Executive Overview
The contemporary choral landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by innovative publishing models, major recording projects, and national recognition for new compositional voices. At the nexus of this evolution is Graphite Publishing and its partner imprint, CORO Publishing, which have recently announced a sweeping slate of catalog updates, high-profile recording releases, and major industry accolades.
Highlighting these announcements is the selection of Los Angeles-based composer and vocalist Amy Gordon as the winner of the prestigious 2026 Raymond W. Brock Prize, awarded by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), for her work Finding Your Voice. Gordon’s addition to the Graphite roster reinforces the publisher’s position as a premier destination for celebrated contemporary composers. Simultaneously, True Concord Voices & Orchestra has released Here I Am: Choral Music of Jocelyn Hagen, a landmark album featuring world-premiere recordings of two major works by Hagen, one of Graphite’s core flagship composers.
Parallel to these artistic breakthroughs, CORO Publishing has unveiled a diverse collection of new octavos, restocked repertoire, and modern performance editions of Western canon masterworks. Ranging from accessible educational settings of Baroque classics to complex, multi-divisi a cappella works, this new collection reflects an industry-wide push toward adaptable, high-caliber repertoire designed for ensembles across all skill levels. Marking two decades of service to the choral arts, Graphite’s latest developments underscore how independent publishers are actively redefining vocal literature for modern performers and global audiences.
Detailed Chronology
The recent convergence of publishing releases, awards, and commercial recordings highlights a busy period of development for Graphite Publishing and CORO Publishing.
[MAY 28–31, 2024]
True Concord records Jocelyn Hagen album at Camelback Bible Church, AZ
(Produced by Peter Rutenberg; Engineered by John Polito)
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[AUGUST 14, 2024]
Commercial release of "Here I Am: Choral Music of Jocelyn Hagen"
(Physical release via Reference Recordings; available on streaming platforms)
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[EARLY AUTUMN]
Graphite formally signs composer Amy Gordon to its core catalog roster
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[RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT]
ACDA names Amy Gordon winner of the 2026 Brock Prize for "Finding Your Voice"
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[CURRENT ROLLOUT]
CORO Publishing issues expanded octavo series & historic masterwork editions- May 28–31, 2024: True Concord Voices & Orchestra gathers at Camelback Bible Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona, to record a comprehensive retrospective of choral works by Jocelyn Hagen. Production is helmed by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Peter Rutenberg alongside recording engineer John Polito.
- August 14, 2024: Reference Recordings officially releases Here I Am: Choral Music of Jocelyn Hagen across physical disc formats and digital streaming services, marking the commercial debut of world-premiere recordings for Hagen’s landmark score The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci and the title track, Here I Am.
- Early Autumn: Graphite Publishing approves the formal submission and signing of composer Amy Gordon to its active composer roster, setting the stage for the distribution of her choral catalog.
- Recent Announcement: The American Choral Directors Association formally announces Amy Gordon as the recipient of the 2026 Raymond W. Brock Prize for Professional Composers for her piece Finding Your Voice. The award adds another national honor to Graphite’s roster of composers.
- Current Rollout: CORO Publishing releases its latest catalog suite, introducing original works by Philip Moody alongside newly edited performance editions of pieces by Johann Hermann Schein and Franz Joseph Haydn, as well as the re-stocking of popular arrangements like C. Rand Matheson’s setting of Sibelius’s Finlandia.
Supporting Context & Metrics
Catalog Analysis: CORO Publishing’s Latest Octavos and Editions
CORO Publishing actively seeks new, unpublished choral repertoire while maintaining a parallel mission to curate updated, accessible editions of historical masterworks from the Western canon. The latest release demonstrates a balance between varied voicings, difficulty ratings, and instrumentation, offering versatile repertoire for academic, sacred, and professional ensembles.
| Composition / Edition Title | Composer / Editor | Voicing & Instrumentation | Difficulty Level (1–5) | Estimated Duration | Key Artistic & Pedagogical Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be Still, My Soul (Restocked) | arr. C. Rand Matheson | SATB (divisi) a cappella | Level 3 | 3–5 min. | Lyrical setting of Jean Sibelius’s Finlandia hymn tone; emphasizes expressive phrasing and tonal blending. |
| There is Sweet Music Here | Philip Moody | SATB a cappella | Level 2 | 3–5 min. | Lyrical harmonic writing set to Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poetry; accessible for intermediate choirs. |
| The Lord’s Prayer | Philip Moody | SSA, piano | Level 2 | < 3 min. | Compact, lyrical treble arrangement tailored for treble youth, academic, or church ensembles. |
| A Mighty Fortress | Johann Hermann Schein, ed. Oltman | SA or TB, piano | Level 3 | < 3 min. | Baroque counterpoint adapted for two-part flexible voicings; ideal for flexible vocal distributions. |
| Let Us Be Joyful | Franz Joseph Haydn, ed. Moody | SATB, string quintet | Level 4 | 3–5 min. | Classical masterwork edition incorporating live string accompaniment; balance of rigor and energy. |
| Thee We Adore | Philip Moody | SSSAAA/TTBB a cappella (also TTBB div.) | Level 5 | 3–5 min. | Advanced polyphonic texture demanding precise intonation and wide dynamic range across complex divisi. |
The structural variety within this release highlights CORO’s editorial philosophy: expanding accessibility without sacrificing artistic rigor. By providing lower-difficulty entries (Level 2) alongside demanding multi-divisi works (Level 5), the imprint supports ensembles across different developmental stages.
Institutional Prestige: The Brock Prize Legacy at Graphite
The Raymond W. Brock Commission and Prize, administered by the ACDA, is widely regarded as one of the highest honors in American choral music. Established to recognize composition excellence and expand the choral repertoire with works of enduring quality, winning the Brock Prize places a composer at the forefront of contemporary performance.
Amy Gordon’s victory for Finding Your Voice continues a notable trend: Graphite Publishing has become a frequent home for Brock Prize-winning composers and compositions.
GRAPHITE PUBLISHING: BROCK PRIZE LAUREATES
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2026: Amy Gordon ── "Finding Your Voice" │
│ 2024: Saunder Choi ── "Lakbay ng Agila (Eagle's Flight)" │
│ 2022: Jeffrey Derus ── "I Will Go" │
│ 2018: Dale Trumbore ── "In the Middle" │
│ 2002: Joshua Shank │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘This concentration of Brock Prize honorees within a single independent catalog highlights Graphite’s focus on curating works that resonate with conductor committees, academic music departments, and professional choruses nationwide. Gordon’s score, Finding Your Voice, is slated for official publication on the Graphite platform in the coming months, accompanied by customized performance notes and study guides.
Technical Architecture: True Concord & Jocelyn Hagen’s New Album Release
The release of Here I Am: Choral Music of Jocelyn Hagen by True Concord Voices & Orchestra provides a showcase for modern choral recording production. Engineered by John Polito and produced by GRAMMY®-winner Peter Rutenberg, the project was captured in the acoustically refined nave of Camelback Bible Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| RECORDING PRODUCTION METRICS |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Album Title | Here I Am: Choral Music of Jocelyn Hagen |
| Performing Ensemble | True Concord Voices & Orchestra |
| Producer | Peter Rutenberg (GRAMMY® Winner) |
| Recording Engineer | John Polito |
| Location | Camelback Bible Church, Paradise Valley |
| Primary Works Included | - "The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci" |
| | - "Here I Am" |
| Distributing Label | Reference Recordings |
+------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+A focal point of the recording is The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, a large-scale work for chorus and orchestra that incorporates dynamic scoring techniques. Hagen designed the piece alongside a proprietary digital sync technology that projects historical animation and da Vinci’s original sketches in synchronization with live orchestra performance. The album’s high-fidelity audio engineering preserves the interplay between complex vocal polyphony and orchestral textures, establishing a benchmark recording for ensembles studying or preparing performance cycles of Hagen’s major works.
Official Statements
Reflecting on the mission of CORO Publishing and its relationship with independent publishing ecosystems, the imprint’s editorial statement outlines its core principles:
"CORO Publishing actively seeks new and unpublished choral works of the highest level, as well as modern editions of earlier works. With new choral pieces, we focus mainly on octavos for unaccompanied chorus and chorus with piano or small instrumental ensembles. CORO Publishing also looks to the standard choral repertoire of the western canon and creates new editions in order to bring these compositions to a broader range of modern performers and audiences alike."
Commenting on the addition of Amy Gordon to the publisher’s roster and her subsequent Brock Prize victory, Graphite Publishing released an official organizational statement emphasizing its commitment to supporting contemporary voices:
"Weeks before the prize was announced, Graphite approved Amy’s submission to the Graphite roster. You’ll see her music up on the site in the next few months! We are so proud to support composers who are actively shifting the boundaries of what choral music can achieve in performance halls and educational spaces."
These statements highlight Graphite’s underlying business model: pairing digital access with composer-centric advocacy, anchored by its core operating principles of "Service, Craft, and Heart."
Future Outlook
The developments surrounding CORO Publishing, Amy Gordon, and Jocelyn Hagen reflect broader shifts across the choral publishing industry. As traditional brick-and-mortar print distribution model evolves, digital-first independent publishers are expanding their market share by offering flexible licensing, downloadable scores, and direct media integration.
FUTURE INITIATIVES & PIPELINE
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[AMY GORDON CATALOG] [CORO EXPANSION] [DIGITAL PLATFORMS]
Rolling out Gordon's Expanding historical Integrating multimedia
Brock Prize score masterwork editions sync scores & streaming
and vocal works on with string & chamber reference audio for
Graphite's platform. instrumentation. choir directors.- Catalog Onboarding: Over the coming months, Graphite will officially publish Amy Gordon’s complete catalog, including Finding Your Voice. This rollout will feature reference recordings, score previews, and pedagogical resources aimed at high school, collegiate, and community conductors.
- Expanding Historic Editions: CORO Publishing plans to expand its vocal music line with additional modern editions of Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical works. By offering flexible instrumentations (such as string quintet accompaniments for Classical octavos) and dual-voicing formats, the imprint aims to help smaller ensembles navigate repertoire constraints.
- Multimedia Integration: Building on the release of Jocelyn Hagen’s The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, publishers are increasingly exploring multimedia-ready choral scores. As live performances continue to integrate video projection, synchronized lighting, and spatial audio elements, publishers are adapting score layouts and performance licensing to support these technological formats.
Driven by award-winning composers, updated masterwork editions, and pristine studio recordings, Graphite Publishing and CORO Publishing continue to build a sustainable ecosystem for composers, conductors, and vocalists navigating the 21st-century choral landscape.
