OPO's Big Beethoven 9

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra began its 25th anniversary season the weekend of September 30th with the Big Beethoven 9th symphony.  It was a quick learn for singers from our University and Women's Choruses, in class just four weeks.  Well not exactly...  Hurricane Irma shortened the rehearsal time to fewer rehearsals that we ever could have imagined.  Everyone embraced the challenge, however, and the result was big and bold.  Big thanks to master collaborative pianist Robin Jensen, my colleague Kelly Miller, and maestro Eric Jacobsen!

Many Men in Michigan

Just back from the "Men's Edition" of Adventures in Harmony in Holland, Michigan -- a great day with 200 high school tenors and basses, together with men from the Holland Chorale and Windmill barbershop chorus.  What a great room full of guys!  The evening concert was an all-male event with performers from both of these adult choruses and Hope College, culminating in the big massed choir.  Thanks Jay Bylsma, Patrick Coyle, Jennifer Wolfe and Shari Munger for a memorable day!

UCF Celebrates the Arts 2017

The UCF choirs presented That Music Always Round Me in the Disney Theatre of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando last Sunday, a program spanning cultures, times and places. These songs are those of our histories and heritage, joys and sorrows, journeys and destinations. Two days later the Choral Invitational brought five area high school choirs, all directed by UCF graduates, to the same stage, along with the first-ever UCF Alumni Choir -- eighty singers from as far back as 25 years ago.  Lots of memories, laughter, and great fun!

3 Weekends with the OPO

My UCF choirs just finished three consecutive weekends with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in concerts at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando --  Marvin Hamlisch concert with Maestro Larry Blank, Mahler's Symphony #2 with Music Director Maestro Eric Jacobsen, and the Final Frontier (Star Wars, Star Trek and all things space!) with Maestro Jack Everly and narrator Jonathan Frakes. Now that's variety in programming!

Premiere of La Koro Sutro

My colleagues Jeremy Hunt (tenor), Nora Lee Garcia (flute) and Steven Chicurel-Stein (piano) premiered my LA KORO SUTRO today on the faculty artist series at the University of Central Florida.  It is a setting of the Buddhist Heart Sutra in Esperanto.  A truly beautiful performance.