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“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” Winston Churchill

I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Two of my MOST REQUESTED December Blogs will also be making their yearly appearances.

In a few days, it will be Christmas Eve. Your plans have been made for months if you’re anything like me. But this is the Christmas of 2025, so you probably have a “Plan B” if you’re smart and I know you are. Here in the Midwest, there could be a blizzard predicted, so that always adds another layer of planning. Just when we think things are back to “normal,” something happens to mess it all up!

Advent and Christmas, more than Lent and Easter, are much more stressful for our profession. I’m not sure why, but perhaps it’s the gift giving and baking and traveling to see family and friends and all the concerts and services we must prepare or attend. Or maybe it’s just the time of year, who knows? We have many things to accomplish, usually in the dark, and we rarely get all accomplished. I do know for a fact we’re all stressed.

I am here today to remind you to try to be as relaxed as you are able to be, in this super busy season for Choral Folk. Take a breath and when you are thrown for a loop, take another breath. And be kind. Be kind to those around you, whether they be your family, your choir or those you work with. Make kindness “your thing” this Christmas, no matter what happens. Be kind, my dear friends, and reap the benefits later.

Stress cancels out the beauty of the season and there is plenty of beauty so take a breath, do your Alexander Technique breathing or yoga breathing, and take a moment to relax and enjoy. You deserve the beauty; you deserve the goodness you’ve been creating for everyone else this holiday season. You deserve to have some cookies and eggnog and punch, so have some. And you deserve to have some Fa-La-Las directed by someone else for a change!

Know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life this holiday season and you may never know it. Be okay with not knowing because that will be your gift to the world. Your choir singing “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” may have comforted a child who lost a parent this year or someone newly widowed. Singing “Silent Night” may be the only time a rough and tough teenager uses their voice and finds they like singing. Something you do, something you have planned, something you are not aware of will make a difference. You may find out, you may not, but know you have made a difference.

Much love to you all, ChoralNet, as we ’round the corner to Christmas.

Search Results for: choir

May I Touch Your Child?

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An interesting article was forwarded my way by Joshua Bronfman that highlights the growing issue of adults touching children in an educational setting.   See what you think: Some Ottawa parents say a local school board's hands-off policy has gone too far after it forced a popular choir director to quit. Since September, Uwe Lieflander […]

Mormon Flash Mob

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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir takes over Williamsburg.   The singing starts at 3:20.  See if you can pick out the voice that doesn’t belong to the MTC at 7:17.   (Source:  Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun)    

Vero Beach Choral Society adds assistant director

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By Deborah Borfitz VERO BEACH, FL — The Vero Beach Choral Society has engaged Jason Hobratschk as assistant director of its 40-member choir. In this new position, Hobratschk will most immediately create and oversee a small women’s ensemble while assisting Artistic Director Daniel Koh with rehearsals and performances. Hobratschk, with nine years of directing experience, […]

New Easter Music for Download

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‘Because the Lord is Risen for Thee’ was written for Yorktown United Methodist Church, New York and first performed there on Easter Sunday this year. It is set for SATB Choir (with an optional Soprano Solo), 2 Trumpets, Trombone and Organ. The piece is based on the plainchant hymn ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’ which is first […]

3 PIECES for free by award-winning composer Ivo Antognini

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My name is Ivo Antognini, I am a Swiss/Italian composer living in Switzerland.   I have recently created three new pieces that you can receive for free – until the end of June by visiting my website and taking contact with me.   These are the pieces:   1) Ave Maris Stella : SSAA (a […]

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