“The opposite of a fact is falsehood, but the opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.” Niles Bohr Leo*contacted me a while ago wanting to share his story. It isn’t the kind of story you think it will be, he was the one who left. Leo directed a choral program […]
The Choral Life
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Truth to Tell
“Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction.” Lord Byron Since writing about Choral Ethics here on ChoralNet, I have received many emails. Folks who contact me either want to thank me or to tell me their stories. And their stories are amazing. Some seem outlandish at the outset, but then I follow up by asking […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: It’s All Right!
“Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.” Robert Louis Stevenson I hate whiners. When my boys were young, they knew I would not “hear” them if they complained in a whiny voice. They could complain about life not being fair or that someone got a bigger […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Takeaways, then Getaways
For most of us, the performing season or year has ended or will end, soon. With a combination of celebration and relief, we look forward to the change that summer represents. But before getaways, let’s look at the takeaways; let’s tidy up the desk of our minds as we wrap up and make space for […]
The Conductor as Yogi: First Things, First
I am in that slice of time between the end of classes and finals week with its culminating experiences, including honors ceremonies and commencement. This “slice” also includes an out-of-state wedding, my first time on a plane since 2019. My emails are all “now” items, my tasks are many, and as I begin to think […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Taking Stock and Making Resolutions
“It is always during a passing state of mind that we make lasting resolutions.” Marcel Proust Last week, I blogged about trying to remain calm as the end of the semester/choir year approached. Several of you contacted me about how timely this blog was, and I THANK YOU for your kind comments! This week, in […]