BC3 and JPS

What a wonderful time with the Berks Classical Children's Chorus in Reading, Pennsylvania Monday night!  I traveled north to work with them in rehearsal for their local premiere of SPIRITUAL MUSICK, which will take place May 1.  They are delightful singers who are inspired by their directors Kristin Diehl and Jeffrey Brunner (my long lost cousin?).  An added surprise was spending the night in the Wyndham Abraham Lincoln hotel, whose claim to fame is that John Philip Sousa died there after a rehearsal of Stars and Stripes Forever with the Ringgold band the day before!  No ghosts that night...

Spiritual Musick

The Children's Honor Choir at the national ACDA convention in Chicago sang a marvelous performance of SPIRITUAL MUSICK under the direction of Henry Leck on Saturday afternoon.  My time with them on Friday was delightful and I was impressed by their engagement, enthusiasm, hard work, and musicianship.  Though I'm a little late posting my impressions of their performance, the memory of their singing is strong.

216 New Friends

I had a great time with the 216 honor choir singers of District 11 at T. D. Woodson School in Fairfax, Virginia last weekend.  They were fantastic!  Congrats to all involved in this event -- dedicated teachers, host director Michael Ehrlich, great accompanist Melvin Goodwyn.  Bravo everybody!

Lake Effect Snow!

Just home from two great days at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, where I presented four sessions for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.  Thanks to Erich Wangeman for the kind invitation and warm hospitality, Adam Boyce and his fantastic singers from Williamston High School for collaborating on "When Words Sing:  The Importance of Language and Ideas", and Todd Schreiber for great accompanying of the "Commodity, Integrity, Delight" repertoire session.  It was wonderful to see many old friends, some from college days.

Winter Changes

The Fairfield County Children's Choir chose Winter Changes as the title of its concert on Sunday in Bridgeport, Connecticut, an afternoon full of music performed by its five choirs, under founding director Jon Noyes and his staff.  The choirs joyfully sang a huge variety of pieces, including seven of mine, from YO LE CANTO to the first performance of SPIRITUAL MUSICK, the Chorus America commission for thirteen young choirs from across the U.S., Canada and Scotland.  I had the opportunity to lead A SONG TO END ALL WAR to open the concert and WINTER CHANGES with all three hundred children near the end.  I rarely have the opportunity to hear so many pieces on one concert and thank Jon and everyone at the FCCC for this tribute and a memorable afternoon in Connecticut!