Latest Blog Posts

I wonder if the salary difference doesn’t account for some of the grumpiness we find in orchestras.  Tim Smith, of the Baltimore Sun, points to the latest data about orchestra compentsation in this article:   People on the podium are still doing quite well, regardless of the recession . . . From my quick glance, […]

Found this on Eric’s blog – a boogie woogie version of his Lux Aurumque:    

You’ve heard the old joke.      Q: What are the best three things about teaching?      A: June, July, and August.  (of course, it’s not true)   Now here it is . . . It’s summer.  You have finished what was by any measure an academic year filled with joys and tears, success and maybe […]

Bobby McFerrin gives some great interviews.   If you have 52 minutes, or have an opportunity to listen to it while you drive, you should give this a listen.  He is a fascinating musician with some keen insights on music making.   Look here for the interview.   Thanks to Brendan Walls for pointing me […]

He only needs one name in the choral world:  Eric.   Is he our Madonna?  or Sting?     A fantastic article in the LA Times, with thanks to Julie Laylander for pointing me to this article.   My favorite quotes:   “The composer in me wants to think that it’s happening because I’m tapping […]

“What you are actually doing is advertising.”   Neil Gaiman, famous author, has been honored with many awards internationally, including the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. His books and stories have also been honoured with 4 Hugos, 2 Nebulas, 1 World Fantasy Award, 4 Bram Stoker Awards, 6 Locus Awards, 2 British SF Awards, 1 British […]

Tim Elmore’s book Generation iY is a fascinating study, as well as a wake-up call, for those of us working with the generation born after 1990. This particular exploration invoves the younger Millennials who have come into a world defined by technology and shaped by the Internet— iPod, iBook, iPhone, iChat, iMovie, iPad, and iTunes. […]

Composer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Ubi Caritas". Thanks, Gary, for this fine production of a beautiful YouTube video and unique moment:    

Congratulations to the fine choirs the participated in the 2011 Marktoberdorf Competition, especially Kent Hatteburg and the University of Louisville:   Achievement Level I – excellent performance at an international level Entrevoces, Havana • Cuba 1st prize Dir.: Digna Guerra Ramirez Achievement Level II – very good performance at an international level University of Louisville Cardinal […]

It looks like choral musicians are going to conferences again!  ChorusAmerica actually turned people away from their last conference because of the high attendance.   Ann Meier Baker talks about the "state of choral music" from her perspective in this podcast from a San Francisco radio station. Ann Meier Baker, President and Chief Executive Officer […]