The Notre Dame Magnificat Choir is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Liturgy Alive! composition contest:
First Place ($2,250 prize): Robert Richter (Carmel, Indiana) for his setting of O Señor, Vivifícanos for unaccompanied women’s choir (SSA)
Robert Richter is the Director of Music & Organist at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Carmel Indiana. He received degrees in organ performance from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Arizona State University. Robert also freelances as a collaborative pianist/accompanist and teaches piano lessons. As a composer and arranger, his work focuses on music for liturgical use, especially choral works, mass settings, and congregational hymn arrangements with brass and organ. robertwesleyrichter.com
Second Place ($1,250 prize): Judy Rounda (Leavenworth, Kansas) for her setting of Vivifícanos for unaccompanied women’s choir (SSA)
Judith Rounda began her piano studies at the age of 8 with Mrs. Doris Lee Frost in Leavenworth, Kansas. After studying piano performance with Dr. Jack Winerock at the University of Kansas, she earned her Bachelor's degree in mathematics and Spanish from KU. Judith has sung in various church and community choirs through the years, including Lawrence Motet Singers, the Kaw Valley Community Choir, and St. Mary's Community Choir. Judith was awarded a Berklee Online Celebrity Scholarship, the Matt Marvuglio Scholarship, and earned Professional and Advanced Professional Certificates in Voice Technique and Musicianship and General Music Studies. She will complete her Master in Music Education from Kansas State University in 2023.
At Leavenworth High School, where Judith accompanied six high school choirs, numerous ensembles, soloists, and musical theater productions for twenty years, students and colleagues have known her as "Mrs. R." In addition, she has served as a church organist throughout those years.
Judith has published choral arrangements through sheetmusicplus.com. Vivificanos represents a potential first public performance of one of her compositions.