Helena Debuts

Helena, the new professional women's vocal ensemble in Orlando, had its debut at the Accidental Music Festival, at the Timucua Arts Foundation "White House" today. Brava to its founding members Sarah Purser, Samantha Barnes Daniel, Sara Barnes, Kristin Eley, Anna Eschbach and Lizzy Hunter! Beautiful singing of a program that included music by Gwyneth Walker, Abbie Betinis and my ALL IS WAS DOING WAS BREATHING. Most of these women were choral students of mine at the University of Central Florida, as was the cello soloist, RC Sanchez.  An amazing debut by this new group.  Watch out for them!

A Day in the Smokies

Just home from the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where I was priviledged to adjudicate with Angie Batey from the University of Tennessee and Kirby Shaw, a legend whom I had never met. A short, but fun, time and a big ol' breakfast at Crockett's 1875 restuarant.  Excellent grits and biscuit and a griddle cake larger than it ever should be.

2.5 Days. 68 Choirs.

I'm just home late last night from Kansas City where I heard, adjudicated, and worked with sixty eight choirs and their directors from Missouri and neighboring states.  Lisa Fredenburg, Sandra Howard and Robert Lawrence were inspiring colleagues for the weekend. Some beautiful singing in the midwest!

UCF Celebrates the Arts a Huge Success

What a great week at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando!  On Sunday the UCF choirs presented "I Dream A World" , a concert honoring cultures and musical traditions from around the world, ending in a tribute to the American Spiritual and Gospel tradition with guest soloist Sisaundra Lewis.  A packed house and Sisaundra took us all to church!

Tuesday was the UCF Choral Invitational with six middle and high school choirs from the area with guest clinician Derrick Fox from Ithaca College.  The culminating concert featured each of the choirs with their directors, and combined in a performance of my LIVING SONG.

Friday the Chamber Singers collaborated with the University Orchestra, actors from the Prague and Orlando Shakespeare theatres, guest composer Patrick Doyle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Thor, the Kenneth Brannaugh Shakespeare films) and conductor James Shearman in an evening of "Patrick Doyle's Shakespeare". What a week!

More than Just the Choo Choo

It was a great southern division ACDA conference in Chattanooga last week! I loved the performance of my RADIANT SISTER OF THE DAWN by Scott Martin's Creekview Cantori and the Middle School Honor Choir's excellent performance of CANTATE DOMINO, conducted by Judy Bowers. Thank you both! It was good to connect with old friends and enjoy the southern hospitality of Tupelo Honey Cafe, CampHouse coffee, Public House and the Maple Street Biscuit Company (twice!).