Concordia Nebraska sophomore Grace Marshall named winner of biennial Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition

Concordia Nebraska sophomore Grace Marshall of Greeneville, Tennessee, was recently named as a winner of the biennial Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition for her composition “What if this present were the world's last night?” Holy Sonnet XIII, a John Donne text for a soloist or unison choir with piano. 

The competition is sponsored by the Center for Church Music in partnership with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. The Center is headquartered at Concordia Chicago. The award was originally reserved for students at Concordia University Chicago, but a decade ago the university opened the competition to students at any Lutheran college or university as part of its efforts to encourage the next generation of church musicians.  

This year’s co-winner was Katrina Jurica, a graduate student at Concordia Chicago, who composed “O Antiphons” for SA/SSA choir and congregation. 

Marshall is double majoring in English and music at Concordia Nebraska. 

I thought it was an exceptional composition, and I encouraged her to submit it for the competition.

“Her composition for solo voice or unison choir and piano was written as a final project for her second-semester music theory course, which I teach,” said Concordia Nebraska Professor of Music Dr. Joseph Herl. “I thought it was an exceptional composition, and I encouraged her to submit it for the competition.”  

Created to cultivate interest in the music of the church, the competition is carefully juried, not only selecting a winner but also offering individual critique and direction for these budding composers. 

“This is a competition for student composers writing sacred music, and Grace’s composition was originally written for a secular sonnet by John Keats,” said Herl. “So I suggested that she look through the Holy Sonnets of John Donne to see whether one of them might work as an alternative text without her having to alter the music too much. She chose his lovely poem ‘What if this present were the world’s last night’.” 

Each award includes a $1,000 cash prize and public presentation and recognition of the student’s work. Prizes will be awarded on Monday, October 21 during the annual Lectures in Church Music event at Concordia Chicago.  

Previous Concordia Nebraska contest winners include Austin Theriot (2018), Thomas Johnson (2020) and Bethany Zeckzer (2022). 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s music programs offer students rigorous preparation to glorify God in their future vocations through the study and performance of music. Through applied lessons, participation in one of the university’s outstanding ensembles or academic music pursuits, hundreds of students of any major can make great music and lifelong friendships at Concordia.