Anoka-Ramsey Community College Music faculty and composer, Melissa Bergstrom was recognized recently by the Cincinnati Children's Choir (CCC) in their 2008 Composition Competition. Bergstrom’s winning composition, "Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life" (text by George Herbert, 17th century English poet) premiered last month in the CCC concert in Cincinnati performed by the girls’  choir under the direction of Kelly Ann Westgate.

“I felt so protective of my work, nervous actually, before the performance,” says Bergstrom. “But hearing my creation brought to life by beautiful voices in a beautiful concert hall, I felt like a mother leaving my child with the sitter for the first time and returning to a smiling child, and sitter. It was a proud moment and I was thankful to share it with my husband and colleague, Sam, who attended the concert.”

The Cincinnati Children's Choir Composition Competition is an annual contest promoting outstanding repertoire for children's choirs. CCC serves as Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and regularly performs with the region’s most celebrated professional and amateur ensembles. Submissions to the highly competitive composition were reviewed by a panel of judges consisting of conservatory faculty and CCC artistic staff.

Along with the honor of the winning the award and having her composition performed, Bergstrom received $1,000. Future publication is also possible.

Bergstrom has previously been published as an author (words only) several times. Most recently in 2008 through Augsburg Fortress in four worship resource publications and a daily devotional book titled, “Bread for the Day.”

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Music Faculty member, Melissa Bergstrom (shown here conducting a concert in 2008) recently won the 2008 Cincinnati Children's Choir Composition Competition with her original work, "Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life."