Thank You FMEA!

From 1/18/2015

As I reflect on all that has happened in the past three days, I am humbled by the tremendous opportunities provided by the Florida Music Educator's Association.  From reconnecting with friends (choral music is SUCH a small world) to making new ones, the entire experience was truly extraordinary!

Thank you to the All-State Concert Band and Men's Chorus for an exciting premiere.  I really enjoyed your questions and conversations and hope we have many more opportunities to work together in the future.  The Florida Vocal and Bandmasters Associations were wonderful to work with, as were the conductors, Dr. Jeff Johnson and Dr. Rebecca Phillips.  

FMEA should serve as a model for other music education organizations, and I am truly blessed to have been able to take part in their celebration of music. (Especially since it was more than 40 degrees warmer there than in Quincy!).

Clarion Call Information Sheet

From 1/16/2015

Here is an explanation of how I put Clarion Call together and what it means to me.  The beauty of music, though, is that we all bring our own interpretations and experiences, so feel free to explore the music on your own terms.  Think of this as a spoiler or the key to a crossword puzzle.  It's more fun to fill in the answers yourself, but sometimes it's nice to know if someone else agrees with you.

Florida Vocal Association All-State Men's Chorus Commission

From 12/5/2014:

I am so excited to announce that the Florida Vocal Association and Florida Bandmasters Association has commissioned me to compose a piece for their combined Men's Chorus and Concert Band.  It is entitled Clarion Call (thanks to my friend and colleague, Adam Beeken for suggesting such a fantastic title) and combines excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. (special thanks to the King Center in Atlanta, GA for granting permission to use the text).  

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the text speaks to unity, brotherhood, and working together toward a brighter tomorrow.  I can think of no more important message to share with the world given recent events.  Woven among the texts are melodies and rhythms derived from the letters and syllables of each author's name as well as Civil-War era bugle and drum calls.  

The performance will be Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Tampa, and conducted by the incomparable Jeff Johnson from the University of Kentucky.  More information coming soon...

First Week at Curry College

From 9/5/2014:

I have enjoyed a fantastic first week at Curry College!  So many wonderful students and such fun topics to discuss.  I'm especially excited about SING! Curry's choir.  If you're a Curry student looking to improve your vocal skills, join us!

• MUS 3310
• 4-6:30 PM on Wednesdays
• Alumni Recreation Center
• 2 credit hours (it counts toward your upper level CLAC electives)
• Singers of all ability and experience levels are welcome  
• We'll sing a wide variety of rep--Sing-Off! style a cappella, classical, spirituals, folk songs, and all kinds of other things...bring ideas and suggestions!
• Contact Professor Bryson for more information or just show up at rehearsal on the 10th.

Two Exciting Concerts This Week?

From 3/25/2014:

Tonight at 7 PM in the Singletary Center for the Arts, the UK Choristers and Chorale present a fantastic concert, "feet on the ground...head in the clouds".  Two diverse sets range from Tarik O'Reagan's daring The Ecstasies Above to VIDA's Famine Song (which I get to conduct) and Moses Hogan's The Battle of Jericho.

Thursday night at 7:30 in the Singletary Center for the Arts, the UK Men's Chorus and Women's Choir sing.  I'm really excited about another performance of my arrangement of Minstrel Boy (commissioned by the UK Men's Chorus), especially since we will be singing it in the round--a one-of-a-kind performance not to be missed.

For more information (and to keep up with all future UK Choirs events), click here.

...with music... Audio Available!

From 3/13/2014

Last week's recording of ...with music... is now available by clicking here.  It was premiered at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses Festival hosted by the Rutgers University Glee Club by the commissioning choir: YPAS's Gentlemen's Ensemble, Jacob Cook, director.  If you like it, please share it!  (Especially with any Men's Chorus directors you know).  

The sheet music is available at CadenzaOne.com (or just click here.)

Thanks to YPAS and Jacob Cook for allowing me to be a part of this very special experience.  And also to the Niles Estate, Hope Koehler, and Ron Pen for making all of this possible.  John Jacob Niles' music is beautiful, and there are so many unpublished works that need to be heard.  If you are interested in exploring the collection (or commissioning choral arrangements of other pieces), they are available in the UK Special Collections Library (and trust me, there are some gems in there).

Kudos to YPAS

From 3/6/2014:

I'm having a great time in New Brunswick and New York City with the YPAS Gentlemen's Ensemble.  The arrangement of "...with music..." featuring two unpublished songs of John Jacob Niles that they commissioned from me is now live here.  Hopefully recordings will be soon to follow!

Diocese of Lexington Choirs Premiere Arrangement

From 2/23/2014:

The Catholic Schools and Parishes of the Diocese of Lexington commissioned a new arrangement of the classic hymn, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" in honor of their 10th annual Area Choir Concert.  Dedicated to their departing Bishop, Ronald Gainer, the piece came together after only about 20 minutes of rehearsal.  I was very pleased with the performance and look forward to posting audio and video as soon as it is available.  Sheet music is now available at CadenzaOne.com.

Special shout out to Adam Beeken for suggesting the project and to Rob Vanover for realizing the accompaniment with tremendous sensitivity.