Choral music for courage, connection, and change.
Explore performance-ready choral scores, join a commissioning consortium, or create a new work for your ensemble.
Music performed at Carnegie Hall • Lincoln Center • Orchestra Hall Minneapolis
Kimmel Center • DAR Constitution Hall
Winner, The American Prize • J.W. Pepper Editor’s Choice 2022, 2023 & 2026
How can I help your ensemble?
Find Music
Explore accessible, meaningful choral music by voicing, difficulty, subject, and accompaniment,
Commission a Work
Create a new work shaped around your ensemble, community, artistic goals, and singers.
Explore Current Projects
Discover current commissioning consortiums and large-scale collaborative projects.
Featured Choral Music
Today, Right Now!
Voicing: SATB (also SAB, SSA, TBB)
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
Duration: 3:30
Accompaniment: Options include: Performance Track; Piano; Live Rhythm Section and Horns (electric guitar; bass guitar; drum set; trumpet, alto saxophone; baritone saxophone; optional piano)
A high-energy, funk-infused concert feature channels the sound and spirit of contemporary popular music into an exciting choral setting. Driven by a tight rhythm-section groove, the piece builds from an introspective opening into a powerful anthemic chorus celebrating courage, unity, and the power of young voices to shape the future.
Nigra Sum
Voicing: SATB divisi (also SSAA divisi)
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 5:00
Accompaniment: Unaccompanied
Composed as a tribute to the victims of the global refugee crisis, this piece utilizes modern a cappella harmonies, cluster chords and chant-like melodies to create a gorgeous setting of the Latin text from the Song of Solomon. Extended divisi, particularly in the tenor part, creates tight harmonies that sparkle against the open chord structure established throughout.
I am a Voice that Sings
Voicing: SATB (also Ember, SAB, SSAB, SSAA, SSA, SA, TBB, 2-part Mixed, Unison)
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
Duration: 4:00
Accompaniment: Options include: Piano or Chamber Group (Oboe, Bassoon, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass)
With a fresh, contemporary feel, this selection brings an uplifting message of hope and friendship through times of darkness. With its wide appeal, it is available in many voicings, including the Ember Arrangement which provides a wonderful opportunity to feature many of your outstanding solo singers. "Together, we will find something of grace and peace. I am a voice that sings! Together we will sing!"
Listen (Ember Edition)
For the Beauty of the Earth
Voicing: SATB (also SAB, SSA, 3-part Mixed)
Difficulty: Medium-Easy
Duration: 5:15
Accompaniment: Piano
This universally known hymn text sets an atmosphere of simple beauty, which is echoed through the musical lines of this serene setting. Just like the ebb and flow in nature, the lyrics breathe through the phrasing and layering of voices. Available in a variety of voicings, this accessible work is easily learned by choirs of all ages.
NOW FORMING: 2028 COMMISSIONING CONSORTIUM
This Borrowed Earth: The Rising Forest
Featured Projects
Where We Find Ourselves
Inspired by portraits by Hugh Mangum that reveal humanity’s richness. The message of the music, that we must look and listen deeper to one another, and that while much time has passed, our country still has so much work to do to overcome racism, is timely and urgent.
Peacebomb
Inspired by the story of the Laotian families who make jewelry from the metal of unexploded ordnance (UXO), Peacebomb celebrates transformation and our ability to make a meaningful impact on our world.
The Unarmed Child
Composed in response to gun violence against children, this eight-movement work sensitively navigates this difficult, heart-wrenching subject with beautiful, poignant, healing words and music. Each movement deals with a different aspect of emotion in a uniquely expressive way. One cannot get through the experience without tears, but the final movement brings hope with an energized call to action. Movements: Yesterday; Agnus Dei; Requiem; Bird on a Wire; To Avielle, on Her Fifth, Sixth Birthday; Lux Aeterna; Interlude; Come to Me, in the Silence of the Night and Where the Mind Is Without Fear.
I am a Voice that Sings
From award-winning composer Michael Bussewitz-Quarm and acclaimed lyricist, Ronald W. Cadmus comes an uplifting message of hope and friendship through times of darkness. Multiple musical settings provide a quick learn for choirs of all levels while allowing your singers opportunities for solos. “Together, we will find something of grace and peace. I am a voice that sings! Together we will sing!”
“Working with Michael to commission Now is the Time was a remarkable experience. She created a powerful piece that was both musically rewarding and deeply moving. Michael was always available to discuss the work with me and my singers and was warm and inviting to all of us in our coaching sessions with her, guiding us to arrive at a more exciting and expressive performance of the work. We were hugely honored that Michael would trust us to share the musical story of her personal journey in this important work. Any ensemble would be fortunate to work with a composer of her warmth and caliber.”
- Dr. Rebecca Petra Naomi Seeman, Sacred and Profane Chamber Chorus, Artistic Director
Bay Shore, NY
Kansas City, MO: ACDA National Conference
Eugene, OR: The Unarmed Child with Adrian Dunn & Dr. Diane Retallack
Vancouver, BC: ISCM Festival with musica intima
Omaha, NE: Panelist, Omaha Children's Choir commission on Gun Violence
Bay Shore, NY: Requiem Dies Magna
Richmond, IN: Transgender Singing Voices Conference
Eugene, OR: The Unarmed Child West Coast Premiere
View my recent work and more on my YouTube Channel - Michael Bussewitz-Quarm
