The Pasadena Chorale has launched a significant partnership with The Collegiate Choral Composition Community (The CCCC) as part of its 10th annual “Listening to the Future” program. This collaboration aims to enhance opportunities for emerging composers, allowing them to showcase their original choral works.
Since its inception, “Listening to the Future” has provided local high school composers with mentorship from professional composers. Participants have had the chance to create original choral pieces that are performed and recorded by the award-winning Pasadena Chorale. To celebrate the program’s milestone, the Chorale is expanding its scope by collaborating with The CCCC, which boasts the largest catalog of choral music by student composers in the United States.
In this partnership, The CCCC will issue a call for scores to collegiate composers nationwide. The selection process will involve both Pasadena Chorale and The CCCC, who will choose the works to be featured in this year’s expanded concert. The event is scheduled for June 20, 2026, and will be held in two acts. The first act will highlight original compositions by local high school composers, while the second act will present works by college composers selected from across the country, in addition to “greatest hits” from previous years of the program.
For the first time, selected college composers will be invited to Pasadena to experience live performances of their music. Each composer will also receive a professional recording of their piece, adding to the appeal of the opportunity.
In a statement, Jeffrey Bernstein, Founding Artistic and Executive Director of Pasadena Chorale, remarked, “I am amazed at how far ‘Listening to the Future’ has come over the past decade. It has been inspiring to watch the students of our program grow into confident, creative composers. Many of them have gone on to pursue music at top universities and are already finding success as composers in their own right. This new partnership with The CCCC is a natural progression for the program, as it allows us to continue championing emerging voices by now bringing the work of collegiate composers to the stage.”
Sammy Strent, founder and CEO of The CCCC, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “The CCCC is thrilled to be collaborating with the Pasadena Chorale on Listening to the Future. We are excited to be able to provide collegiate composers with this opportunity to work with such a high-caliber ensemble that is passionate about bringing new music to life.”
This partnership not only strengthens the program’s commitment to nurturing new talent but also showcases the rich diversity of choral music creation across different educational levels. As the program continues to evolve, it remains focused on its mission of fostering the next generation of composers.
