[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

“Dark Night of the Soul” (Ola Gjeilo) is sung by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) joined by Ola Gjeilo on the piano and the Kairos String Quartet (comprised of CWU string faculty) TEXT: One dark night, fired...  more“Dark Night of the Soul” (Ola Gjeilo) is sung by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) joined by Ola Gjeilo on the piano and the Kairos String Quartet (comprised of CWU string faculty) TEXT: One dark night, fired with love’s urgent longings —ah, the sheer grace!— I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled. In darkness, and secure, by the secret ladder, disguised, —ah, the sheer grace!— in darkness and concealment, my house being now all stilled. On that glad night, in secret, for no one saw me, nor did I look at anything, with no other light or guide than the one that burned in my heart. - St. John of the Cross (1542-1592) ABOUT THE WORK: “Dark Night of the Soul was written in 2010, and premiered that year by the Phoenix Chorale. The text, three stanzas from St. John of the Cross’ magical poem Dark Night of the Soul, was suggested to me by Joel Rinsema, Executive Director of the Phoenix Chorale, and I fell in love with its passio...    less

Recorded at a Concert to mark the fifth anniversary.

From our August 11 ,2013, Concert, "From Darkness Into Light"

Why would anyone bother to join a choir? Why would somebody ever want to do that? Most of us will remember some experience singing at school- be it good or bad- the national anthem, some song for a Concert or a play with a song, a teacher strumming a ...

Il est bel et bon de Pierre Passereau par les Canterbury Voices en Concert à Ris Orangis sous la direction de Kerry Boyle

"Hallelujah" from Acappellago December 2013 Concert, Congregational Church of Batavia, 12-8-2013.

First Christmas Concert. Year 2012

http://www.moodswingchoir.com A little vision from our 2011 Concert. Now with stunning choreography!!

Live performance from our Christmas Concert, 2021