michael-bussewitz-quarm

Michael Bussewitz-Quarm is an award-winning composer whose music captivates singers and audiences worldwide with its profound exploration of social and environmental themes. With a deep passion for creating change through choral music, she delves into a diverse range of topics, from the art in post-civil war Raleigh-Durham to the urgent issues of gun violence and the global refugee crisis.

An exceptional aspect of her work is the opportunity for choirs to collaborate with her through commissioning consortia. Singers have the unique chance to interact with the composer through in-person or virtual panel discussions, engaging with artists, authors, and thought leaders in their specific areas of interest.

Furthermore, Bussewitz-Quarm provides an extensive catalog of her self-published existing works, as well as through Peermusic Classical and Hal Leonard, available through J.W. Pepper or directly through www.listenafresh.com. Her talent has been recognized with prestigious awards, including The American Prize in Composition (major works) in 2021 for her ground-breaking piece, “The Unarmed Child.” In 2023, she made an eagerly awaited debut at Carnegie Hall, presenting “Where We Find Ourselves.”

Looking ahead, her upcoming composition, “US,” will be featured throughout the United States in the Sing Democracy 250 project, beginning in 2026.

Visit the Composer’s Website

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Still the Same LoveVoicing: SSAA divisi  Solo(s): Several Short Treble Solos  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 6:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Euan Tait  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Love, Hope  First Performance: February 14, 2024 : Indianapolis Women’s Chorus, Meagan Johnson, Artistic Director, Indiana Historical Society at Frank and Katrina Basile Theater    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/1943~2024-Q4)
Bright LightVoicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 4:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Charles Anthony Silvestri  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Service  Descriptive Terms: Loss, Passing, Spirit  First Performance: May 25, 2022 : Hauppauge High School Chorus, Leanne Contino, Hauppauge, New York    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/1925~2024-Q3)
Lux AeternaVoicing: SSSSAAAATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:41  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Requiem Mass  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: 9/11  Descriptive Terms: Memorial, Loss, Honor  First Performance: March 20, 2023 : Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir, Clifford K. King, Salt Lake City, UT    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1894~2024-Q2)
AdoravitVoicing: SATB DIVISI  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 3:50  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Antiphon  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Christmas  Descriptive Terms: Peace, Comfort  First Performance: December 19, 2022 : Te Deum, Matthew Christopher Shepard, Village Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village, KS    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/1831~2023-Q4)
The Radium GirlVoicing: SSAA  Solo(s): Small Group of Treble Voices  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Shantel Sellers  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Worker’s Rights, Women’s Rights, Justice  First Performance: December 15, 2019 : Nassau Symphonic Choir of Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Louise O’Hanlon, Tilles Center Concert Hall, Brookville, NY    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1813~2023-Q3)
Be Like JaneVoicing: SSAA  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 5:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Michael Bussewitz-Quarm  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Hope, Perseverance, Courage, Determination  First Performance: January 11, 2023 : Wellington High School Valkyries Chorus, Bradford Chase, Tampa Convention Center    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1738~2023-Q2)
I Am a Voice That SingsVoicing: SATB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:40  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Ronald W. Cadmus  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Joy Of Singing, Mental Health, Peace, Harmony, Warmth, Comfort  First Performance: December 27, 2022 : Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir, Clifford W. King, Salt Lake City, Utah    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/1680~2022-Q4)
WindshearVoicing: SSAATTBB  Solo(s): Soprano  Instrumentation: Piano, Cello, Wind Gong  Performance Length: 13:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Shantel Sellers  Language: English And Western Abenaki  Descriptive Terms: Hope, Life After Loss, Climate Change, Native American Theme  First Performance: June 19, 2021 : New Hampshire Master Chorale, Dr. Dan Perkins, Plymouth, NH at the Rotary Amphitheater along the Pemigewasset River    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1658~2022-Q3)
Would You Know Me By My WorkVoicing: SATB  Solo(s): Soprano (optional)  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 4:15  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Shantel Sellers  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Family, History, Work  First Performance: June 06, 2021 : Concert Singers of Cary, Nathan Leaf, Cary, NC    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1607~2021-Q4)
ScarsVoicing: SATB  Solo(s): Alto Solo, Optional Tenor Solo  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 6:30  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Shantel Sellers  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Endurance, Perseverance, Strength, Change  First Performance: May 02, 2021 : Durham Choral Society and Duke University Chorale, Dr. Rodney Wynkoop, Durham, North Carolina (during pandemic of 2020)    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/1584~2021-Q3)
The Unarmed ChildVoicing: SATB  Solo(s): Soprano, Tenor (Hip Hopera)  Instrumentation: Chamber Orchestra  Performance Length: 48:12  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Requiem Mass, Shantel Sellers, Adrian Dunn, Christina Rossetti, Rabindranth Tagore  Language: English  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Service, Remembrance, December 14, International Day Of Peace  Descriptive Terms: Memorial, Hope, Victims Of Gun Violence  First Performance: November 08, 2019 : Eugene Concert Choir, Diane Retallack, Beall Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1508~2020-Q4)
I’m Not LostVoicing: SSAA  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:50  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Chantal Sellers  Language: English, Western Abenaki, Odawan, Lakota, Navajo/diné  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Memorial Services, Native American Appreciation  Descriptive Terms: Activism, Memorial, Mmiwg  First Performance: Mar 05, 2020: Central Bucks High School-West Women’s Choir, Joseph Ohrt, Hochstein School, Rochester, NY, ACDA Eastern Division Conference    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1130~2020-Q3)
So it was IVoicing: SSAATBB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 7:00  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Euan Tait  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Hope, Peace, Stranger, Strength, War  First Performance: Oct 18, 2019: The Esoterics, Eric Banks, St Barnabas Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, WA    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1069~2020-Q1)
To Avielle, On Her Fifth, Sixth BirthdayVoicing: SATB  Solo(s): Soprano, Tenor  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 5:44  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Chantal Sellers  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Activism, Gun Violence, Remembrance  First Performance: Sep 21, 2019: Long Island Voices, Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Bay Shore, New York    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/1036~2019-Q4)
Nigra SumVoicing: SSAATTBB  Instrumentation: Unaccompanied  Performance Length: 4:40  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Song of Solomon 1  Language: Latin  Seasonal/Liturgical Use: Advent, World Refugee Day, World Communion  Descriptive Terms: Awakening, Hope, Refugee, Sorrow, Spring  First Performance: Apr 28, 2018: Singers of New and Ancient Music, Allan Friedman, Chapel In the Pines Presbyterian Church, Chapel Hill, NC    Text SettingSource for Scores(P:E 800/819~2018-Q3)
My Name Is Lamiya: Don’t Call Me “Refugee”Voicing: SATB  Solo(s): Optional Solos  Instrumentation: Piano  Performance Length: 6:05  Notation: Standard  Text Source: Lamiya Safarova  Language: English  Descriptive Terms: Advocacy, Determination, Perseverance, Refugee, Self-identity  First Performance: Oct 26, 2017: Western Carolina University Choir, Alison Thorp, Recital Hall of Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC    Text SettingComposer’s NotesSource for Scores(P:E 800/801~2018-Q2)
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