This year, dozens of choral programs across the United States have closed their doors. Each of us has received messages from conductors saying things like:
" I’d love to participate… but our choral program was just shut down after 129 years of vibrant activity.”"
But there was one message that hit closer than all the rest.
Julian Bryson—one of us—had to cancel a collaboration because Jacksonville University had shut down its choral program overnight. No final concert. No time to say goodbye.
In that moment, we (Julian Bryson, Giulio De Carlo, and Santiago Veros) found ourselves asking: What remains when everything else is taken away? The answer was immediate: love. Not in a sentimental sense, but as a force, as a choice—the thing that endures when stages are empty and rehearsals go quiet.
That same day, we decided to create something together. Not a protest. Not a lament. A tribute.
We called it Odes to Love: a collection of three brand-new choral works—each with a distinct tempo and emotional quality—designed to be premiered during the 2025–2026 season by choirs around the world.
Each piece carries its own identity:
Fire-Flowers by Julian Bryson: bold, rhythmic, and full of forward motion.
Twice in a Lifetime by Giulio De Carlo: lyrical, contemplative, and grounded in memory and tenderness.
Down by the Salley Gardens by Santiago Veros: intimate, melancholic, and carefully reimagined for choir.
Together, they offer variety, accessibility, and emotional depth—written with love and intended to bring something meaningful into the lives of both performers and audiences.
Choirs who join the consortium will receive:
A professionally engraved PDF of all three works
Exclusive performance rights through June 2026
A personalized dedication printed inside the scores
Access to behind-the-scenes updates and insights from the composers
And for patrons, a signed physical copy of the score mailed to your door
This is more than just a commissioning opportunity. It’s a way of creating together in response to a shared reality. Every participating choir becomes part of this story—not just as performers, but as collaborators in something built on resilience, friendship, and a shared belief in the power of choral music.
We hope this is just the beginning. Along with sharing the music, we’d love to build relationships with the choirs who join—whether through virtual conversations, in-person residencies, composer visits, or collaborative workshops.
This project is not simply about sending scores. It’s about building connection and community—through music, through presence, and through shared values.
Odes to Love is the kind of project we believe you'll want to tell someone about. Not because it’s trendy or flashy, but because it’s real. Because in a time where so many things are disappearing, this is something being created. Something full of meaning.
If you conduct a choir—or simply love choral music—and this story resonates with you, we’d love to have you on board. And if you know someone who would love to be part of it, please share it with them.
Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer our singers is music that was born from truth.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/odes-to-love
With gratitude,
Julian Bryson, Giulio De Carlo & Santiago Veros
