Waukesha Choral Union Commissions Work for 2012-13 Season

In late fall of 2011 Waukesha Choral Union solicited student poems, prose, or other original writings to use as a text for a commissioned choral work for its 2012-2013 season. The musical piece will be written by Waukesha-born composer Paula Foley Tillen. All Waukesha county students age 12 to 18 were eligible. At March’s Messiah concert WCU Artistic Director Ernest Brusubardis III announced Abby Lewis, a Waukesha South High School student, as the winner and presented her with a stipend of $500.

“The mission of the Waukesha Choral Union encourages community outreach and educational efforts, and this contest accomplishes all that and more. The singing members and board are very excited about seeing a Waukesha student’s idea come to life in song.” - Ernest Brusubardis III

Abby Lewis, Ernest Brusubardis III, Paula Foley Tillen

The yet-untitled piece will be performed on the final concert of the Waukesha Choral Union’s 2012-2013 season on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at Shattuck Auditorium on the Carroll University campus. A “sneak preview” of the piece will be presented on the first concert of next season Saturday, October 13, 2012 at Shattuck Auditorium.

A second phase of the project, involving student-created multi-media interpretation of the commission, will be announced during the 2012-2013 season.

“This undertaking would not be possible without the financial support of our patrons, and a grant from Arts Alliance of Waukesha County, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Collaboration is a strong tradition within our organization. This project brings together many different local artists in a single celebration of music.” - Waukesha Choral Union Board President Tom Custis

About Abby Lewis (in her own words)
Abby Lewis is thrilled that her poetry was picked for this amazing opportunity! She has been writing and telling stories for all of her life but only fairly recently discovered her passion for poetry. Her favorite thing about this medium is the challenge of finding the words and format to express what she is trying to depict exactly while keeping the poem as concise as possible, as well as the challenge of coming up with things to say that are really meaningful to her but also relevant to other people. Much of her inspiration comes from her observations of the world around her, things other people say, images in her head, and, of course, her fabulous teachers. She greatly admires everyone in the Choral Union, and also has a strong musical background herself. Abby joined the Singing Tree when she was only one year old. She continued in the Children's Choir of Waukesha program for 14 years and is now in the Women's Choir. Abby has also played violin for nine years and is a part of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra in the group called Philharmonia. This year Abby is 15 years old and a freshman at Waukesha South High School, but her winning entry poems were written when she was in seventh and eighth grade at Central Middle School. In addition to poetry and music, Abby also enjoys theatre and other forms of art, and has recently begun experimenting with writing her own music. She would like to thank all of her friends, family, and teachers that helped her get where she is today.

About Paula Foley Tillen
Paula Foley Tillen, a graduate of Waukesha’s Carroll University, has been a professional musician in southeastern Wisconsin for the past thirty years, and is much in demand as a composer, music director, pianist, vocal coach, and accompanist. Tillen’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by a wide variety of distinguished local, regional, national, and international groups. Tillen’s work can be found in the catalogues of Hal Leonard Publishing Co., Alliance Publishing Co., Treble Clef Music Press, and Santa Barbara Music Press.

“I am thrilled and proud to have been invited to write for the Waukesha Choral Union, my own hometown's wonderful choral ensemble. It's been a particular delight for me throughout my professional life to be a part of developing the creativity of young people, and I welcome this opportunity to work collaboratively with a young artist.” – Paula Foley Tillen