Gerald Custer, adjunct faculty in music theory and composition in the Wayne State Department of Music, recently had five new choral octavos released -- four sacred pieces in print from GIA Publications, Inc. and an arrangement of Stephen Foster's "Hard Times, Come Again No More," by Gentry Publications.

His "Christmas Prayer" for SATB voices, soloists and harp premiered at the annual Bucknell University candlelight Christmas service and was recorded for later national broadcast by PBS.

In November, Custer joined Morton Lauridsen for a week as composers in residence at Montclair State University, where they judged the finalists in the Choral Composition Competition at the university's John J. Cali School of Music. While at Montclair, Custer's setting of "I Am in Need of Music" received its world premiere by the Montclair University Singers.

Additionally, Custer's book From Words to Music: A User's Guide to Text for Choral Musicians has been accepted by GIA Publications and will be in print this March, joining his previous book The Composer's Craft, which was released this past year.

Caroll Gonzo of The Choral Journal said Custer has "undeniable expertise as an experienced and successful choral conductor, pedagogue and composer."

Custer has been a member of the Department of Music faculty for six years.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students.