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Dirk Sobotka, producer of the Missouri State University Chorale album, “Radiance Untethered,” has been nominated for a 2025 Grammy® Award.

Sobotka was nominated for Producer of the Year, Classical, for his work on four commercially released albums, including “Radiance Untethered: the Choral Music of John Wykoff.” The other three albums were recorded with the Cincinnati Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

“We are thrilled for Dirk and this esteemed recognition and certainly honored to have the MSU Chorale in the company of such fine professional ensembles,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Clif and Gail Smart Professor of Music and director of the choral studies program..

“Radiance Untethered” marks the fourth MSU Chorale album recorded by Sobotka, LaBarr added. The Chorale will record with him again in March 2025 in Plano, Texas. This collaboration will be with the guest South African choir, The University of Pretoria Camerata.

“This is such a well-deserved honor for Dirk,” said Artist-in-Residence Parker Payne from MSU’s Department of Music. Payne played piano for the “Radiance Untethered” recording. [Read more…] about MSU Chorale producer nominated for Grammy® Award

The Missouri State University Chorale announces the release of their latest album, “Radiance Untethered: The Choral Music of John Wykoff.”

“This album not only showcases the unique music of John Wykoff but also the talent and enthusiasm that our students have for creating impactful musical experiences,” said Dr. Cameron LaBarr, Clif and Gail Smart professor in music and director of choral studies.

Album cover portraying artistic colorful landscape — Click album cover to purchase from GIA Publications.

The choir recorded the album over three days in the Goshen Music Center in Goshen, Indiana, during their May Tour in 2023. The center has produced several award-winning recordings and is one of the best places to record choral singing, LaBarr said.

A composer of instrumental and choral music, Wykoff studied with composers David Del Tredici, Bruce Saylor, and Jeffrey Nichols at the City University of New York. He also studied privately with Alice Parker, a major influence on his work.

Wykoff lives in Tennessee, where he is a professor of music theory and composition at Lee University.