A Memorable Week

Just home from the national ACDA convention in Dallas where I heard some stunning concerts (the University of Philippines Madrigal Singers a memorable standout), interesting new works, and inspiring interest sessions.  Seeing a large group of long-time friends at a big birthday bash was a great way to start the week and I was so happy that Ellen Dominguez, Lonnie Tanner, and Paul Short all drove from their Texas abodes to be part of it.  Thanks, guys!  And thanks, Scott! Andre de Quadros' session on Music of the Muslim World:  Building Ridges, Creating Understanding, and Paul Caldwell's The Reasons Why They Sing were especially eloquent and important.  The Sloan Creek Middle School A Cappella Treble Choir's performance of my GRACE, conducted by Christina Chapman, was beautiful.  Brava to all these young singers! Food highlights include a pre-convention birthday dinner at Tei Tei Robata Bar -- a wonderful sampling of Asian grilled dishes over wood coals -- and final night dinner of fantastic wine and seafood in the sleek, contemporary atmosphere of Ocean Prime.

In The Round

Last night choirs from Seminole State College, Valencia College, Brevard Community College, and the University of Central Florida presented a concert together in the round sanctuary of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Winter Park, Florida. Highlights of the evening were the massed choir works: Mendelssohn's Heilig, Palestrina's Sicut Cervus, Harris' Faire is the Heaven, and my THE MUSIC SINGS IN THEM. A great collaboration with friends and colleagues Dianna Campbell, Robert Lamb, and Alan Gerber.

This Is It!

Today was the premiere of THIS IS IT, a new piece for SATB choir with piano, on a James Broughton text that I've always loved. Lots of energy, changing meters, and strongly declamatory text. It's an affirming poem about the importance of you and me and she and he, and all about this moment, this now, this non-duality. "O it is This and it is Thus and It is Them and it is Us and it is Now and Here It is and Here We are so This is It". The North Dakota ACDA Middle School Mixed Honor Choir sang brilliantly. Their whole concert was a reflection of our great time together in rehearsal. Big applause to all of you!

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!