Christopher J. Hoh
Here's my story ...
Compelling compositions, choral and otherwise ...
A “tapestry of immense grace” (Textura) and “full of charm and shapely allure” (Opera News) 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:
- Constellation Mens Ensemble (Chicago) — Lone & Lively, two Sandburg settings for TTBB.
- 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 USA, 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 over a dozen recorded albums so far, including two works by the Grammy-winning group The Crossing. Fourteen of his works have been awarded a place in the Project:Encore catalog for new music of exceptional quality. Concert and radio audiences have loved his carol and holiday settings for instruments and/or voices. His string quartet Let Tyrants Shake won notice for creative reworking of a Revolutionary War tune in 2024. Two Celestial Voices albums have presented several sacred works in Latin in stunning performances by the Kühn Choir of Prague.
During the pandemic, Chris pivoted to the pipe organ — the ultimate safe-distance instrument. The Lorenz Corporation has now published several of his organ pieces, and England's Beauty in Sound awarded his setting of Amazing Grace a place in their collection. Concert artists Jonathan Dimmock and Carson Cooman have recorded his organ works. Concertino Corona for organ and chamber orchestra won plaudits at its album release in 2023.
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.
