Christmas Concert "A Ceremony of Carols" Recorded live 17th December 2017 Iglesia S. Juan Bautista, Málaga (Spain)

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The OK Chorale have just started back after a long Christmas break. This term we’re working towards our annual spring concert. I need to plan a...

The choir's history begins in 1954, when folk Song and dance group "Ugnele" was established. For a long time, the choir existed as part of this group, performing with its dancers and orchestra, singing mostly folk music; in 1999, Valerija Skapie...  moreThe choir's history begins in 1954, when folk Song and dance group "Ugnele" was established. For a long time, the choir existed as part of this group, performing with its dancers and orchestra, singing mostly folk music; in 1999, Valerija Skapiene, the present artistic director of the choir, began working in "Ugnele", and in a few years, the choir's repertoire extended to include not only folk, but also classical, jazz, world music; in 2002, during "Mes - Lietuvos vaikai" national choral competition, the choir was acknowledged to have reached the level of the first category (this is the highest category of artistic level in Lithuania). Journeys around the world followed - "Ugnele" has presented Lithuanian culture in fifteen countries from the Netherlands to South Korea; in 2004, the choir started a national choral festival for children, "Dainu mozaika". In 2010, the choir was invited to become a part of Vilnius J. Tallat-Kelpsa Conservatoire and continues to work...    less

...a man in his twilight years is contemplating his coming passing, metaphorically describing death ‎as the setting of the sun.‎ Gilad Hochman's BEYOND NINE LAKES for Choir a cappella (2014), based on a traditional Latvian Song (w/ Score) Composed f...  more...a man in his twilight years is contemplating his coming passing, metaphorically describing death ‎as the setting of the sun.‎ Gilad Hochman's BEYOND NINE LAKES for Choir a cappella (2014), based on a traditional Latvian Song (w/ Score) Composed for and recorded by Youth Choir Kamēr under conductor Jānis Liepiņš. Amber Songs (CD) / European Capital of Culture program Rīga 2014 Premiere: 15.-16. March, 2014. The Great Hall of University of Latvia  

Coastal Sound Youth Choir in performance as part of Voices West 2011 hosted by Kokopelli at MacDougall United Church, Edmonton. Music from "Sesame Street", arranged by Greg Martin. www.coastalsoundmusic.com

Da "InfuocanTo 2014", una ninnananna natalizia... Work in progress.

When all the World's Asleep, John Milne Sunday, December 3, 2017 Congregational Church of Batavia, IL

El Rorro, Mexican carol arranged by Jeffrey Van Sunday, December 3, 2017 Congregational Church of Batavia, IL

The Marlowe Singers perform "winter" at their annual Christmas concert 2011

Music for SATB choir (divisi) a cappella looking for its world premiere! Words & music: Anthony Sylvestre. Performance time: 4’45. The Song can be performed in 2 languages versions: in English/French or in English/English. The main theme is a decla...  moreMusic for SATB choir (divisi) a cappella looking for its world premiere! Words & music: Anthony Sylvestre. Performance time: 4’45. The Song can be performed in 2 languages versions: in English/French or in English/English. The main theme is a declaration of love. It can be sung to either a woman or a man. While the qualities of the beloved are listed in contemplative praise, the promise to be there in difficult times is made with tenderness and sincerity. As we are enveloped in this loving tranquility, the voices of the choir intensify until they reach a second theme, one that is more marked and determined. This sequence entitled ”The French Dream’, introduces us to a more mysterious and dreamlike atmosphere, straight out of our childhood fairy tales. Then, as if we had fallen asleep for a moment, the words 'Beautiful! Beautiful' resound once again, bringing us back to a reassuring reality.  less