Music Within Reach

It is my opinion that we choral directors neglect to program enough Renaissance music for our choirs.  Perhaps we are afraid to tackle the beast of teaching imitative polyphony, or maybe we are intimidated by the presumed correct performance practices of such music, as evidenced in near-flawless recordings that are available today.  Whatever the reason, […]

I just returned from an incredible week at The Eastman School of Music, where a group of us studied, conducted, and sang Mendelssohn’s Elijah with William Weinert and Craig Hella Johnson.  Though I had sung the great work before, this institute afforded me the opportunity to examine it on a much deeper level.  In doing […]

I know, I know.  It is bad enough that stores start carrying back-to-school items in July or that a certain TV channel shows Christmas movies for over a week in the summer.  But here on ChoralNet, too?  Listen, we choral directors have to plan!  For some, rehearsing holiday music can begin as early as September, […]

A lot of the music that I feature here from week to week is on the newer side, as I enjoy highlighting pieces with which many conductors may be unfamiliar.  However, I find myself needing to remember—as I think many of us do from time to time—that I must go back and include pieces from […]

Like many of you, I often try to build concerts around some kind of theme or unifying element.  For conductors of the “average” choir, however, if can often be difficult to find enough high-quality yet attainable music that fits the theme to fill a program.  I try very hard to choose themes or concepts that […]