Composer Mickie Wadsworth visits campus and discusses new choral piece commissioned for Mount Marty

Last week, the Mount Marty University music department had a fun, two-day visit from Mickie Wadsworth, conductor and composer, who rehearsed a special composition created specifically for Mount Marty with the chamber choir. 

Last school year, Tyler Thress, Ph.D., assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, commissioned a choral piece from Wadsworth for the chamber choir to sing to celebrate the return of the Bachelor of Arts in music major as well as the addition of the new Sacred Music Concentration. Thress has worked with Wadsworth for many years and said he was "confident that Mickie would write a really cool piece for us."

Wadsworth is based in Upstate New York. Wadsworth has had work featured at various conferences and festivals and has been commissioned by several ensembles, including Mount Marty University. Wadsworth received a bachelor's in music composition from the State University of New York at Fredonia and a Master of Music in composition and Master of Music in conducting (wind track) from Ohio University.

Thress said he knew when commissioning the piece from Wadsworth that he wanted to use the Caedmon's Hymn text. "According to legend, Caedmon was a shepherd who was frequently embarrassed that he couldn't participate in telling stories and singing songs around the campfire at night," Thress explained. "One night, he received a divine vision in his sleep, and he woke up singing this hymn of praise. In my mind, this is a perfect text to celebrate a brand-new program [the Sacred Music Concentration] for Mount Marty — a hymn of thanksgiving for God the creator. 

"This is a very interesting setting of the text — the original Old English slowly morphs into a modern translation, over drones and an optional organ part," Thress said. "I think that playing with language in this way makes the piece say something profound about the creative act. It is elusive, and fleeting, and totally ephemeral."

Wadsworth created a piece that was mysterious, bright and inviting. Wadsworth used several modes that are found in gregorian chant. "I was inspired by the idea of reverberation for this piece," Wadsworth said. "I often find myself at St. Mary's church in Glens Falls, New York. It is a beautiful church with amazing acoustics. When I was writing, I imagined a choir singing in there and how the music would ring out into the space. This musical echo inspired a lot of my musical decisions."

Wadsworth spent two days on campus rehearing the new piece with the chamber choir, as well as rehearsing a separate piece with the concert band. Wadsworth also hosted a guest lecture in the music appreciation class and participated in a Composer-In-Residence Talk in the Mount Marty South Dining Room, where Wadsworth discussed the reason and inspiration behind the composition created for Mount Marty. "I hope they gained a new perspective and understanding about music being created today,” said Wadsworth. “Oftentimes, students don't get an opportunity to collaborate or learn from a living composer. Getting to meet and work with a living composer is a one-of-a-kind opportunity." 

To listen to the Mount Marty choir sing this new choral piece, mark your calendars for Vespers on Dec. 6, 2025, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.