The Samford University A Cappella Choir singing "If I Can Help Somebody" by Ray Liebau at the Florilege Vocal de Tours: International Song Competition, May 25-27, 2012. Philip Copeland, conductor.

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I’ve always known that I’m more interested in traditional songs, but I’ve only just realised that it’s the Vocal quality that I&rs...

Chamber Choir Cantate is a unique female Choir founded by conductor Gerard Franck in 1970. It has been directed by conductor Dion Ritten since 2002. It may consider itself one of the Netherlands' best Vocal Ensembles. The Choir works on quality and innova...  moreChamber Choir Cantate is a unique female Choir founded by conductor Gerard Franck in 1970. It has been directed by conductor Dion Ritten since 2002. It may consider itself one of the Netherlands' best Vocal Ensembles. The Choir works on quality and innovation in the field of female choral singing. Cantate is generally praised for its natural way of making music, excellent balance, purity, atmosphere and musicality. Whether it concerns secular or religious music, every single Chamber Choir Cantate's concert is an exceptional experience and the Choir, therefore, can count on enthusiastic audiences and favourable reviews from the national and international choral world. Read more: www.kamerkoorcantate.nl  less

"Sakura". Japanese folk song, arr. Julie Wheeler. Recorded live on April 27, 2013, on the Downtown Disney Stage at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Dire...  more"Sakura". Japanese folk song, arr. Julie Wheeler. Recorded live on April 27, 2013, on the Downtown Disney Stage at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Susan Dodd. Sakura, sakura Ya-yo-I-no so-ra-wa Mi-wa-ta-su ka-gi-ri Ka-su-mi-ka ku-mo-ka Ni-o-i-zo i-zu-ru I-za-ya I-za-ya Mi—ni— Yu-ka-n Ka-su-mi-ka ku-mo-ka Ni-o-i-zo i-zu-ru I-za-ya I-za-ya Mi—ni— Yu-ka-n Translation: Cherry Blossoms, Oh Cherry Blossoms Cherry blossoms, oh cherry blossoms In the spring sky As far as eyes can see Is it fog or is it a cloud? The scent! Now Right now Let's go and see Is it fog or is it a cloud? The scent! Now Right now Let's go and see  less

"The Land of Nod" by Stephen Paulus. Text by Robert Louis Stevenson. Recorded live on May 13, 2011, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Apprentice Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida...  more"The Land of Nod" by Stephen Paulus. Text by Robert Louis Stevenson. Recorded live on May 13, 2011, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Apprentice Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Susan Dodd. This piece was first debuted by the Girl Choir of South Florida as part of the festival chorus at the Keynote Arts Festival in June 2006. From breakfast on through all the day At home among my friends I stay, But every night I go abroad Afar into the land of Nod. All by myself I have to go, With none to tell me what to do — All alone beside the streams and up the mountain-sides of dreams. The strangest things are there for me, Both things to eat and things to see, and many frightening sights abroad Till morning in the land of Nod. Try as I like to find the way, I never can get back by day, Nor can remember plain and clear The curious music that I hear.  less

"Before the Paling of the Stars" by John Boda. Text by Christina Rossetti. Recorded live on Friday, December 21, 2012, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida....  more"Before the Paling of the Stars" by John Boda. Text by Christina Rossetti. Recorded live on Friday, December 21, 2012, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Susan Dodd. Before the paling of the stars, Before the winter morn, Before the earliest cock crow, Jesus Christ was born: Born in a stable, Cradled in a manger, In the world his hands had made Born a stranger. Priest and king lay fast asleep In Jerusalem; Young and old lay fast asleep In crowded Bethlehem; Saint and angel, ox and ass, Kept a watch together Before the Christmas daybreak In the winter weather. Jesus on his mother's breast In the stable cold, Spotless lamb of God was he, Shepherd of the fold: Let us kneel with Mary maid, With Joseph bent and hoary, With saint and angel, ox and ass, To hail the King of Glory. Before the paling of the stars, ...    less

"Velvet Shoes" by Randall Thompson. Text by Elnior Wylie. Recorded live on December 14, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Apprentice Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Arti...  more"Velvet Shoes" by Randall Thompson. Text by Elnior Wylie. Recorded live on December 14, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Apprentice Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Robert Todd, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Let us walk in the white snow In a soundless space; With footsteps quiet and slow, At a tranquil pace, Under veils of white lace. I shall go shod in silk, and you in wool, White as white cow's milk, More beautiful Than the breast of a gull. We shall walk through the still town In a windless peace; We shall step upon white down, Upon silver fleece, Upon softer than these. We shall walk in velvet shoes: Wherever we go Silence will fall like dews On white silence below. We shall walk in the snow.  less

"The Reindeer Hula" by Stephen Lawrence. Recorded live on December 15, 2013, at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Assistant Directors: Nico...  more"The Reindeer Hula" by Stephen Lawrence. Recorded live on December 15, 2013, at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Assistant Directors: Nicole Straussman and Jorge Valls, Accompanist: Gayle Giese, Choreographer: Lucia Deus.  

"Lollipop Medley" arranged by Gayle Giese. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: N...  more"Lollipop Medley" arranged by Gayle Giese. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Nicole Straussman, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. 1. "On the Good Ship Lollipop" by Richard Whiting, lyrics Sydney Claire 2. "The Lollipop Guild" by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, from the film "The Wizard of Oz" 3. "Lollipop", trad. camp song.  

"America the Beautiful" by Samuel A. Ward. Text by Katharine Lee Bates. Recorded live on May 25, 2015, at St. Joseph's John Knox Village in Tampa, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wal...  more"America the Beautiful" by Samuel A. Ward. Text by Katharine Lee Bates. Recorded live on May 25, 2015, at St. Joseph's John Knox Village in Tampa, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Susan Dodd. O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!  less