News and Notices

Dear Friends,

I have learned from a colleague that there was a problem accessing the registration page for “AMERICAN VOICES,” the free, live-streamed concert being presented by The American Prize and hosted by Christman Opera, Friday, May 7th at 7pm EDT and featuring award-winning mezzo-soprano Madison Marie McIntosh and pianist Gregory Ritchey premiering music by eight living composers: Theodore Christman, Antonio Covello, Ted Ganger, Michael Polo, Kevin Scott, Amy Scurria, Myron Silberstein, & Webster Young. 


Register here (absolutely free) NEW LINK to copy:

https://christman-opera-company.ticketleap.com/concert-to-benefit-tap/?fbclid=IwAR0eBTAz0LR0fT2mRj4f591bR2f7E-56O4cKZuCWR-TwQXp0frtwN2-unoo

Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/496383485041957/

Donations gratefully accepted to support The American Prize David Daniels scholarship program for high school-age musicians: http://www.theamericanprize.org/Donate.html

All thanks,
David Katz, founder and chief judge
The American Prize
www.theamericanprize.org

Please join us for:

“AMERICAN VOICES,” the first free live-streamed concert from The American Prize, hosted by Christman Opera, Friday, May 7, 2021 at 7pm Eastern. Join The American Prize-winning mezzo-soprano, Madison Marie McIntosh and pianist Gregory Ritchey, premiering works by composers Theodore Christman, Antonio Covello, Ted Ganger, Michael Polo, Kevin Scott, Amy Scurria, Myron Silberstein, & Webster Young. 


Register here (absolutely free): https://christman-opera-company.ticketleap.com/concert…/
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/496383485041957/
Donations gratefully accepted to support our scholarship program for high school-age musicians: http://www.theamericanprize.org/Donate.html


Read about Madison Marie McIntosh here: http://www.lombardoassociates.org/madison-marie-mcintosh


And The American Prize here: http://theamericanprize.org

The World Premiere of the first movement, ‘The Protest’ from ECOTORIO was launched today, April 22nd, 2021, to commemorate Earth Day.

ECOTORIO is a ground breaking massed choral work that addresses many of the climate change disasters that have been occurring around the world. Commissioned by Play It Forward, ECOTORIO was conceived by Jonathon Welch AM, our award-winning Founding Artistic Director, and composed in collaboration with Dave Newington, former International Tour Conductor of the global singing sensations ‘The TEN Tenors’.

‘The Protest’ virtual music video is a dynamic and dramatic choral work, featuring singers from Australia, the USA, UK and Canada, drawing on many diverse voices to reflect climate change concerns and themes. It is an exciting call to action.

Jonathon Welch AM and Dave Newington, the composers, elaborate: “It was very symbolic and important for us to launch ‘The Protest’ on Earth Day, as a virtual music video. Earth Day aims to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide and ‘The Protest’ achieves this through the universal language of music.

We also wanted this first movement to set the tone for ECOTORIO as a whole – modern, conspicuous, accessible to sing and great to listen to and watch.
We have been thrilled that singers from across the world have come forward to take part in ‘The Protest’ as an online project. We are very proud of the virtual video produced, which is the result of their passion and hard work learning the piece and recording themselves singing it.”

‘The Protest’ is the first of several movements to be recorded and released virtually over the next 18 months. The movements will be woven together into a virtual music video. The first live performance of ECOTORIO will take place in Melbourne, Australia in 2022.

The Protest can be viewed at Play It Forward’s website http://www.playitforward.org.au/ecotorio

Hello everyone,
I am a Ile Nature Showers by name.
I am a lover of music: gospel music precisely.
I know most persons have the gift of singing but they may never have found a way to use it publicly.
I would love to suggest that we create a singing rehearsal on zoom.
We can rehearse over time and display on a special day agreed by us all.
Thanks for understanding as we use this medium to glorify God Almighty.
Once again thank you all my brethren in Christ Jesus.

Dear Colleagues,

I have just learned of the death of my friend, Leonard Atherton, emeritus music director of the Muncie Symphony in Indiana, a longtime member of the faculty at Ball State, and one of the first to step forward to participate as a judge for The American Prize back at the founding in 2009.

You can read more here: https://www.meeksmortuary.com/obituary/leonard-j-atherton/

Leonard was a graduate of Oxford University, a lovely man, soft spoken, serious and infinitely polite, I will miss his gracious counsel.

All best,
David

David Katz, founder and chief judge
The American Prize
founding music director,
The Chicago Bar Association Symphony
playwright and actor
“MUSE of FIRE”
http://theamericanprize.org
http://www.museoffiretheplay.org

The California Redwood Chorale is a 15 year old SATB chorale in Sonoma County, CA. The repertoire is filled with gorgeous music by such contemporary composers as Ola Gjeilo, Eriks Esenvalds, John Rutter, Craig Hella Johnson, Eric Whitacre and more!
Under the skilled direction of Conductor Gage Purdy, the group is planning summer rehearsals and two concerts Thanksgiving weekend.CRC is a skilled and friendly singing experience. Come join us! Contact Executive Director, Gerry Schultz at email: