arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
The Aces endeavor to sing in as many musical styles as possible each year, with no discrimination except quality of music. In that spirit, the entire list is organized alphabetically, as in our folders (except music for December, which goes at the end…) We had around twenty 2-hour rehearsals this […]
I am committed to doing better as a leader, educator, composer/arranger, and choral musician to address systemic racism and white privilege in the choral world, and specifically in the work I do. I was moved to sign the Black Voices Matter Pledge after seeing its tenets shared yesterday; it was […]
Today, take a minute to read the wise words of the elder stateswoman of song, Alice Parker, as she reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic, and, relatedly, the overdue steps to right systemic wrongs. No one can take away from us the ability to sing. Remember that it is always present […]
Can we apply the idea of the Overton Window to music-making? The Overton Window, according to Wikipedia, is “the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time.” The typical range is Unthinkable • Radical • Acceptable • Sensible • Popular • Policy. There are certainly […]
We Shall Overcome is perhaps the most iconic protest song of all time – a sweet, potent melody and an equally potent lyric that have been used worldwide as a rallying cry, though it’s probably most strongly associated with the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement; Joan Baez famously sang it as […]
My remarkable friend Dr. Eugene Rogers premiered this equally remarkable work five years ago: “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” by Joel Thompson. It’s worth every second of your time to watch and meditate on it. It is beautifully filmed, performed, and conducted, and the message is powerful and deeply […]
How do you end without an ending? Musicians are well accustomed to clear endings. Whether it’s the exuberantly repetitive final cadence in a classical symphony, a wailing 13(#11) chord for a big band, or the Plagal Amen at the end of a hymn, we pay a lot of attention to […]
I think I know what choirs are for. Well, choirs are for everyone. But specifically, a choir should be about creating a deep connection and a single intentional throughline among all the singers, and then sharing that as clearly as possible with an audience. It’s when the audience receives the […]
This is a quick recommendation for those seeking growth and learning over the summer. My friend Dr. Jeremy Fox has been leading in-person week-long masterclasses called the “Jazz Harmony Retreat” for years, multiple weeks per summer. They are an intimate, carefully curated small-group class focused on giving music educators, and […]
Four virtual choirs, a senior tribute. Countless hours of work. I’m delighted with the results of our weeks and weeks of work together/apart. Here are the four virtual song performances we presented at the Virtual Aces Concert last night. (We also debuted a track from our new album, “Take Me […]