Christopher J. Hoh
Here's my story ...
Compelling compositions,
choral and otherwise ...
“Full of charm and shapely allure” (Opera News) and a “tapestry of immense grace” (Textura) are some of the praise for music of Christopher J. Hoh. He grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania and was influenced as a young singer and accompanist by great works under conductors in Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington. He has been in Alice Parker’s composer seminar as well as workshops with Jean Berger, Daniel Moe, Robert Page and Craig Jessop.
Notable commissions include:
- Stuttgart German-American Chorus — Ero Cras: The O Antiphons, Advent concert piece for SATB & organ.
- Alexandria (VA) Choral Society and Kinderchoir — Away We Go, sailing triptych for trebles, SATB & piano.
- GenOUT Youth Chorus (DC) — I Still Am Free, pride song for SAB & piano.
- Cathy Collinge Herrera, flautist — Suite for Flute & Guitar.
- Carnuntum Archaeological Park (Austria) — Ecumenical Meditation, for SATB, flute, clarinet, cello & piano.
- Meistersingers of Orange County (CA) — My Mistress’ Eyes, Shakespeare poem for SATB; Ein Kind Geborn in Bethlehem, Christmas motet for SSATBB.
- King’s Chapel, Boston — “Aromimcha Adonai,” Psalm 30 for solo tenor & SSAATTBB.
The Washington DC based professional ensemble The Thirteen premiered Chris’ “Musica Dei Donum” for twelve voices. Meanwhile, the first performances of his Mass on “When Jesus Wept” took place with King’s Chapel Choir in Boston and of the art song “A Little More Peace” with mezzo soprano Solmaaz Adeli on a bi-coastal tour. He has presented organ pieces at workshops of the American Guild of Organists in the Washington, DC area.
In the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, his work has enhanced concerts and worship services while across Europe and the Americas audiences have also enjoyed his compositions. Ensembles have included his work on eight recorded albums so far, including two works by the Grammy-winning group The Crossing. The whimsical “For the Children or the Grown-Ups?” was a hit when released with Vox Futura on the holiday album Dashing, Vol. 3 in 2022. Eleven of his works have been awarded a place in the Project:Encore catalog for new music of exceptional quality.
While best known as a choral composer, Chris pivoted during the pandemic to the pipe organ — the ultimate safe-distance instrument. The Lorenz Corporation has published several of his organ pieces, while his own publishing house, HohMade Music, has issued additional works for recital and worship. Concertino Corona for organ and chamber orchestra won plaudits at its commercial album release in 2023 and his first string quartet, Let Tyrants Shake, is scheduled for commercial release in 2024.
Chris’s formal education was in international affairs and he had three-plus decades as a career diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service. He is a member of the American Composers Forum, American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, and ASCAP as both publisher and composer.
