Phoenix Chorale announces Jennifer Lucy Cook as new Composer-in-Residence

Phoenix, AZ

Following a successful commissioning project in 2025 for a new short work ‘Vista Point’, which premiered in May 2025, Phoenix Chorale has appointed Jennifer Lucy Cook as their next Composer-in-Residence, to work with the Chorale over seasons 2025-26 and 2026-27 to develop and workshop the composer’s first long work for SATB chorus with an original libretto also to be written by the composer. 

The Chorale will also be recording Cook’s three arrangements of works by early American women composers, premiered in 2023 by the choir, as part of an upcoming album project of American music for planned release on Signum Records in Fall 2026. 

Phoenix Chorale’s previous Composer-in-Residence was Ola Gjeilo, who worked with the Chorale 2009-2010 during the tenure of previous Artistic Director Charles Bruffy, resulting in the still popular all-Gjeilo album ’Northern Lights’.

Current Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas says of this appointment ‘we weren’t on the hunt for another resident composer, but we’ve come to realize that Jen's work shares much in common with Ola’s, albeit in a different style, that feels as generous to choral singers of all ages, and which also has an immediate, positive and memorable impact on listeners.  Similarly to Ola, we’ve observed how Jen’s pieces infuse singers and audience with inherent optimism and confidence, and we feel the time is right for Phoenix Chorale to amplify this kind of gift with the choral world once again, and to give this unique composer the oxygen to explore it through a long work’.