Conductor's Craft

The Hal Leonard workshop at Carthage College last week brought together many choral conductor-teachers from a wide geographic region for nearly three full days of workshops and reading sessions.  Carthage College is perched on the shore of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin and the summer breezes and 70 degree temperatures were dazzlingly beautiful.

My sessions focused on our emotional geography -- the patterns of closeness and distance in human interactions that shape the emotions we experience about relationships to ourselves, each other, and the world around us -- and a guided reading session with an eye and ear to teaching potential and age-appropriate vocal and musical challenge.  Thanks to all at Hal Leonard for assembling such a dynamic learning experience and for the invitation to be part of it as featured composer.

While in the area I was able to visit with family in the Chicago suburbs to help celebrate my niece's 16th birthday.  Squash and bacon dumplings and Thai shrimp udon noodle bowl at Urban Belly, a Vietnamese chicken sausage with pickled green papaya, curry mayo, crispy shallots, Thai basil & lime at Franks and Dawgs, and Intelligentia's expert cappuccinos topped the food list.