INSTRUCTIONS
For 2027 Hymns Vocal Performance Applicants
Call for Submissions:
HYMNS (Vocal Performance)
THE INVITATION. For our sixth year: Hymns. The Ariel Bybee Endowment 2027 Prize explores LDS hymns in the context of a vocalist’s recital program. Rather than commissioning an artist to create new work inspired by hymns or hymn arrangements, we are inviting a vocal soloist to design–and the winning soloist will perform–a concert recital program for soloist and piano accompanist that draws on recital repertoire plus LDS hymns.
This pairing follows in the spirit of Ariel Bybee's own recital, “Songs My Mother Taught Me” (a nod to the Dvořák song of the same name), which presented classical works thematically alongside her favorite hymns. Ariel Bybee’s well-known recital is the inspiration for this year's category, though applicants are not required to follow its particular structure. What is required is a clear narrative or thematic throughline: The proposed recital program should feel like an artfully considered whole rather than an assortment of otherwise unrelated works.
We are pleased to announce that the winning recital will be performed at the Salt Lake Art Museum, in connection with the 2027 Salt Lake Temple Open House.
Recital duration: approximately 45 minutes.
PERFORMANCE PROPOSAL. Repertoire is up to the applicant. LDS hymns must be part of the program. These may include selections from any official Church-published collection, including previous songbooks and hymnbooks, but the Endowment does not require newly-composed or arranged hymns. A mixture of hymns and other sacred repertoire is welcome with art song, opera, or other recital literature. What matters most is a clear artistic point of view and a coherent narrative or thematic throughline.
PRIZE. The winning vocalist will receive a $5,000 prize–$1,000 of that amount will be awarded upon the announcement of the prize, and the remainder at the performance of the recital, date to be determined, in 2027. A $1,000 fee to the accompanist will be provided at the premiere. An archival video of the premiere performance will be recorded and provided to the winning vocalist.
Applications for this prize call will open November 8th, 2026 and close January 16th, 2027.
DEVELOPMENT
of the selected work
REHEARSAL AND PRODUCTION. The winning vocalist will communicate with the Center regarding rehearsal, printed program details, and additional needs. The Center will act as the recital producer.
PREMIERE. The winning recital will be performed at the Salt Lake Art Museum, in connection with the 2027 Salt Lake Temple Open House, on a date to be mutually determined by the Center, the museum, the vocal artist and accompanist.
APPLICATION
Summary & procedures
DEADLINES. People may submit proposals beginning November 8, 2026 through January 16, 2027. Please read ALL the guidelines thoroughly.
ELIGIBILITY. We reiterate that we encourage applicants from a variety of aesthetics and diverse backgrounds of identity to apply. There are no restrictions nor preferences regarding the person's nationality, age, race, or gender. Regarding religious affiliation, the sole limitation is that the artist self-identify as part of the Latter-day Saint community, whether through formal membership or culture or affinity. The prize is not eligible to: members of the jury; the Endowment's and the Center's boards and committees; nor winners of Center grants and residencies in the previous three years.
BLIND SUBMISSIONS. For purposes of the submission platform, the applicant's name and contact information are required, but no identifying information should appear on the hymn recording or the recital proposal itself. Before adjudication, the moderator will replace applicants' names with a numerical system to retain anonymity.
WARNING: NO REVISIONS. Please finalize all materials before submitting the application. Submissions are final and may not be altered once the application is complete and submitted. Failure to comply with the instructions above will result in disqualification of the application.
JURY. The Ariel Bybee Endowment at the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts — 2027 Prize will be adjudicated between January 16 and March 1, 2027. The announcement of the winner will be no later than March 13, 2027. The 2027 Prize jury will be announced at a later date.
QUESTIONS? For questions about the call for submission, eligibility, or requests for assistance and clarification, email us: bybee@centerforlatterdaysaintarts.org.
APPLICATION CONTENTS:
1. A complete LIST OF MUSIC to be performed on the program
2. A NARRATIVE statement describing the goals, themes, and artistic approach to the recital program (200 words or less)
3. A STATEMENT about your artistic approach to recital programming and to hymn interpretation (200 words or less)
4. A live, audio-only RECORDING of the applicant performing an unaccompanied (a cappella) hymn (3-5 minutes duration. This need not be a studio or professional recording.)
5. A list of previous public PERFORMANCES. Having performed a prior entire voice recital is a plus, but not required.
Application FAQs
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Repertoire of the proposed concert is up to the applicant. LDS hymns must be part of the program, but the program is not to be exclusively hymns. It should be a mixture of art songs, opera, or other recital literature as well as hymns and other sacred repertoire. What matters most is a coherent and original narrative or thematic throughline.
The hymn component of the proposal may include any official Church-published collection, including previous songbooks and hymnbooks, but the Endowment does not require newly-composed or arranged hymns.
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Both classical and contemporary vocal soloists are encouraged to apply. The winning vocalist does not need to perform in any specific style but must be able to be heard without microphone amplification. The recital must be 45-minutes in length.
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No. This call is for an individual vocal soloist.
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Of course. Global submissions are welcome.
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This call is for a vocal recital inspired by hymns, not new compositions of hymns.
Original songs can be included in your program proposal as a singer, but new hymns are not the goal or focus of this submission.
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Yes. The recital is for vocal soloist and piano accompanist. The accompanist is to receive a $1,000 honorarium, payable at the concert.
Endowment Mission
The Ariel Bybee Endowment at the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts was established in 2021 to honor the legacy of vocal soloist Ariel Bybee and to foster the creation of new works by Latter-day Saint artists in disciplines that correspond to her varied career in music and related arts. Each year, the Endowment announces a call for submissions open to artists and scholars in one of nine, rotating categories: opera, dance, scholarship, art songs, music education, hymns, visual arts, collaborative arts, and choral music. We encourage LDS people from a variety of aesthetics, geographic locations, and diverse backgrounds of identity to apply.
