[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The Sing Up programme for schools was set up by the UK government in January 2007 and was funded by them until April 2012. Their aim is to “give ever...

I. A WATER WHEEL TURNS Inside water, a water wheel turns. The star circulates with the moon. We live in the Night ocean wondering, What are these lights? Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. ...  moreI. A WATER WHEEL TURNS Inside water, a water wheel turns. The star circulates with the moon. We live in the Night ocean wondering, What are these lights? Texts by Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks © 1995 Coleman Barks. Used by permission. Performed by the Millennium Consort, Martin Neary, conductor, and the Pomona College Choir, Donna Di Grazia, director. Water Ruminations is a setting of six poems by the thirteenth-century poet Rumi, in English translations from the Persian by Coleman Barks, for double choir and organ. The poetry sings of literal and spiritual connections between water and sky, a drop of water and human life, flowing water and love, drinking water and its container, the giddiness of spring and rolling seas, and the ocean's gifts and singing. Its images, from 800 years ago, speak to us with both vivid immediacy and transcendence. The idea for the piece originated with the Mellon Elemental Arts Initiative, which proposed funding activities that would involve students in ar...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I really, really don’t like performing outdoors (I’ll come to why in a moment)! But sometimes it’s unavoidable, so what can we do to make...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I recently wrote about some of the reasons why you might think you can’t sing.   Suessian megaphone by theparadigmshifter   One of th...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] I bet you think your choir is a wonderful, friendly little community that welcomes newcomers with open arms. But what if I told you that new members might fi...

That Choir Remembers - November 8, 2015 (conducted by Craig Pike) Metropolitan United Church, Toronto ON Recorded by Kris O'Reilley All Night Vigil, Op 37 ('Vespers') - Sergei Rachmaninoff III. Blessed Is The Man www.thatchoir.com

You have an extraordinary voice, see the stage as an integral experience and are looking forward to working with other young people on a very high musical level? Then you are the missing piece of the puzzle for the CHOREOS ensemble.

(the title comes from the young son of a friend of mine – I knew what he meant!)   [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Like many teachers, I often catch colds during the autumn t...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Everything in the concert is going brilliantly. The choir is firing on all cylinders. The audience are lapping it up, even your lame banter between songs....

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I found myself last week arranging a bunch of songs to teach at the weekend. As usual, I’d left it far too late and was feeling rushed.   &nb...