“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.” William Shakespeare I like smart people. I enjoy their observations and insights. I love being around them and learning something new. I am convinced that when I work with smart people, I am (and feel) smarter. Do you […]
Choral Culture
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Being Present in the “Now”
“No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.” Samuel Johnson Today we’ve made it through our second Pandemic September—-YIPPEE! Things are both better and worse than they were last September, depending on how you look at it. But we’ve made it through, which is […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: A Time For All Things
“I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant and autumn garner to the end of time.” Robert Browning I was finally able to see my dear friend, Denise, * in person a few weeks ago. I’ve written about her before but can’t remember what I’ve used as her […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Beginning . . . Again
“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” Steve Jobs What happens when we prepare to start a new job? We do the research, find ways to build trust […]
Choral Potpourri.Choral Ethics: Putting In the Work
“Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn.” Walter Scott Denise* contacted me in August with a strange story, but one I’ve heard before. We’ve gone back and forth, but now I’d like to ask your opinion. Her dilemma/question is this—should she re-interview/re-audition for a […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Making The Best of It
“My sorrow, when she’s here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane.” Robert Frost Those of you teaching in-person with COVID-19 restrictions are encountering dilemmas you never expected to have. And solutions are not […]