With the changing of the seasons, and academic organizations and ensembles coming back into session, I suppose it’s time for a news round-up.
Westminster Williamson Voices and conductor James Jordan released two recordings today (September 24th), available on all online musical platforms – my piece “Breathe Free” and “To Know Your Love” by Thomas LaVoy. My piece is a Sacred Harp-inspired setting of Emma Lazarus’s iconic sonnet “The New Colossus,” designed for a distanced choir. It was commissioned by Westminster Choir College/Rider University, and can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major music streaming services.
Nazareth College Chamber Singers and their director Brian M. Stevens recently released their premiere recording of “The Arctic Tern’s Prayer,” commissioned by them and setting beautiful poetry by Oxford poet Mary Anne Clark. The recording was featured at the Association of British Choral Directors’ virtual choral leaders’ festival.
Grace and Jim Roman recently premiered their commissions from myself and Thomas LaVoy at St. Luke’s UMC in Houston, where Grace is Associate Director of Music and Jim is Associate Organist. My piece is a setting of “Verde Embeleso” by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a poet, philosopher, composer and Hieronymite in early colonial Mexico. Her writing focuses on themes including love, religion, and women’s rights and advocacy. The concert took place on September 18th at St. Luke’s and you can view it here: https://youtu.be/ryZSNeWq6Rk?t=3416
The Choir of the Church of the Ascension and St. Agnes in Washington, DC performed my setting of Psalm 113 on Sunday September 19th. You can watch them sing the piece here: https://youtu.be/ye2HNSoamps?t=3341
Other upcoming events this season will likely include performances by SACRA/PROFANA, Skylark Vocal Ensemble, Siglo de Oro, The Esoterics, The Leonids (a new professional ensemble in Vancouver, BC), the choir of the Anglican Church of Saint John the Divine (also in Vancouver BC), and ensembles at Sacramento State University and San Diego State University.
In slightly more personal news, Tom and I have moved to the Twin Cities! Our cat Worf is enjoying our new home very much, and so are we. If you’re in the area, let us know so we can say hello.