18 Below Zero

I woke this morning to 18 below zero temperatures in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where I'm conducting the North Dakota ACDA Middle School Mixed Honor Choir. What an outrageous thermometer reading! But what a great group of young singers! Today's rehearsals were focused and engaged, full of energy and fun -- and nicely warm. Tomorrow we premiere THIS IS IT.

Earlier this week I was in Charleston, South Carolina to conduct the High School All-County Choir, a group of talented singers from around the area. Shrimp and grits, contemporary Vietnamese, good coffee, and my new favorite cupcakes from the Sugar Bakeshop were memorable eats.

In The Beginning

Thursday night was the last concert of the semester, this time with the University of Central Florida Chamber Singers, in the beautiful acoustic of St. James Cathedral. The program of contemporary pieces featured Aaron Copland's IN THE BEGINNING (I have always loved this challenging piece!), with soprano soloist and UCF alum Samantha Barnes Daniel. The program also included works by Philip Stopford, Daniel Kallman, Craig Hella Johnson, John Rutter, John Tebay, Lee Dengler and David Brunner. An amazing evening beautifully sung!

Louisiana All-State

What a great time with the Louisiana All-State High School Mixed Choir in Baton Rouge this weekend.  Those kids can really sing!  Their performance of WHEN THOU COMMANDEST ME TO SING was really stunning.  It was the second-ever performance (and the first I've conducted) of an 8-part piece I wrote last year for the Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble.  Not easy.  Works by Craig Hella Johnson, Ola Gjeilo, Mack Wilberg, Carol Barnett and my I AM IN NEED OF MUSIC were just as beautifully sung.  Bravo, everyone!

Big Beethoven

Just off of a week of Beethoven 9 rehearsals and performances with the University Orchestra and our singers.  In the past two decades I've prepared this work five times with our choirs, for performances with the Orlando Philharmonic, the Russian State Symphony, the Sydney Symphony, the International Cathedral Music Festival at Canterbury, and now with our own student players, faculty soloists and conductor Laszlo Marosi.  I was astounded at how diligent, dedicated and persistent the students were in their preparation, and the passion and professionalism they brought to the final performance.  We're all looking forward to a lower tessitura for a while!

Mississippi State Sings!

Just home from two days with middle school singers from around Mississippi at Mississippi State University.  Gary Packwood’s Choral Colloquium partnered emerging choral singers with members of his own college choir, a great idea which provided mentorship, inspiration, and a strong vocal model for the young singers.  It was great working with all of them and talented collaborative pianist Tara Warfield (a faculty member in the voice area).  Gary’s singers surprised me with a performance of CANTATE DOMINO on their Sunday night program and the mixed singers sang my FOR SPACIOUS SKIES with artistry.  All of the music was learned on site and their effort, focus, and good humor throughout the festival was fantastic.  There were also more bulldog statues around campus than I had ever seen...