102 in the Shade

It was a hot few days in San Antonio, where the temperature climbed above 100 and the TCDA Directors' Chorus performed BROTHERS OF THE SINGING VOID at the closing concert of the convention.  This was one of those really memorable performances -- only the second time it has been performed -- both conducted by my good friend Jonathan Reed.  The men brought a depth of maturity to both the sound and musical nuance, a warm, rich and pliable sound, molded by Jon (who I think will come to "own" this piece) and intelligent and sensitive collaborative piano accompaniment by Alan Raines.  It was great to reconnect with Alan, see great friends and colleagues, hear Craig Hella Johnson's commissioned work WE ARE -- strikingly beautiful text and music -- and be, again in this unique and inviting city.  Unexpected surprises were a wonderful dinner party in the "upstairs room" at the former-convent-turned-new-home-of-Liberty Bar restaurant, and a chance meeting with an undergrad dorm-mate I hadn't seen in thirty-some years.  Neither of us have aged!

Summer in the Bluegrass State

Just back home after ten days away, part of which was presenting sessions for Kentucky ACDA at their summer conference in Louisville.  What a great group of people!  It was wonderful seeing old friends (and students) and being part of a fantastic conference.  Congrats to President Brent Merritt for his vision and leadership, Lori Hetzel on her deserved recognition as the Robert K. Baar Award recipient, and excellent accompanist Glenna Metcalfe.

Food highlight was good wood fired pizza at the garage bar, which had just opened a few days earlier, housed in an old filling station on Market Street.  Funky atmosphere and nice food.  Enjoyed several days in Asheville, NC pre-ACDA and Chicago post, on an extended road trip and endured the southern temperatures as far north as Chicago where the car was registering 99.

Ear Worm...

I've had a fast and furious encounter with Lewis Carroll's famous poem JABBERWOCKY and have bits of stuck music -- fragments of rhythm, a few chord changes -- small bits all stuck and looping endlessly.  I sing it in my sleep.  I feel it in my body when walking.  I try to think of something else.  It's annoying.

I've encountered this many times, sometimes while rehearsing a piece intensively in an honor choir situation, but most often during the process of composing.  Maybe I'm working it out on a subconscious level.  Maybe it's just hopelessly stuck.  I'm singing it now...

S.A.C.C., R.Y.C., and O.R.S.Y.C.

Just home from Spokane where I spent time with three young choirs (the Spokane Area Children's Chorus, Ranier Youth Chorus and Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir) from Washington and Oregon at the Spokane Area Children Chorus' Choral Festival and conducted the first performance of SWEET ARE THE LIPS OF ALL THAT SING, written in celebration of their 25th anniversary, in the Bing (yes, Crosby) theatre.   What an extraordinary group of singers -- smart, focused and joyful!  Their work with festival conductor Judith Herrington was inspiring and she was a teaching model for all of us.  The performance of the new work was feelingful and heartfelt and brought a real resonance to the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Other highlights of the weekend were seeing old friends, sipping Yaah bittersweet hot chocolate at the Chocolate Apothecary, enjoying a northwest salmon dinner alfresco on the outside patio of Anthony's in full view of the spectacular falls of the Spokane river, and experiencing their tremendous power walking across the supsension bridges just feet above the water -- a tremendous accumulation and release of energy in a surge of sound and spray.  I hear it still.

I left my heart...

The Contra Costa Children's Chorus celebrated Iris Lamanna's retirement after 27 years as Founder and Artistic Director at a gala concert Sunday in Walnut Creek, California.  As part of the celebration they sang the premiere performance of AND EVER IS NOW, the commission to honor Iris' long tenure with the chorus.  In addition, the younger choristers performed the complete EARTHSONGS.  I had the opportunity to interact with the singers in a workshop setting on Saturday and be in the audience for the concert, a beautiful and moving performance.  Iris' total commitment to the singers, their love of singing, and the audience's gratitude and pride were continually evident throughout the evening. 

Other highlights of the weekend included the B.C.I.E.A. (Best Croissant I Ever Ate) and the perfect loaf of country sourdough bread at Tartine, numerous cappuccinos at Fourbarrel, my new favorite coffeehouse, "Asian Confusion" noodles at Chef Jon Lee's, warm olives and pizza at Delfina, Indian "street food" at VIK'S Chaat corner, cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery and orange/fennel sausage from Boccalone Salumeria ("tasty salted pig parts"!) at the Ferry Building (did we do anything but eat?), a walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, a quick Sunday morning trip to Sonoma and Napa, temperatures in the upper 50's and the gorgeous scenery of the San Francisco bay area.