Alumnae receive award from Chamber Music America

On July 25, 2015, Chamber Music America (CMA) announced awards to 21 groups, including Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble and LJ White, a Chicago-based composer. White will compose a new song cycle that includes male, female, straight, cis, gay, and trans perspectives, to be premiered during the 2017-2018 concert season.

“I'm beyond thrilled and so thankful to be receiving this grant with Quince and to be writing for them. This is a piece I've wanted to write for years now, and I can't wait to get started.” -LJ White

Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble was founded by alumnae Amanda DeBoer Bartlett and Kayleigh Butcher, and DMA student Elizabeth Pearse when they were students at the College of Musical Arts. From their website: "Quince specializes in experimental repertoire that is changing the paradigm of contemporary vocal music. They have been seen on Vicky Chow's Contagious Sounds Series, a.per.io.dic's John Cage Festival in Chicago, on the Philip Glass: Music with Friends benefit concert at the Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, and at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE. Comprised of vocalists Elizabeth Pearse [DMA student], Kayleigh Butcher [MM 2011], Amanda DeBoer Bartlett [DMA 2012], and Carrie Henneman Shaw, Quince thrives on unique musical challenges and genre-bending contemporary repertoire."