The competitive and professional success continues for University of Aberdeen composers, as PhD candidate Sarah Rimkus was recently named the National winner of Seattle-based choir The Esoterics' POLYPHONOS competition. She will be commissioned to write a new work for the choir to premiere in early October 2018.
In addition to their reputation for technical skill and sensitivity as the Pacific Northwest’s premiere vocal ensemble, The Esoterics are known for imaginative programming, and have been honored four times with the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for the Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music. They have commissioned and premiered over 200 new works for a cappella voices. Previous winners of their POLYPHONOS competition include Abbie Betinis and Dale Trumbore.
Sarah is in the third year of her PhD, and is currently working towards the premiere of her final major work for the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir to be performed on 1 March. She has a number of upcoming performances, including the premiere of her ‘Ave Rosa, Sine Spinis’ by Nova Vocal Ensemble in Los Angeles, CA on 9 December, and the premiere of ‘Hodie’ commissioned by Con Anima Chamber Choir at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Aberdeen, also on 9 December. Her carol ‘Brightest and Best’ will be performed in Manchester on 16 December as part of the release concert for ‘The Silver Stars at Play, a CD of contemporary carols. The disc includes carols by many distinguished contemporary composers, including ‘Susanni’ by Dr Phillip Cooke. Brightest and Best is additionally to be released soon by GIA Publications.