As a part of its efforts to encourage the next generation, the Center for Church Music offers two biennial awards open to students in any Lutheran college, university or seminary in the U. S. and Canada.

Purposed to cultivate interest in the music and the visual art of the Church, these competitions are carefully juried, not only selecting a winner but also offering individual critique and direction for these budding composers and artists.

Each award brings a $1,000 cash prize and public presentation and recognition of the student’s work.

William Wolfram Student Award in Liturgical Art

The Center for Church Music invites applications for the William Wolfram Student Award in Liturgical Art. Offered biennially beginning in 2022, the award’s name honors William Wolfram, Professor Emeritus of Art at Concordia University Nebraska, whose artwork graces church sanctuaries throughout the United States, for his distinguished service in the Church.

The William Wolfram Student Award in Liturgical Art recognizes student artists who evidence:

  • commitment to Christian faith and practice
  • excellence in artistic expression
  • commitment to the creation of art purposed for use within worship settings.

Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in Lutheran colleges, universities, and seminaries located within the United States and Canada are eligible to apply for consideration. Recent graduates may also apply.

A panel of judges from various geographic areas will consider the applications and select the award recipient.

The recipient will receive a certificate and monetary award of $1,000, to be presented at the annual Lectures in Church Music at Concordia University in Chicago, IL (travel assistance will be provided to the recipient).

The jury deliberation on the Wolfram Award is complete.

Download the official press release for the 2024 William Wolfram Student Award in Liturgical Art

Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition

The Center for Church Music, in partnership with the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, wishes to honor the legacy of Concordia University Chicago distinguished professor of music Dr. Richard Hillert.

His legacy includes not only his many liturgical pieces and musical works, but also his many gifts for teaching composition. The Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition will be awarded every other year to a current student at a Lutheran university or seminary. (Recent graduates may also apply.)

  • The submitted piece must be a church music composition (3-5 minutes in length) — suitable for a liturgical service.
  • Compositions to be considered by the panel of judges are invited from all geographic areas, and from all genres.

The cash prize of $1000 will be awarded at the ALCM biennial conference, which may also include a performance of the work as a part of its program. The Center will also donate $500 toward the winning composer’s travel to the conference.

Submission Requirements

  1. Two electronic copies of the submitted work—one unattributed (without the composer’s name) and one with the composer’s name are required.
  2. In addition to the required musical scores, composers may submit a recording of the work.
  3. Only one composition will be considered per composer.

Submissions for the 2024 award are closed and the winners have been selected. The Center for Church Music is pleased to announce Katrina Jurica "O Antiphons" (SA/SSA choir, congregation) and Grace Marshall "Holy Sonnet XIII" (John Donne text for soloist or unison choir, piano) have both been awarded the 2024 Hillert Award! Download the Official 2024 Press Release

Hillert Award Winners Recital

We invite you to experience the exceptional talent of the two winners of the prestigious Richard Hillert Award, an honor celebrating excellence in church music composition. These performances showcase the creativity and dedication that embody the legacy of Dr. Richard Hillert, Concordia University Chicago’s distinguished professor of music. Enjoy these inspiring pieces as they bring new life to the rich tradition of sacred music.

Grace Marshall's rendition of “Holy Sonnet XIII”

Performed in the Chapel of the Resurrection, Concordia University Chicago during its annual Lectures in Church Music. Monday, October 21, 2024.

Vocalist: Katrina Jurica

Piano: Peter Stigdon

Katrina Jurica's rendition of “The O Antiphons”

Performed in the Chapel of the Resurrection, Concordia University Chicago during its annual Lectures in Church Music, Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Vocals: Children’s Choir of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School, Chicago IL.

Director: Katrina Jurica