On May 17, 2009 Foundation for Modern Music presented an evening of music at the annual Robert Avalon Competition for Young Composers. The 2009 finalists were Felix Peña, Chris Goddard and Matthew O'Neill. Along with the performances of their works, we featured music of Robert Avalon and two works by Houston composer Mary Carol Warwick (one a world premiere set to words of Jemma Leech, the other set to words of Lois Alba).

Special guests included sopranos Allison Greene and Nereida Garcia, pianist Paul Boyd and baritone Raul Orlando Edwards, who performed Latin American art songs in a tribute to Robert Avalon.