“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1 Today—Ash Wednesday—begins another season. If we are church musicians, Lent begins today….ready or not….even if we have not recovered from the Christmas Season. If we are not church musicians but in academia, we are probably […]
Choral Potpourri: Missing Elaine
“Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.” Washington Irving Ten years ago, I founded the community chamber choir I direct. Developing into a solid core of singers, we have experienced much together. We have been through all sorts […]
Choral Potpourri: Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” Harry S. Truman Four years ago, Jay’s* partner was accepted to medical school in a university town with a great music school and many fine community music organizations. Jay was very happy. He got a job as the […]
Choral Potpourri: Who is Doing Towels?
“The buck stops here!” Harry S Truman When we first dream of becoming a choral director, we think of the music. We work hard to become good musicians; we practice, learn repertoire and practice some more. And we imagine our life will be all great masterpieces and singing and working with great people […]
Choral Potpourri: Scorched Earth
“Let’s not be narrow, nasty and negative.” T.S Eliot I have a group of choral colleagues I regularly contact for their Choral Ethics opinions and help with the Choral Ethics Project. I admire these folks and think they are fine examples of what it means to be an Ethical Choral Professional because […]
Choral Potpourri: Promises to Keep
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost As we begin the New Year, we begin another Choral Ethics series. I do not know how many will be in this particular series because there seems to be an abundance of […]