arrange • compose • conduct
A recent multi-interview article from Chorus America considered the post-COVID future for virtual performances. I want to go on record in saying that I think it’s a bad idea to lean into streaming and posting of concerts long-term. I think it’s bad because it undermines the choral art, which must […]
Please enjoy Shades of Blue’s virtual recording of “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” – out in virtual choir style now. It was the hardest chart we recorded remotely this year. Darmon Meader’s writing never disappoints, and this is a fun and silly song for him to play with. It […]
It’s my end-of-school-year tradition to publish the repertoire my ensemble sang over the year. With my fourth year at GRCC in the books, here are the pieces Shades of Blue learned and performed. Shades of Blue had eight singers (2-2-2-2) in the fall semester and nine singers (2-2-3-2) in the […]
I got to end my year with Shades of Blue this year with a real-live in-person concert. However, it was outdoors, socially distanced, with limited attendance permitted. Because of that, we didn’t publicize it much. Fortunately, with the support of the Media Services Department at GRCC, we filmed the entire […]
I’ve had several conversations recently looking to the future in which the other person had a default plan of continuing with livestream or digital stream as a standard practice for future concerts and performances. I sincerely hope that this doesn’t become common practice. There is value in archival recording a […]
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 wife, Mandy Mikita Scott, made a little video for fun, talking about some of the pitfalls of filming your virtual choir video. It’s good fun and super informational as well. We worked together to make the list from actual examples of virtual choir submissions – lots to learn and […]
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 […]
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 […]