arrange • compose • conduct
What is it about the vocal jazz repertoire that merits a college ensemble or all-state high school honor choir devoted to it? What does it provide that wouldn’t be better provided in a pop a cappella group, or a show choir, or a madrigal ensemble? For me, vocal jazz ensembles provide […]
“Rajaton is our favorite vocal group in the world, actually,” said Morten Vinther of The Real Group during their joint concert in Stockholm last week. Of course, many people would use the same phrase to describe The Real Group, so you can imagine just how amazing a shared concert would be. About […]
The repertoire of the Cabaret we are presenting this weekend with the Rockford HS Choirs is The Great American Songbook. Listening to auditions, I was struck that the singers fell on a spectrum between two genres that claim equal ownership to the songs of Gershwin, Porter, Arlen, and Rodgers. How does your place along the Jazz-Musical […]
I’m constantly honing my system to stay on task, and to order my tasks to ensure things get done when they need to. The freelance life can be challenging, with no boss looking over my shoulder to keep me productive. August hits and with it my busy season. At present moment, I have roughly sixteen […]
My ensemble, The Rockford Aces, has been working hard to build to today. These twelve young men, ranging from 9th to 12th grade, will present a full-length concert tonight in Rockford. They have built the stamina and the repertoire to perform sixteen pieces in four sets, with music ranging from […]
All right, choir teachers. Many of you are returning to school today after Spring Break. After a week of re-centering, relaxation, and reflection on the year so far, it’s time to jump back in and sprint to the finish. It’s easy to relax just a little here at the end […]
The ACDA 2015 National Conference starts in just two days in Salt Lake City. While I won’t be attending this year’s conference, I have many colleagues who are and want to share some previews. Today: Men’s Choirs at the Conference I’ve been directing men’s choirs almost exclusively for twelve years; […]
Ward Swingle September 21, 1927-January 19, 2015 Let’s take a minute to remember the legacy and life of one of the giants of the 20th Century choral/vocal world, Ward Swingle. He is best known as the founder and long-time director of The Swingle Singers, which earned the Grammy for Best […]
As a composer and arranger, I’m accustomed to bringing new pieces into the world. So it’s surprising to me how much joy I got from commissioning a new piece from someone else last year. When I presented my grant proposal to the Rockford Education Foundation to help fund a commission […]
Last week I attended my first MSVMA Summer Workshop in Lansing, MI. It’s a much smaller event (maybe 150 people) than the last few conventions I’ve attended (Michigan Music Conference, ACDA National or Divisional, the old IAJE Conventions). Plus, there were no performing ensembles, only clinics, discussions, and reading sessions. […]