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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!

Search Results for: choir

Kelli Falls to direct Livingston County Chorale

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A Howell Public Schools music teacher will set the tempo for the Livingston County Chorale in Brighton, Michigan.   The chorale has selected Kelli Falls as its new director. She succeeds Reed Criddle, who directed the group for the past two seasons.   Falls teaches vocal music at Three Fires Middle School in Genoa Township. […]

Unqualified Teachers Replace High School Choral Directors in Oregon

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Three music teachers, none with experience teaching high school choral music, have been hired to replace choral directors at Grant, Cleveland and Wilson high schools.   The teachers’ names haven’t been released. the three had more seniority in the district than the teachers they replaces, said district spokesman Matt Shelby.   Facing budget cuts, Portland […]

JWPepper to offer expanded previews to registered users

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J. W. Pepper announced today the launch of Editors’ Choice Online.  This free web viewer enables music directors to preview sheet music, listen to recordings, read product information, make notes, and purchase their selections.  Available on http://ec.jwpepper.com, this new feature gives music directors greater access to Editors’ Choice music and provides the convenience of browsing from […]

Climbing the Greasy Pole

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Liz Garnett blogs about Bertalot’s greasy pole metaphor: John Bertalot produces a wonderful description of the rehearsal process in his book How to be a Successful Choir Director. He says:   The leading of practices is like pushing a man up a greasy pole. He goes up with a bit of effort, but slides down naturally […]

Operation Telstar

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ChoralNet member Steve Szalaj shares this with the choral community:   Recently, the New York Times ran an article about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir being a part of the first live international satellite broadcast called Operation Telstar on July 23, 1962. The article relates personal stories and the significant cultural/political/social importance of this event against […]

Christmas Anthems (sacred and secular)

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I would like to invite you to check out samples of my Christmas anthems at www.redhouseartspace.com/choral-html in the hopes that you might find something your choir would enjoy singing this holiday season.  Thanks.  Chris Humphrey

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