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Dr. Andrew Major, a member of the Choral Studies faculty, has been awarded the 2023 Julius Herford Dissertation Prize by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) for his dissertation, “Unsettlement Music”: Documentation and Inquiry in the Unaccompanied Choral Works of Ted Hearne, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to choral scholarship.
Dr. Major’s dissertation, “Unsettlement Music”: Documentation and Inquiry in the Unaccompanied Choral Works of Ted Hearne, offers a profound exploration of Ted Hearne’s politically charged compositions for unaccompanied choir. In this work, Dr. Major delves into eight of Hearne’s compositions, analyzing how the composer’s music provokes radical self-inquiry, upholds truth, and embraces complexity by challenging conventional boundaries and eschewing simple answers. The dissertation also includes an introduction to political music in the classical tradition, a biography of Hearne, and an overview of his works, examining how Hearne’s unique compositional style extends beyond explicitly political content to convey a spirit of inquiry.
The Herford Prize committee commended Dr. Major’s dissertation as “clear, well-organized, and intellectually rigorous,” noting that it sets a standard for future choral scholarship. His work was further praised for its “excellent analyses” and described as “deeply thought-out and researched.”
Dr. Major completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Northwestern University under the guidance of Dr. Donald Nally, Dr. Danuta Mirka, and Dr. Alan Pierson. He holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Montana State University. Currently, Dr. Major serves as Lecturer in Choral Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Artistic Director and Conductor of Roots in the Sky; and Director of Music at Northminster Presbyterian Church in Evanston, IL. He is also active as a professional singer with various Chicago-area ensembles, including The Crossing.
The Julius Herford Dissertation Prize annually recognizes the most outstanding doctoral research project in choral music, evaluated by a panel of choral conductor-scholars. This blind review process upholds academic rigor and impartiality. As the 2023 prize recipient, Dr. Major will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a commemorative plaque, which will be presented at the upcoming National ACDA conference in Dallas.