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“He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life.” Victor Hugo

I am sure you are busy. In fact, I know you are busy this week. This week, Holy Week is the distillation of all we as choral professionals do, packed into seven days. A friend of mine in grad school, who had sung with the professional choir at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, told me she and her fellow choristers called this “H**L Week.” At the end of it on Easter Sunday, they came out of it bleary eyed, craving chocolate and wanting to sleep for 24 hours. Most church musicians can relate to this and even if you are not a church musician, you can relate.

Whether you are singing, playing or conducting this week, you are busy. But this is just the showy part of the worship services, lined up one after another during Holy Week, the real work took place months ago. I explain to my civilian friends and family, being a choral conductor means steady planning for months, then intense busyness, then nothing. And repeat. It used to seem to my mother-in-law I didn’t work during the summer but it’s my most productive time. And my planning is probably more important than my actual doing.

This week, all your plans are coming to fruition. Everything you’ve been working on for months is finally coming together. There is a light at the end tunnel, along with the Easter Lilies. You are almost there with only a couple of rehearsals left.

Remember to jot down, when you have a minute, what works and what doesn’t this week so you’ll be a bit ahead for next year. Remember to eat properly and get enough sleep (if you can) so you can get through the whole week and not crash at the end. Remember to participate in, as well as observe your beautifully planned Tenebrae service and feel the wonder of it all. Remember to guide your choirs and the other musicians through the last part of this Lenten journey. Remember to remember what this feels like; a wonderfully planned and perfectly executed Holy Week and even if you don’t think it is, someone will, so take the compliment!

We are almost there, almost. Take a break, take a nap and then buckle down for these last few days. The brass players are ready, the organ and piano are tuned, your choirs seem prepared, and everything is in place. I can smell the Easter Lilies……what are you waiting for…let’s do this!

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Open Enrollment: Fine and Performing Arts Academy, Rapid City, South Dakota

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WEDNESDAY Adult 11:30-12:30 PM – Lunch with the Arts 6:00-6:55 PM – Adult Handbells 7:00-8:30 PM – Chancel Choir   Children 4yrs-Kindergarten 4:30-5:00 PM – Art 5:00-5:30 PM – Vocal Music   Children 1st-2nd Grade 4:30-5:00 PM – Art 5:00-5:30 PM – Vocal Music  Children 3rd –5th Grades 4:00-4:30 PM – Vocal Music 4:30-5:00 PM […]

New Orthodox Carols for the Nativity of Christ

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Richard Toensing’s glorious set of 24 New Orthodox Carols for the Nativity of Christ are beautiful, approachable, and varied, both in spirit and in musical idiom. Some are in the Greco-Byzantine style, some are in a pentatonic folk-like idiom, and still others are in standard Western tonality, yet all of them have a fresh twist […]

Looking for a few good men

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Paul Carey takes a moment to celebrate an inspiring program for male singers in his blog.   A bit of it here:   Let’s all of us music leaders around the country do our part to get more and more boys and men singing. It’s only a recent US societal phenomena that playing or just […]

ACDA Deadlines and Opportunities

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Time is ticking away for the ACDA Honor Choir Submission . . . . . read all about it here.   That also means that members can begin registration for the ACDA Chicago Conference beginning today!  Get your registration in early!   Oh, and don't forget about the fantastic program I told you about yesterday […]

Music for the Mines: Feiszli helps engineers reach their potential

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At the urging of her parents, Marcie Hinker joined choir at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Her parents, Paul and Roben Hinker, both were members of the choir when they attended the School of Mines in the late ’80s. They spoke highly of the program and its director, James Feiszli. “I learned he […]

LA Children’s Chorus Announces Nationwide Search for New Executive Director

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David Scheidemantle, Chair of Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC), widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost children’s choirs, announced the choir is conducting a nationwide search for a new executive director to replace outgoing director Rachel Fine, who, after four outstanding years of service, has accepted a position as executive director of Los Angeles […]

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