Autumn is in the air, the leaves are beginning to change here in the beautiful Upper Peninsula, delicious pumpkin products are widely available, and I’ve got a number of performances (that I know of) coming up in these fall months:
The Gesualdo Six will be performing “My Heart is like a Singing Bird at the North Wales International Music Festival this Friday (20 Sept) at St. Asaph Cathedral at 7:30 pm. I have many fond memories of St. Asaph where the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir performed many times, and by total coincidence, I was in St. Asaph singing (and premiering Shenandoah) when G6 first premiered the piece in 2016. They’ve performed it on numerous occasions since then.
Also on the other side of the Pond, London-based Khoros Choir and their conductor Patrick Allies will be releasing their debut album at a concert at St Stephen Walbrook (EC4N) at 7:30 pm on 17 October. The program includes my piece “Mater Dei” alongside works such as Britten’s “Hymn to the Virgin,” de Lassus’ “Alma Redemtoris Mater,” and Sandström’s “Det är en Ros Utsprungen,” a real favorite of mine. The Edinburgh University Singers and Calum Robertson will also be performing my arrangement of “Wayfaring Stranger” on 22 November at Church of the Sacred Heart, Lauriston Place, at 7:30 pm.
PopUp Choir recently returned from their tour to Scotland, conducted by Paul Mealor, where they performed their program “The Road Home,” including my Shenandoah alongside works by composers including Britten, Paulus, Hogan, and fellow recent Aberdeen grad John Frederick Hudson. They will all be reprising this wonderful program Stateside on 12 October at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN at 7:30 pm.
The William Jewell College Concert Choir and their conductor Anthony J. Maglione will be performing their concert titled “Perspectives” at First Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph, MO. This concert centers around Thomas LaVoy’s stunning cantata “In Heaven, Hereafter,” based on the life and writings of artist and folk hero Nancy Luce of Martha’s Vineyard. My piece “Uprooted” will also be performed, as well as works by Ed Frazier Davis and Nathaniel Dett. Tom will be in residence with the choir that week, and we are both immensely excited to attend what is sure to be a unique and engaging concert. His pre-concert talk begins at 7:30 pm, with the concert starting at 8:00.
Conductor Brian Stevens, a great friend and advocate of many composers including myself, will be performing a couple of my pieces with his choral ensembles: Nazareth College Women’s Choir will be performing my O Vos Omnes at Beston Hall at 4 pm on 16 November, and Nazareth College Chamber Singers will be performing my “Charlie is my Darling” at Linehan Chapel (also at Nazareth College) at 3 pm on 17 November.