Resonance Ensemble Awarded 2026 Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant to Collaborate with Composer Caroline Shaw
The treble singers of Resonance Ensemble with Caroline Shaw and Danni Parpan (Ringdown, far left), and Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon (center front).
New commission with Caroline Shaw to be premiered in 2027–28 season
Portland, OR — Resonance Ensemble is honored to announce that it has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant, awarded by Chorus America in partnership with the American Composers Forum. The grant will support a new choral work by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Caroline Shaw, to be premiered in Resonance Ensemble’s 2027–28 season.
This prestigious national grant supports the creation and performance of artistically meaningful new choral music that engages communities. Selected annually by a panel curated by Chorus America, the award provides $10,000 to the recipient ensemble, including $7,500 toward the commissioning fee and $2,500 to support composer engagement, production, and promotion.
The award brings national recognition to Resonance Ensemble, a Portland-based professional choir, in collaboration with Portland-based composer Caroline Shaw. The commission builds on Shaw’s earlier a cappella work so quietly, which explored a young woman beginning to acknowledge her voice. The new work will expand this narrative, examining a more seasoned perspective on leadership, agency, and the power of collective voice.
“This project reflects our deep commitment to amplifying living composers and creating music that speaks to our time,” said Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. “Since our first collaborations with Caroline Shaw, we have dreamed of commissioning a new work for our treble singers. We are deeply honored to bring this vision to life and share it with our community and the broader choral field.”
L to R: Cecille Elliott, Danni Parpan, Caroline Shaw, and Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. Photo by R. Hadiashar.
“Having collaborated with Resonance previously, I am thrilled to continue our creative partnership,” said Caroline Shaw. “Part of what made our earlier collaboration so special was a fierce commitment to texts that amplify the contemporary female experience — both the ways we feel vulnerable and the ways we build strength in community. I look forward to creating a new work that carries this vision forward.”
The project will include multiple performances across Oregon, educational workshops with high school students in Portland Public Schools, and a recording initiative aimed at sharing the work with choirs worldwide.
“The Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant exists to bring meaningful new music to life, and Resonance Ensemble’s project with Caroline Shaw does exactly that,” said Christopher Eanes, President and CEO of Chorus America. “This commission highlights the power of choral music to illuminate the human experience and expand the repertoire in ways that are deeply needed.”
Loki Karuna, Executive Director of the American Composers Forum, added, “Resonance Ensemble’s commitment to expanding repertoire for treble voices is vital to the continued evolution of the choral tradition in America. We are proud to support a project that aligns so strongly with our mission to advocate for today’s music creators.”
The Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant honors the legacy of Dale Warland, founder of the internationally acclaimed Dale Warland Singers, and his lifelong dedication to championing new choral music. The grant is funded through the Dale Warland Singers Fund for New Choral Music, a permanently restricted endowment established in 2004.
Read the full announcement from Chorus America here.
About Resonance Ensemble
Resonance Ensemble is a professional choral ensemble based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to presenting powerful, socially relevant programs that amplify underrepresented voices and foster meaningful dialogue through music. Learn more at resonancechorus.org.
About Chorus America
Chorus America is the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field. Serving more than 4,000 choruses, individuals, businesses, and organizations, Chorus America provides tools, training, and resources that strengthen the ability of choruses to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Learn more at chorusamerica.org.
About American Composers Forum
The American Composers Forum supports and advocates for living music creators through programs that commission, fund, and elevate new work, strengthening the ecosystem for contemporary music in the United States. Learn more at composersforum.org.