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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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Sing at Carnegie Hall in Rosemary Siemens’ Bring Back the Hymns Choir!

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Join Rosemary Siemens Choir – Bring Back the Hymns Live at Carnegie Hall (May 25, 2026) Be part of history! Choirs and singers worldwide are invited to join Bring Back the Hymns – Live at Carnegie Hall, a global hymn concert hosted by viral hymn artist Rosemary Siemens (165M+ YouTube views). Experience the power of […]

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How about starting your choir year 2026 in the music capital Vienna? meeting music, in cooperation with the Chorforum Wien and the Schubert-Gesellschaft Wien-Lichtental, invites you to the 34th edition of the International Franz Schubert Choir Competition & Festival March 13-17, 2026 (Vienna, Austria) We are delighted to invite choirs from around the world to […]

Melodia Women’s Choir Fall 2025 Concert: “Radiant Voices”

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Fall 2025 Concert “Radiant Voices” SACRED SONGS FOR WOMEN’S VOICES Live ConcertSaturday, November 15 at 7:30PMHoly Apostles296 Ninth Ave, Chelsea, NYC Join us for Radiant Voices, a choral program that weaves together sacred music from across time and tradition. From timeless works like Schubert’s and Dilworth’s Psalm 23, Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, and Bach’s Wir Eilen Mit Schwachen, to […]

15th World Choir Festival of Thessaloniki

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15–18 May 2026, Thessaloniki, Greece Live the dream! Join an unforgettable celebration of Joy! It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to our Festival, an event of the highest artistic standards and quality, where your choir will have the opportunity to share its talent and inspiration with an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. Beyond […]

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