as a composer, ferko began receiving critical acclaim and commissions in the 1980s, including the holtkamp award from the american guild of organists in 1990 for the song cycle "a practical program for monks". in 1990-91 he composed a ten-movement cycle for organ based upon the visions of hildegard von bingen. it would be the first of several large-scale projects inspired by hildegard, followed by "the hildegard motets" and "hildegard triptych". ferko premiered "stabat mater" in 1999, commissioned by his majestie's clerkes. he has also worked as composer-in-residence with the dale warland singers. the european premiere of his choral works took place in april 2003 with a performance of his "stabat mater" by the vu-kamerkoor, amsterdam, on the occasion of which ferko joined in rehearsals and held a public introduction to the piece. in 2004 the vu-kamerkoor commissioned "la remontée des cendres," an extended work for chorus, soloists and an ensemble of eight instruments, based on texts by tahar ben jelloun. the work received its premiere in the netherlands, performed by the vu-kamerkoor, conducted by boudewijn jansen in may 2005.