performed worldwide on every continent. Some of his accolades include three Latvian Grand Music Award wins (2005, 2007, 2015) and a first prize at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2006 for "The Legend of the Walled-in Woman." Additionally, the Philadelphia Inquirer named him "The Year’s New-Composer Discovery" back in 2010, and Ešenvalds was awarded Officer in the Order of the Three Stars in 2018, according to UC News, the highest state decoration of his home country, Latvia, for his cultural contributions.
The concert venue was the Knox Presbyterian Church located at 400 Michigan Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio. Tickets were available for purchase through the CCM Box Office, as guests were encouraged not to miss the opportunity to witness this exceptional choral performance in their city. The University of Cincinnati news article mentioned Knox Presbyterian Church as the host to this culmination of CCM Chamber Choir's season, marking another milestone for the choir and a celebration of choral music in Cincinnati.
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