[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...

"A Sad Song" by Randall Thompson, from the song cycle "Rosemary". Text by Stephen Vincent Benét. Recorded live on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Christ Lutheran Church in Oakland Park, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of S...  more"A Sad Song" by Randall Thompson, from the song cycle "Rosemary". Text by Stephen Vincent Benét. Recorded live on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at Christ Lutheran Church in Oakland Park, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson. Rosemary, Rosemary, There's a Pig in your garden, With silk bristles frizzy And tushes of snow! But Rosemary was cautious, She said, "Beg your pardon! I'm really too busy To look down below." Rosemary, Rosemary, There's a Bird in your kitchen! His voice is gold water, He says, "Pretty Poll!" But Rosemary heard nothing, Putting stitch after stitch in The dress of a daughter, Her thirty-sixth doll. Rosemary, Rosemary, A silver-ringed Rabbit! He bridles and gentles And wants you astride! "I prefer," said Rosemary, "To ride a Good Habit." She went buying black lentils- She did till she died.  less

"Luminous 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). In May, 2013, composer Ol...  more"Luminous 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). 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 of Gjeilo's "Luminous Night of the Soul" is from that session. The other pieces were "Sanctus" for a cappella Choir, and "Across The Vast, Eternal Sky", also with the composer at the piano and joined by the Kairos Quartet. 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...    less

"I See the Heaven's Glories Shine" by Andrea Ramsey. Text "No Coward Soul Is Mine" by Emily Brontë. Recorded live on May 3, 2015, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of S...  more"I See the Heaven's Glories Shine" by Andrea Ramsey. Text "No Coward Soul Is Mine" by Emily Brontë. Recorded live on May 3, 2015, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere I see Heaven's glories shine And Faith shines equal, arming me from Fear O God within my breast Almighty, ever-present Deity Life that in me has rest As I, Undying Life, have power in Thee With wide-embracing love Thy spirit animates eternal years Pervades and broods above, Changes, sustains, dissolves, creates and rears Though Earth and Man were gone And suns and universes ceased to be And Thou wert left alone, Every existence would exist in thee  less

Formed in 2016 as Academy Voices, North Sky Chorale performs in and around Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It typically assembles a Choir for a brief time before each performance, then disbands until just before the next concert when a new Choir is formed. The s...  moreFormed in 2016 as Academy Voices, North Sky Chorale performs in and around Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It typically assembles a Choir for a brief time before each performance, then disbands until just before the next concert when a new Choir is formed. The singers may or may not be the same each time. The Choir is known for its freshness of sound and heart felt connections with the listener.  

"Under the Greenwood Tree" by Mary Carmichael. Text from "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare. Recorded live on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choi...  more"Under the Greenwood Tree" by Mary Carmichael. Text from "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare. Recorded live on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese.  

Schola Cantorum, 12 May 2012, Endler Hall Stellenbosch - The academic chamber Choir of the Department of Music of Stellenbosch University, South Africa

"A Palette to Paint Us as We Are" by Elizabeth Alexander. Text by Geral Rich. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers Ensemble of the Girl Choir ...  more"A Palette to Paint Us as We Are" by Elizabeth Alexander. Text by Geral Rich. Recorded live on Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers Ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Give us a palette to paint us as we are. Enough of black and white, yellow and red, Those false colors that sham at fact. Coffee chocolate, and cafe au lait Ivoried-saffron and saffroned-ivory, Bronze and brass, copper and rose gold, Tea and pale butter, golden almond, Infinite varieties of browns and tans, Pale rose, pink, and soft rose cream, Mahogany, oak, cedar, and champagne. These are the colors of people I see, Not black and white, not yellow and red. Those false colors no longer will do. Give us a palette to paint us true.  less