Get More: Daniel Powter, Bad Day, Bad Day, Free Music Videos
Friday, April 26, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Once in a Lifetime Experience
Since high school I have loved singing composer John Rutter's music. I love his simple choral songs ("For the Beauty of the Earth" is still a favorite), and his larger works are sublime. When I heard that he would be conducting at the American Choral Director's Convention I was impressed. However, when I found out that I could audition for the choir and was ecstatic! What a thrill to sing under the man whose music I have loved for longer than I care to admit!
Auditions were blind--as in send a digital recording with no identification except voice part and hope for the best. Georgia Symphony Choir conductor Bryan Black was not only a tremendous encourager, but he also helped me with the recording. And then the wait.
A few weeks after the recording was sent, I got a Facebook message from Bryan telling me to check my e-mail. Of course, I was away from a computer, but I suspected he would only contact me with good news. And it was. I made the choir.
Fast forward three months to the ACDA convention in Dallas. I had learned the music and fallen absolutely in love with Rutter's Mass of the Children before the first rehearsal. (Once we began work on Rutter's arrangement of the Faure Requiem I was equally smitten, but I needed to be educated by the master first.)
Rutter is serious about his music, but delightful as conductor. His illustrations to explain what he wanted from us were often funny (lots of emphatic gesturing and even some running around), but so effective that we rarely had to be told more than once. We got it. We loved it. I loved it. And, according to the note he sent to the Festival Choir organizer, he enjoyed himself as well.
There we gathered: 116 voices from 22 states, all musicians who had auditioned as I had, learned the music, and who were committed to making MUSIC. Accompanied by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the MASSIVE organ in the Meyersen Symphony Hall, we who were once strangers came together in a tightly woven tapestry of singers making magic under Rutter's direction.
Auditions were blind--as in send a digital recording with no identification except voice part and hope for the best. Georgia Symphony Choir conductor Bryan Black was not only a tremendous encourager, but he also helped me with the recording. And then the wait.
A few weeks after the recording was sent, I got a Facebook message from Bryan telling me to check my e-mail. Of course, I was away from a computer, but I suspected he would only contact me with good news. And it was. I made the choir.
Fast forward three months to the ACDA convention in Dallas. I had learned the music and fallen absolutely in love with Rutter's Mass of the Children before the first rehearsal. (Once we began work on Rutter's arrangement of the Faure Requiem I was equally smitten, but I needed to be educated by the master first.)
Rutter is serious about his music, but delightful as conductor. His illustrations to explain what he wanted from us were often funny (lots of emphatic gesturing and even some running around), but so effective that we rarely had to be told more than once. We got it. We loved it. I loved it. And, according to the note he sent to the Festival Choir organizer, he enjoyed himself as well.
There we gathered: 116 voices from 22 states, all musicians who had auditioned as I had, learned the music, and who were committed to making MUSIC. Accompanied by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the MASSIVE organ in the Meyersen Symphony Hall, we who were once strangers came together in a tightly woven tapestry of singers making magic under Rutter's direction.
Once in a lifetime--and magical.
Monday, April 08, 2013
The Cardinal
We have a family of cardinals living in a bush near our garage. Every day the male makes sure the yard is safe and then calls to his family to come to the feeder. It's fun to watch.
safe here
okay here 
let me check over there
yup, looks good
no squirrels or hawks
okay kids, time for lunch!
thanks, Dad! yummy seeds...
Keeping an eye out for danger---just Papa Cardinal and the Lion
Sunday, April 07, 2013
The Phoenix Never Dies
Atlanta Quest Indoor Drumline and Front Ensemble 2013
Caty Mae plays the far right marimba.
Caty Mae plays the far right marimba.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)