2018 was a year to remember with much happening on many fronts. It hasn’t been without its failures or missteps, but I also saw some pretty spectacular things happen for me both professionally and personally.
Here’s an overview of my work year:
Writing
I published a new post on this site every day in 2018, a total 365 total posts.
I totaled over 62,000 words written for my blog this year; That averages to over 5,000 a month or about 150-200 per day. That’s always my goal – an easily and quickly readable post.
I tried and failed to maintain a weekly newsletter collecting my writings for that week, and offering as some extras (weekly recommended media and updates on my work). I know several people who only read my writing when I get the newsletter out, so I’m recommitting to finding the time for it in 2019!
Composing/Arranging
Gold Company premiered my brand-new 8-part arrangement of the Basie/Joe Williams classic “Every Day I Have The Blues” – written just for them on their 40th anniversary. Of course they sang it beautifully, and what a thrill to hear the solos on my arrangement sung by amazing singers including: Duane Davis, Greg Jasperse, and Kurt Elling!
In addition, GC programmed my arrangement of “Love You Madly” for their 40th anniversary concert: one of my former students was singing in the quintet, and another gave the spoken introduction. A big honor for me.
I did three a cappella SSAA arrangements for my friends and long-time collaborators Noteworthy.
I wrote forty-one band charts in a single week for this year’s Rockford HS Cabaret, “The Last 25 Years: Contemporary Broadway”. Phew!
My TTBB a cappella arrangement of the Michigan lumbering song “Once More A-Lumbering Go” was published by Pavane Publishing (P1613) in the spring is available wherever music is sold. (The demo recording for Pavane was recorded by my own Rockford Aces.)
I saw my 2018 sight reading for MSVMA published (both Choral Festival and Solo & Ensemble) and completed the 2019 editions. This is my eighth year writing sight reading materials for MSVMA.
Two new arrangements were used for this year’s Rockford High School commencement, including a new SATB version of Harrison Witt’s Be The Change, which I had originally set for SSAA in 2016.
I’m blessed to be able to stay busy writing music I’m excited about. If you’re interested in commissioning something in 2019, now’s the time to hit me up!
Conducting
The Rockford Aces 2017-18 were outstanding throughout the year (they started in October 2017 with a conference performance and just kept right on going). It all culminated with an amazing experience at the 10th Anniversary Aces Concert Reunion. We welcomed back nearly 25 alumni from across the years, sang together, reconnected, and the current Aces gave a confident, polished, and musical 2-hour performance.
I completed my first full year as the director of GRCC Shades of Blue Vocal Jazz Ensemble. It has been a true joy adding this to my professional life, although adding a second institution’s concert schedule has made our family logistics a little more complex. The students in Shades are excellent singers and people, and have been consistently receptive to everything I have to offer musically. They made a return to the Gold Company Invitational after several years absent, and performed well with New York Voices in the audience! (They received a fabulous clinic from Darmon Meader.) We ended the year just a couple weeks ago by premiering a brand-new arrangement written for us by none other than vocal jazz legend Phil Mattson.
A highlight of the year as a conductor was definitely co-planning and conducting a successful choir performance tour of Italy. I conducted performances in Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and The Vatican – where the Rockford Choirs provided all music for mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter Monday.
Professional Growth
In 2016 I started the Michigan Choral Commission Consortium, whose mission is to facilitate new choral works by putting together groups of choirs across Michigan. After a year hiatus, we had a banner year, with thirty-one groups participating in the 2018 Consortium. We commissioned three new pieces, from Andrea Ramsey, Sean Ivory, and Rollo Dilworth. I’m currently nailing down the 2019 composers, and I’m hopeful to at least match the 2018 participants in 2019! (Keep eyes peeled for news soon.)
I remain on the ACDA-Michigan Executive Board as Webmaster/Editor and maintain the digital footprint of the organization. I am working on establishing a weekly publishing schedule for the website with new choral content, though that has not been without hiccups.
As overseer of the Rockford High School Performing Arts Series, I am overseeing our third concert – a return visit from The Real Group in April. I’m also working on an instrumental concert for the 2019-20 concert season, with assistance from our band director.
I continue to serve MSVMA as Supervisor of the All-State Jazz Choir. It was a thrilling and wonderful premiere performance in January at the Michigan Music Conference. Greg Jasperse did a fabulous job with the ensemble! And just a few weeks ago I had an all-day rehearsal with the 2019 ensemble, preparing them for this January, when they’ll sing under the expert guidance of Jennifer Barnes. I was especially pleased that more Michigan schools sent students to audition for the choir this year, and I’m hoping to see that trend continue for years to come.
I was able to add a small number of private students this year, focusing on vocal technique and standard repertoire across multiple styles.
Every day I am looking for more and better ways to give back to my professional community – with my time, with my attention, and with my words. If you have an idea for a project we could work together on to make the choral community stronger, please contact me!
Personal Growth
I baked more than 100 loaves of bread in 2017, and hardly a week went by without some of our family staples: homemade pizza, pancakes, waffles…. Cooking remains an outlet for me to clear my head of music, and a tangible way to express my love for family and friends. 80 loaves of my sandwich bread means my sons can’t really imagine what store-bought sandwich bread tastes like. I like that.
I read 27 books in 2018. I find it hard to carve out as much time for reading as I want to, but am also mindful that I read a lot more than many. It fills my spirit.
The summer, for us, was about quiet connection and family. It was, of course, busy – but it was also the slowest summer in memory. Which was good, as our family experienced a lot of personal and emotional growth and we needed the space to process and stay centered. Mandy and I celebrate our 16th anniversary and enjoyed celebrating the new marriages of several former students.
Postscript
Here is my 2017 postscript:
Since 2004, my writing was almost always accompanied by a black fuzzball who liked to sit at my feet while I worked. We said goodbye to Quincy in April, and our hearts still ache for his sweet presence. We haven’t started seriously thinking about a new dog in the house, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to see that news in my 2018 update.
Well, we did welcome a new dog to our house in late-summer 2018. Bijou has helped make our little family complete (not to mention more active, as she likes to walk at least four miles a day!). So far, though, she doesn’t come with me when I write…something to work on in the new year.
My life is full in the best possible ways, and on the horizon I see possibilities I couldn’t have dreamed even a few years ago. Every day I try to do the best I can at the job in front of me, and on most days I see positive change.