National ACDA Conference is a Cold One!

The national ACDA conference in Minneapolis was a huge gathering of thousands of choral directors and singers.  I had many favorite moments, including the Inner Mongolian Children's Choir's performance, a rehearsal with the Middle School/Junior High Honor Choir on my VIVA LA MUSIC!, with which they opened their concert, and memorable dinners with old friends (Monello's and Esker Grove at the Museum of Art were especially good). A warm and wonderful conference despite temperatures below 20 degrees!

All Time Favorite Works with Snacks!

I had a great time with the Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic, as part of their Music Academy. In anticipation of our upcoming performance of Mahler 2 with the OPO on April 8th, we discussed the history of singers and instrumentalists in collaboration and listened to some of my all time favorite works -- all in two hours, with wine and snacks!

High Flight Premiere

I had a terrific morning rehearsal with the Village Voices Chorale, of Lady Lake, Florida, in preparation for their 20th Anniversary premiere of my HIGH FLIGHT on John Gillespie Magee's well-known poem. John Lowe, you have a spirited, eager and talented chorus!

Fairfax Virginia All-District Honor Choir

I spent an incredible few days with the singers of the high school SATB all-district chorus in Fairfax, Virginia. What bright, talented, eager, polite, engaged, expressive, and fun students!  I AM IN NEED OF MUSIC and I DREAM A WORLD were highlights of the concert for me. Thank you to their dedicated teachers for preparing them so thoroughly for this experience and for making a difference in their lives.

Phoenix Song Debut

PHOENIX SONG, for all of us affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy of June 12, 2016, on a text by Scott Lounsbury, premiered on January 21st in Orlando.  Andrew Minear conducted the Orange County High School All-County Chorus for its first performance. Though I was not able to attend the concert, I shared my thoughts about the poem and composition with the singers and lead them in rehearsal the day before.  They were thoughtful and reflective, and sang with real sensitivity and conviction.