Millikin and Brad Holmes – A Second Conference Triumph

Brad Holmes and his Millikin University Choir did it again – another stunning performance involving incredible musicianship, humor, passion, creativity, and tonal variety.

 

This is what you hope to find at a national conference – a stellar choir performing at their very best.

 

They took the stage quickly and sang an energetic performance of "Singet dem Herrn" (Distler).  Superb rhythm and meter, and a great contrast in timbre between soloists and choir.  It was probably the most exciting Distler I've ever heard.

 

A little later in the program Milliken graced us with two stunning works:

Levente's "Te Lucis" and Esenvalds "A drop in the ocean."  Superb, moving, contrasting.  In short, both works were incredible – they were of high difficulty and pulled off with ease (or so it seemed).

 

Some comedic relief followed with "Shaker Dance" arranged by Brad Holmes – you had to be there to see it!  I hope there is a YouTube video of this performance somewhere.

 

Millikin ended with Seinn O, arranged by J. David Moore.  A rousing, passionate setting of "mouth music" in traditional Scottish Gaelic.

 

When the ACDA MP3's come out, you need to purchase all of the Millikin performances.

 

I was similarly impressed with Millikin in 2007 – so impressed that I did an interview with Brad about the 2007 performance.  There is much to learn from Brad Holmes – don't ever miss a chance to hear his choir perform.