Sunday, March 8, 2009

March update

The first picture is with Craig Jessop, former director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He is now at Utah State University. The next one was taken at a combined choir rehearsal at BYU. There are nearly 1000 singers in the BYU choirs. The third picture was taken near Park City. And the final one is with two of my favorite conductors, Ron Staheli and Rosalind Hall. The short videos near the end of this post are from BYU Men's Chorus rehearsals. The first is of the guys singing Bach with Craig guest conducting. The final one is just lots of fun.

It's been a fast-paced week at ACDA in Oklahoma City. I admit that the choirs overall were less stunning than usual because I just spent the month of February with the best! But...nonetheless I've heard some fantastic singing this week. Dallas was well-represented by Cynthia Nott and the Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas. She leads such a fine program. Perhaps the highlights for me were a Friday Peace Event at the memorial site of the 1995 bombing and a Saturday performance by the Incheon City Chorale from Korea. There is good coverage of the Peace Event here. If you've never visited the memorial site and museum, take the time to do so. I spent a few hours there several years ago, and that experience is forever etched into my mind and my heart.

I leave soon for a bit of vacation, and will likely not blog again until I return at the end of the month. If you are in the Dallas area, please don't miss the Mississippi College Singers on March 29. They will be the St. Andrew service choir at 9:30 and 11 that morning, then they will perform a brief 30-35 minute concert, immediately following the 11 a.m. worship hour.