[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In July 2010, after ten years leading Woven Chords, we had our final Concert together.   Little old ladies by Arty Smokes   As always, we h...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There’s a strange thing that happens in choirs just as a Concert is coming up. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong.     Benny G...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Many choirs dress identically when they perform. Some have a choir uniform, some choose a particular colour for a particular Concert, some have specially m...

"Across the Vast, Eternal Sky" (Gjeilo) performed by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director), the Kairos String Quartet, and Ola Gjeilo (piano). In May, 2013, composer Ola Gjeilo spent 3 days on the Central Washington...  more"Across the Vast, Eternal Sky" (Gjeilo) performed by The Central Washington University Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director), the Kairos String Quartet, and Ola Gjeilo (piano). In May, 2013, composer Ola Gjeilo spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus, joining the choir in recording 4 of his pieces. This performance is from that session. The other pieces were "Sanctus" for a cappella choir, and "Luminous Night of the Soul", accompanied by the composer at the piano and joined by the Kairos Quartet -- the resident faculty string quartet at CWU. The final piece, "Ubi Caritas II: Through Infinite Ages", was recorded both in an unaccompanied rendition (how it is written and published) and in a version with Mr. Gjeilo improvising an accompaniment to the choir. This was Ola's second time on CWU's campus. His first visit was in the spring of 2011 and yielded 5 videos of his music, a wide-ranging interview with the composer and other bonus material. It resulted in a DVD entitled "In the M...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   People sometimes welcome a distraction from watching rows of identically dressed choristers singing with books in front of their faces.   Photo by...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s only September, but many choirs are already thinking of their Christmas Concerts. Christmas is also the time of year when choirs release new CDs...

“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

A brilliant moment from our Concert in Stirling's Tolbooth Theatre. :-) 5/5/15

Let’s a talk about the other Concert hall regarding Choral Celebration and Laurea Mundi Budapest: The Palace of Arts, known to Hungarians simply as Müpa is one of Hungary's best known cultural brands and one of its most modern cultural institu...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s the final rehearsal before your big Concert. The warm up is over and everyone is ready to go. But a handful of singers (the usual suspects...