The Michigan Choral Commission Consortium (MC3) is one of my pet projects, and it’s been taking off this spring. I’m excited to share this update.
The multi-fold mission of MC3 is as follows:
- Commission more new choral music.
- Include organizations that can’t otherwise afford to commission.
- Create a community around the pieces that we commission.
- Add value so that the more members join, the more they get.
- See an increase in outstanding choral works with Michigan above the title, so the world knows better the great music being made in my state.
Our first commission, in 2016, was from Alice Parker and featured ten ensembles as co-commissioners.
This year, we’ll be commissioning three choral works and have thirty-one ensembles participate. How exciting!
Here is the amazing, diverse, brave list of ensembles who are working together to bring three new works to the world. Our first work is nearly finished (from the wonderful Andrea Ramsey), and I’m excited to announce today that our other works will be by composers Sean Ivory and Rollo Dilworth. Wow!
Ann Arbor Pioneer High School Choirs – Steven Lorenz, Conductor
Ann Arbor Skyline High School Choirs – Lindsay CieChanski, Conductor
Berrien Springs High School Concert Choir – Carrie VanDenburgh, Conductor
Brighton High School Choirs – Phil Johnson, Conductor
Chippewa Valley High School Choirs – James Pecar, Conductor
Clarkston High School Choirs – Mike Peterson, Conductor
Eastern Michigan University – Brandon Johnson, Conductor
Forest Hills Central High School Choirs – Sean Ivory, Conductor
Grand Haven High School Choirs – Juli Dick & Benjamin Rodgers, Conductors
Grand Ledge High School Madrigals – Sheri Petersen, Conductor
Grant High School – Lukas Sweers, Conductor
Grosse Pointe North High School Choirs – Ben Henri, Conductor
Haslett High School Choirs – Adam Boyce, Conductor
Hudsonville High School – Deborah Andre, Conductor
Kalamazoo Central High School – Theresa Williams-Johnson, Conductor
Lakeshore High School Choirs – Katherine Rohwer, Conductor
Northwestern Michigan College – Jeffrey Cobb, Conductor
Olivet College Choirs – Joel Moore, Conductor
Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Choirs – Jennifer Neumann, Conductor
Portage Central High School Choirs – Cindy Hunter, Conductor
Reeths-Puffer High School Choirs – Regina Schlaff, Conductor
Rockford High School Choirs – Mandy Scott, Conductor
Saline High School – Sarah Price, Conductor
South Lyon High School Choirs – Andrew Hathikhanavala, Conductor
The Choirs of Stevenson High School – Leo Humbach , Conductor
Traverse City Central High School Choirs – Tamara Grove Williams, Conductor
Traverse City West High School Choirs – Erich Wangeman, Conductor
Waterford Kettering Choirs – Michelle K. Harness, Conductor
West Michigan Community Chorale – Les Rowsey, Conductor
West Ottawa High School Choirs – Erin Stier, Conductor
Zeeland High School Choirs – Jonathan Van Eck, Conductor
Although it’s too late to join MC3 this year–our 2018 membership is locked–stay tuned for announcements about 2019!