"The Little Birch Tree," Russian folk song, arr. Mary Goetze. Recorded live on May 15, 2015, 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...  more"The Little Birch Tree," Russian folk song, arr. Mary Goetze. Recorded live on May 15, 2015, 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 Director: Jorge Valls, Accompanist: Emme Wien, Flute: Nicole Straussman. See the lovely birch in the meadow, Curly leaves all dancing when the wind blows. Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows, Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows. Oh, my little tree, I need branches, For the silver flutes I need branches. Loo-lee-loo, three branches, Loo-lee-loo, three branches. From another birch I will make now, I will make a tingling balalaika. Loo-lee-loo, balalaika, Loo-lee-loo, balalaika. When I play my new balalaika, I will think of you, my lovely birch tree. Loo-lee-loo, lovely birch tree, Loo-lee-loo, lovely birch tree.  less

"Solfege Santa" by Cristi Cary Miller. Based upon "Jingle Bells" by J. Pierpont. Recorded live on Friday, December 14, 2012, at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of The Girl Choir of South Florida....  more"Solfege Santa" by Cristi Cary Miller. Based upon "Jingle Bells" by J. Pierpont. Recorded live on Friday, December 14, 2012, at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Primes Choir Ensemble of The Girl Choir of South Florida. Assistant Director: Jorge Valls, Accompanist: Gayle Giese, Choreographer: Lucia Deus. One day Santa Claus Did a most peculiar thing He enrolled in music class So he could learn to sing He worked so very hard and practiced all the day Soon ev'ry song that Santa knew He sang the solfege way and he sang.... Mi mi mi, mi mi mi, Mi sol, do re mi Fa fa fa fa, fa mi mi mi Sol sol fa re do Mrs. Claus was quite impressed and she, too, very soon Teamed up with Santa Claus To join him in his tune The elves and reindeer, too, Soon left their work and play To be apart of Santa's Choir and sing the solfege way. and they sang.... Mi mi mi, mi mi mi, Mi sol, do re mi Fa fa fa fa, fa mi mi mi Sol sol fa re do Now ev'ry afternoon Santa...    less

"Deck the Halls (in 7/8)", Welsh carol, arr. James McKelvy. Recorded live on December 14, 2012, at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis P...  more"Deck the Halls (in 7/8)", Welsh carol, arr. James McKelvy. Recorded live on December 14, 2012, at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson. Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la. 'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la la la la. Don we now our gay apparel Fa la la la la la la la la. Troll the ancient Christmas carol, Fa la la la la la la la la. See the blazing yule before us, Fa la la la la la la la la. Strike the harp and join the chorus. Fa la la la la la la la la. Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la la la la la. While I tell of Christmas treasure, Fa la la la la la la la la. Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la la la la la. Hail the new, ye lads and lasses! Fa la la la la la la la la. Sing we joyous all together, Fa la la la la la la la la. Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la la la la la.  less

"Scarborough Fair", English folk song, arr. Charlene Archibeque. Recorded live on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Lyric Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Direct...  more"Scarborough Fair", English folk song, arr. Charlene Archibeque. Recorded live on Sunday, May 4, 2014, 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.  

"Magical Kingdom" by John Rutter. Recorded live on Friday, May 17, 2013, 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...  more"Magical Kingdom" by John Rutter. Recorded live on Friday, May 17, 2013, 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: Susan Dodd.  

"Bashana Haba'ah" by Nurit Hirsch. Text by Ehud Manor. Edited by Henry Leck. Recorded live on December 16, 2016, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Apprentice Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of ...  more"Bashana Haba'ah" by Nurit Hirsch. Text by Ehud Manor. Edited by Henry Leck. Recorded live on December 16, 2016, 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. Assistant Director: Jorge Valls, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Bashana haba'a Neishev al hamirpeset Ve'nispor tziporim nodedot, Yeladim bechufsha Yesachak'u tofeset Bein habayit l've'in hasadot Od tireh, od tireh. Translation: Next year we will sit on the porch and count migrating birds. Children on vacation will play catch between the house and the fields. You will yet see, how good it will be next year.  less

English Poetic translation of Haitian Creole text: "Ding, ding, ding", I hear "ding", The bell strikes, "ding" The month of July strikes "ding" on all the calendars. All the children are free, Teachers are gone, In all corners of the country, scho...  moreEnglish Poetic translation of Haitian Creole text: "Ding, ding, ding", I hear "ding", The bell strikes, "ding" The month of July strikes "ding" on all the calendars. All the children are free, Teachers are gone, In all corners of the country, school is out! All the pilgrims are ready; it's the frivolous party season! The feast has begun, everywhere it's part time! Many have arrived at Lakou Migonga. Chickens, turkeys and ducks Are carousing in the yard. Fathers, grandfathers, brothers and sisters are gathered, Neighbors and friends, we all make one family. These are all customs in the country of Haiti. Artocarpus incisa, Millet, Sugarcanes are flourishing. Mangos and Avocados are falling all day long. The night before, it's wood burning, The next day, it's the ten a.m. Mass. Everyone's celebrating: Hail to Saint James the Great! It's "Fèt Chanpèt"! Oh, what a beautiful season, It's joy, it's festivity! After Plaine-du-Nord, at Limonade we party some more. It's the frivolo...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Some years ago I did some voice-only arrangements of Queen songs for a weekend workshop. I ended up listening to a lot of Queen recordings!   ...

With age, Vocal cords become less flexible and most singers find that it becomes harder to hit the high notes as the years go by. This can become a challenge, especially for older Choir members. It’s important to take care of your voi...