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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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Children’s Choir Rehearses For ACM Award Performance

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LOS ANGELES — Beautiful music filled the MGM Grand just outside the Studio Ballroom yesterday morning, in preparation for the ACM Awards show tonight (Sunday, April 1). It wasn’t country music, though. There were no banjos, fiddles, or guitars. The singers weren’t wearing cowboy boots, and no, we aren’t even out in the ‘Boondocks.’ The angelic, a cappella sound […]

Choir brings new sound to music department

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By Braulio A. Tellez   MESQUITE, TX — The college’s choir has been belting out some unique songs and earning lots of praise this semester with the help of new director Melinda Imthurn.  The songs Imthurn’s students sing are not typical of a chorus. One of her favorite things to do is challenge students with songs that require more […]

Choral Caffeine: The Community Choir Kit

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Every type of choir has a unique set of challenges.  In his article, “Community Choirs – Mission Possible?” (Melisma, Vol.20, No.3), Rick Bjella lists some of the keys to a successful community choir.   • A community choir does not necessarily want to be a great high school or college choir. • Rehearsal schedules at […]

Composer hits right note for Corbridge church choir

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By Tom Rowley   CORBRIDGE, UK — HE has been hailed as a hero of choral music and his work normally echoes around such prestigious venues as Oxford’s Sheldonian theatre or Salisbury Cathedral.  Bob Chilcott’s 125 compositions have been sung in dozens of countries from America to Australia. But the first performance of his latest work […]

Choir Skypes with renowned composer

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LEWISVILLE, TX — When Lewisville High School’s (LHS) director of choral activities, Steve DeCrow, asked one of America’s most popular and influential composers, Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, to visit with his students via Skype, he never dreamed the answer would be yes. “I don’t know him at all so it was a shot in the dark,” […]

Virtual Choir Recruits Singers From Across the Globe

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By Nick Watt and Bruno Roeber   It may not be the world’s most traditional choir, but it is certainly one of the most diverse. 2,950 singers from more than 73 different countries have come together over the Internet to create an incredible collaboration, all without leaving home. The virtual choir, which has singers hailing […]

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