Latest Blog Posts
Health, Happiness and Balance For Choral Directors
We live in a social media visibility culture. We compare the best of others to the worst of ourselves. That includes our choirs… In the episode, I talk about this problem and some helpful philosophies related to being HAPPY with your OWN progress. I also discuss, my own health journey since my childhood. It gets […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: For My Father
“Just as the child is father to the man, so the impressions of one’s youth remain the most vivid in manhood.” Gustav Stresemann My Dad is 91 years old and sharp as a tack. He remembers much of his past, with the occasional “where did I put my glasses?” moments like many of us who […]
From Fancie to Fancies
This week on Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio on ChoralNet you will hear four fantastic ensembles presenting music from the Renaissance to our present time. On the table are folk songs and love songs, plus melodies about flowing tears and crows and clusters. First you will enjoy selections from one of the first CDs […]
Concert Programs as Storytelling
The June/July issue of Choral Journal is now available online! The Rehearsal Break column features an article written by Emily Ellsworth titled “Concert Programs as Storytelling.” Below is an excerpt of the article, and you can read it in its entirety in the June/July 2019 issue! Go to acda.org/choraljournal and click “Search Archives.” Choose June/July 2019 from the dropdown menu._____________________________ […]
One from the Folder: Repertoire Thoughts for Women’s/Treble Choirs
#51: Friday, June 07, 2019
“Crossing the Bar” by Gwyneth Walker
Text by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
SSAA, piano or orchestra
Many of you are likely familiar with the work of iconic American composer Gwyneth Walker, and likely have even heard this particular selection – as vocal solo, SATB, SSAA, or TTBB. However, the piece was such a resounding success on my spring choral-orchestral concert this year, I can’t help but share it!
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Kindness is NOT for Wimps
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” Jean-Jacques Rousseau It is easy to forget we need to work regularly with others. Unless you are a soloist all the time, you must work with other musicians. Unless you conduct exactly the sort of ensemble you wish, with the musicians you wish, you must […]
Requiem by Heinrich von Herzogenberg
The feature on this issue of Going Beyond Words and ACDA ChoralNet Radio is a marvelous piece of Romantic style music written in 1891 by the great Austrian composer Heinrich von Herzogenberg. He like many fine composers began to study a law degree but in the midst of his legal studies was compelled to change […]
Music is Best When Surrounded by Rest: Choral Conductor Suggestions for Conductor Wellness
ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly publication for choral conductors and teachers at all levels. It is published online, and each issue contains four practical articles. If you are not already a member of ACDA, you can join and receive access to ChorTeach online. Below is an excerpt from an article written by Jerome Upton an appearing in the Spring 2018 issue._____________________________________ […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Concert Week
“A concert is always like a feast day to me.” James Taylor Our spring concert is this coming Sunday. It’s been a wild and wooly rehearsal cycle this spring, with new and unexpected developments nearly every week. On the morning of our first rehearsal in March, we learned our concert venue had just been sold, […]
Attention to Some Military Bands and Choir
We just celebrated another Memorial Day and we think of those who serve our country around the earth and here at home. As the host of Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio with ChoralNet, I love to play patriotic music and when you want that style we all know where to go. But this year […]