Jing Jing Luo has been commissioned by the University of California, Berkeley to compose a large choral work titled “Give Me Away”. The work is set for a cappella mixed chorus and percussion and is scheduled to premiere in 2026.
This commission represents the first time the UC Berkeley Choral Program has commissioned a choral work from a composer. The project was initiated by Dr. Wei Cheng, the Director of the Choral Program, who contacted Ms. Luo directly after being drawn to her body of work. Dr. Cheng specifically requested that the new composition set the poem “Epitaph” by Merritt Malloy.
Malloy’s celebrated poem, “Epitaph” is known for its profound and accessible message about enduring love and legacy after death. The poem rejects the traditional idea of a grave, instead suggesting that what is “left” should be given away to others. The poem’s central theme is continuity, encapsulated in the lines: “Love doesn’t die, / People do. / So, when all that’s left of me / Is love, / Give me away”. The emotional depth and philosophical scope of this text make it a compelling subject for a major choral composition.
“Epitaph” by Merritt Malloy
“When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give to them
What you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.
Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live in your eyes
And not on your mind.
You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands
By letting
Bodies touch bodies
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.
Love doesn’t die,
People do.
So, when all that’s left of me
Is love,
Give me away”
The UC Berkeley Choral Program
The commission underscores the UC Berkeley Choral Program’s commitment to musical innovation and excellence. The program offers students rigorous training and performance experience spanning a wide repertoire. Under the direction of Dr. Wei Cheng, the program continues to expand its reach by supporting the creation of this new work for the choral canon. Ms. Luo looks forward to collaborating with Dr. Cheng and the UC Berkeley Choral Program, with further details regarding the premiere and performance schedule to be released as the 2026 premiere approaches.