Latest Blog Posts

Daniel Pink posted a link to this article that I think might have some ramifications for choir directors and choirs.  See what you think about these points and then follow the link to the whole article: 1. Know who’s playing – design for their social style. There are a lot of different ways to entertainment […]

Eric Whitacre’s TEDtalk is now up on the TED site.  He did a tremendous job – a standing ovation in the middle and also at the end as he talks about his two virtual choir projects.   We are fortunate to have an Eric Whitacre in our camp – he is easily the most recognizable […]

  Some people have too much time on their hands. But they are selling something.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_CDLBTJD4M

I seem to have joined “SCRIBD” some time ago – it is one of the many innovative websites that I find and embrace one day – and forget about it the next.   But this thing seems to have some potential!  I need a way to embed a PDF version of my program and found […]

Check out Paul Carey’s blog for a review of ACDA Chicago.   He has three blogs up so far – Day 1, Day 1 extended, and Day 2.   I’ve been pleased to discover a few other bloggers talking about ACDA Chicago.  Look here for the Waving the Magic Wand.  And here for Jed’s top […]

Composer Roger Bourland talks about the “Oh Wow” moment: Some of my most adorable but embarrassing moments have been a professional situation, conducting a paid orchestra or a chamber ensemble, and all of a sudden my beat evaporates into “oh wow…” and Roger forgets where he is and thinks to himself: wow, that is really […]

The American Choral Directors Association proudly announces the inaugural ACDA National Youth Choir, a distinctive choir to be formed for international performance touring every even year. ACDA has chosen London for the location of the 2012 National Youth Choir debut in order to celebrate the Olympic Games being staged less than one month after the […]

(one in an occasional series highlighting ridiculous inclusive-language overkill, without regard for the scansion, meaning, or music.)   I’m preparing the Exultet for Easter Vigil, a long and inspiring chant which opens the vigil service, sung by candlelight. In English. After a congregational greeting the chant continues: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that with full devotion of heart and mind and […]

One of the strongest affirmations of one of our American Choral Directors Association strategic imperatives came in March of this year at our Biennial National Conference in Chicago as we witnessed collaboration in action. The overwhelming moments of inspiration and invigoration provided by this significant event were due, in large part, to our work in […]

A federal judge has voided an agreement made between Google and a consortium of book publishers regarding the Google Books project. In my opinion, this could spell good news for choral musicians. Let me explain.   The Google Books project involves scanning the contents of entire libraries. Just like Google Maps and other large-scale projects, […]