The mission statement of the DWS demonstrates its commitment to the best repertoire available: The mission of the Dale Warland Singers is to enrich, inspire and entertain its audiences through the superb, world-class performances of important a cappella choral music, while fostering awareness, understanding and appreciation of recent choral music repertoire. The repertoire of the DWS consisted of works ranging from the great choral masterworks to American folk songs to vocal jazz. However, the choir's specialization was twentieth century music. Commissioning and premiering new works was an important part of the DWS's mission. Warland commissioned 270 works from 150 composers, which include Libby Larsen, Dominick Argento, Aaron Jay Kernis, George Shearing, Dave Brubeck, Peter Schickele, Alice Parker, Kirke Mechem, Mary Ellen Childs, Augusta Read Thomas, Janika Vandervelde, Bernard Rands, Emma Lou Diemer, Brent Michael Davids, Bill Banfield, and Eric Whitacre. Stephen Paulus, Frank Ferko and Carol Barnett have been composers-in-residence with the ensemble. Significant works commissioned by the DWS include Water Night by Eric Whitacre, A Procession Winding Around Me by Jeffery Van, and The Road Home by Stephen Paulus. In their final season alone, the DWS premiered sixteen new works by fourteen composers. In 1987, the DWS created a reading and commissioning program, called Choral Ventures, for emerging composers. This program resulted in the commissioning of over fifty works by emerging composers. In honor of the DWS and their legacy to new music, the American Composers Forum established the "Dale Warland Singers Fund for New Choral Music" in 2004, dedicated to commissioning, performing and recording new choral works. Significant performances 1987: American Choral Directors Association National Conference, San Antonio 1987: Colorado Music Festival 1990: World Symposium on Choral Music (Sweden, Estonia and Finland) 2002: World Symposium on Choral Music (Minneapolis) 1982, 1990, 1999, 2003: Chorus America Conferences 2002: Ravinia Festival Awards Warland 1988: St. Olaf College Distinguished Alumnus Award 1989: Outstanding Alumnus Award from University of Southern California Thornton School of Music 1995: Michael Korn Founder's Award 2001: McKnight Distinguished Artist Award 2001: Chorus America's Louis Botto Award For Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal 2003: ASACP's Victor Herbert Award 2003: Sally Irvine Ordway Award 2004: Distinguished Master Artist Award, University of South Florida 2005: American Composers Forum Champion of New Music Award 2006: Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia's Individual Leadership in Choral Music Award 2007: American Choral Director's Association's Robert Shaw Choral Awards Dale Warland Singers 1992: Margaret Hillis