I Sang with David Brunner!

Just home from Armstrong University's 17th annual SouthEastern Choral Arts Festival in Savannah, where I worked with high school students, along with Robert Harris' college singers, culminating in a concert last night. Thanks to all who organized and participated in this festival and thanks too, Bob, for the souvenir pencils that say "I sang with DAVID BRUNNER".  Momentous!  I've not been on a pencil before.  

Another great moment was bumping into (almost literally!) my former student Charlie Reuter in the Atlanta airport on the way home.  He is just beginning the national tour of Cinderella as conductor. Fantastic!

Crystal Children's Choirs

Just home from a fantastic few days at the University of California Santa Cruz with Karl Chang's Crystal Children's Choirs. What a remarkable group of young singers and extraordinary conductors, accompanists and staff.  I rehearsed and performed eight works, including my CANTATE DOMINO, I DREAM A WORLD, EVERYTHING IS MUSIC, and the men's version of YO LE CANTO TODO EL DIA.  The singers were respectful, willing, talented, smart, joyful and fun! While there I walked the quiet paths of the Henry Cowell Redwoods park and those of the Land of the Medicine Buddha temple and marveled at these magnificent and majestic trees.  The campus, in fact, is nestled amid redwoods with glimpses of the ocean. I wonder if the students realize how lucky they are...  A few days of perfect weather in San Francisco beforehand included visits to some of our favorite food places -- Delfina's for pizza and warm olives, Tartine bakery for ham and cheese croissants, Vic's Chaat House for all things Indian, and Four Barrel Coffee, Josey Baker bread, the ferry building, Berkeley, Golden Gate park and beach. A nice end to summer.

Vocal Arts Project!

modifyremoveorganizepost follow up

I'm just home from a week at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond for the Vocal Arts Project.  What a fantastic time!  I enjoyed every minute with this talented group of young singers, accompanist Sherri Matthews, the amazing Philip Kierstad, and good friend Becky Tyree and her staff of enthusiastic and capable college music students.  The chorus performed a challenging concert Friday that included my BRAINSTORM and I AM IN NEED OF MUSIC, and the combined women sang RADIANT SISTER OF THE DAY stunningly. Richmond's beautiful and peaceful Hollywood Cemetery and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts were added bonuses and the food scene was terrific.  Fantastic meals at Acacia, The Daily, Black Sheep and Comfort, and too many trips to Early Bird Biscuit Company and Proper Pie!

A Great Day at Vandercook College of Music

I spent the day Wednesday, July 6th, in the historic Mies van der Rohe buildings of the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago with graduate choral conducting students of Lisa Fredenburg -- a terrific group of talented, experienced teachers.  We explored the metrical challenges of my O AULA NOBILIS and I was privileged to hear and interact with the chorale on my I AM IN NEED OF MUSIC.  It was great to also see -- if only briefly -- my old friend and fine cellist David Eccles.

Orlando, June 12, 2016

Though away from home for the month of May, I returned in June for twelve uninterrupted days of work on two commissioned pieces.  The morning of June 12th changed everything in Orlando.  The Pulse tragedy brought the city to a stunned silence and utter sense of loss.  In addition to the acute awareness of violence against the LGBTQ community, there was also a real feeling of community, however, of everyone reaching beyond lables and separateness to a true feeling of everyone belonging to everyone else.  Something new and good.