[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...

"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

“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...

We know some of you will flinch at this post, but equally others like to plan early (Leeds Male Voice Choir have their Concert dates booked in right up until Christmas 2024!!).... if you are in the latter camp you can filter our Choral Music list by music...

via YouTube Capture

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...