Concordia student David Schutte won the 2018 choral composition competition.

A Concordia University Wisconsin student has won this year’s Student Choral Composition Competition, sponsored by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association.


The WCDA notified David Schotte this past weekend of his accomplishment. He competed against musicians aged 18-25 from across the state to earn the title.

Schotte will be honored in January at the WCDA’s state conference, where a choral group may premiere his award-winning composition. His piece is titled “Da pacem Domine.” Translated from the Latin, it means, “Grant us peace, Lord.”

“It’s really special that my first attempt at composing has produced this award,” Schotte said. “I wasn’t expecting to win, but I’m honored to someday have one of my groups perform my piece.”

Schotte is a parish music major who is minoring in theological languages. He is scheduled to graduate from Concordia in spring 2020.

Learn more about Concordia’s music department and program offerings here.

— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.

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