Westminster Choir College of Rider University’s new, fully online Master of Choral Pedagogy program provides working musicians from across the country and abroad access to advanced instruction in choral pedagogy. The 31-credit program emphasizes pedagogical methodologies aimed to improve the vocal health of choral singers, the efficiency of rehearsals and the potential of performances.

Without leaving home, students will train with world-class faculty from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, including Grammy-nominated conductor Dr. James Jordan.

“There is no other degree program that educates the conductor as both artist and master teacher,” Jordan says. “Voice science and music learning theory are married into a relevant degree program that informs gesture and artistry through pedagogical expertise.”

Graduates of the program will be able to work with a variety of vocal ensembles, regardless of size or skill-level, as creative, thoughtful and technical musicians. Those already in the field can strengthen their credentials with the most current advances in voice science, music psychology and conducting pedagogy. The degree is also a strong supplement to a traditional conducting or music education degree.

Applications are now open. To learn more about the program or to apply, visit rider.edu/wcc-mcp.

Consortio, the revolutionary marketplace that connects composers’ consortium ideas and ensembles who make them a reality, regularly offers exciting new programming options. This spotlight is on Carol Barnett’s  “Cliff Notes from Your Mother,” a project based on a poem by Marg Walker.

Click here to view Cliff Notes from Your Mother on the Consortio marketplace.

Poet Marg Walker wrote “Cliff Notes from Your Mother as You Leave Home” five years ago in empathy with friends and their children who were going off to college – a modern take on Polonius’s advice to his son Laertes (“to thine own self be true”) in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. For this consortium, Carol is setting Marg’s moving words for SATB and piano. It will be at a medium difficulty and a length of 3-4 minutes.

This project is a sure thing! It’s already funded, but you can still join before the release date on August 15th for exclusive interactions with Carol and premiere rights with the other project members to perform the work during the premiere window.

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There are other upcoming projects that need members in order to succeed. Given that almost all consortium projects on Consortio cost the same or slightly more than the purchase of a set of octavos, consider bringing a new music experience to your ensemble this next season. Highlights include:

• Lost and Found, by Andrea Ramsey for SATB and piano ($160/ensemble, September 6 deadline)
• Heavenly Splendor, by Jonathan D. Campbell for SATB, piano, and percussion ($150/ensemble, September 1 deadline)
• Projects through Graphite Publishing, the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium, and more

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Consortio is making commissioning easier, more accessible, and more impactful for all involved. Most of the consortium projects on Consortio cost only a fraction more than the purchase of a set of octavos, so a new music experience is available to nearly everyone. Please visit consortio.io for more information on our composers, their projects, and the ensembles that make them a reality.

Are you an experienced vocalist looking for challenging repertoire and a wonderful choral community? We’d love for you to join us! San Francisco Bay Area’s vibrant Sacred and Profane, A Chamber Chorus has openings for voices in all sections (SATB) for our 2021–22 season. Fall rehearsals begin September 13, 2021.

Auditions are scheduled by appointment. Visit www.sacredprofane.org/audition to learn more about our upcoming season and audition process. If you’ve got a healthy voice and a great attitude, contact us to schedule an audition. Send us an email with a brief description of your interest, experience, and your voice part to: .

About Sacred and Profane, A Chamber Chorus:
Founded in 1977, Sacred & Profane is a chamber chorus that performs a wide variety of a cappella choral music. Concert repertoire includes sacred and secular works from the middle ages to the contemporary period, drawing from classical, ethnic & folk traditions. We aim to provide an inspiring & educational experience for audiences & chorus members through innovative programming, intensive preparation & high quality performances.

S&P is composed of 24 to 32 singers (SATB), each bringing superior musicianship, vocal skill, and dedication to the ensemble, achieving professional-level performances. As a result, the ensemble is capable of superior execution of challenging repertoire from across the musical canon, including contemporary and highly demanding works. Our talented singers represent many facets of our diverse Bay Area communities; from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and demographics. S&P embraces our vibrant membership and strives to explore and celebrate this through our repertoire. www.sacredprofane.org

Please note: The health and safety of our members, staff, and community are our top priority. All rehearsals and concerts will follow safety protocol such as shortened exposure time, air filtration, and will require masks and social distancing for all parties. We continue to closely monitor local and state directives, public health guidelines, and work to keep the choral experience thriving safely.

For more information about the choir and repertoire, participation requirements, the audition process, or to schedule and audition, contact us:

44th Season: Together in Time and Space
Fall 2021 | Musical Mystical: Angels Among Us
Featuring music about angels and celestial beings by Tina Andersson, Karin Rehnqvist, Trevor Weston, Raffaella Aleotti, Stern Källman, and more with guest instrumentalists (oboe, Haitian percusssion)

Winter 2022 | Rhythm of Time: Music For Choir and Piano
Exploring our relationship to the passage of time through music for choir and piano by Benjamin Britten, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Rosephanye Powell, Franz Schubert, Conrad Susa, Dale Trumbore, and more.

Spring 2022 | Local Vocal: Celebrating Our Musical Bay Area
Spotlighting music written by local composers and about our local history and geography. Works by Kirke Meecham, Gabriela Lena Frank, David Conte, Mark Winges, Edna Yeh, Byron Au Yong, and others.