Composer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Northern LIghts". In mid-April, 2011, Ola spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus for a project in which he joined the choir in ...  moreComposer/pianist Ola Gjeilo joins the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) in presenting Gjeilo's "Northern LIghts". In mid-April, 2011, Ola spent 3 days on the Central Washington University Campus for a project in which he joined the choir in recording 3 of his compositions. On this video, Gjeilo adds an improvised accompaniment (in a one-take rendition) to his composition "Northern Lights"-- which is published as an unaccompanied piece. Because of his view that improvising is a wonderful snapshot of artists "at that moment", the project was entitled "In the Moment". The other composition to which he created an improvised accompaniment was "Ubi Caritas". He also accompanied the choir on "The Ground", which includes CWU's resident faculty quartet -- the Kairos String Quartet. Here are the other "In the Moment" YouTube URL's: The project's trailer/preview video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrvEgQl57b0 Ubi Caritas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_7mcGqsKP8 The Ground: http://www.yo...    less

The Milwaukee Choral Artists sing in concert on October 23, 2010 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, WI "A Prayer for Peace" by Paula Foley Tillen. Milwaukee Choral Artists, Sharon Hansen, Music Director. The text, by Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh,...  moreThe Milwaukee Choral Artists sing in concert on October 23, 2010 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, WI "A Prayer for Peace" by Paula Foley Tillen. Milwaukee Choral Artists, Sharon Hansen, Music Director. The text, by Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh, was written as a peace chant in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In beauty, sitting on a lotus flower, Lord Buddha, quiet and solid. Your humble disciple, calm and pure of heart, Forms a lotus flower with the hands, and offers this heartfelt prayer: Homage to all Buddhas in the ten directions. Because of your love for all people, have compassion on us. Help us to remember we are just one family, North and South. Help us rekindle our compassion and brotherhood. May your compassion help us to overcome our hatred. Humbly we open our heArts to you: Water the flowers of our spirits with your deep understanding. Humbly we open our heArts to you: Help our heArts grow light. Homage to all Buddhas in the ten directions. Because of your love for all p...    less

The Major Minors Children’s Choir have been busy performing across the region this year. Their next concert features choir singing and solos from members of the choir who performed at the Hutt Valley Performing Arts Competitions  in July. The C...

Svete Tihiy (Alexander Gretchaninov) is sung by the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) "Hail, Gladsome Light" was sung in mid-April, 2011. This video was recorded in the Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music Building Concert Hall at Central Washington ...  moreSvete Tihiy (Alexander Gretchaninov) is sung by the CWU Chamber Choir (Gary Weidenaar, director) "Hail, Gladsome Light" was sung in mid-April, 2011. This video was recorded in the Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music Building Concert Hall at Central Washington University, using 5 HD cameras. Other YouTube videos of the Choir include music by Claudio Monteverdi, John Muehleisen, Einojuhani Rautavaara., Vijay Singh, Tomás Luis da Victoria, and Ola Gjeilo (in which the composer joins the choir on Piano) Monteverdi's Sestina can be found on the following two videos: (pieces 1-3 & 4-6): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5_qClRojFw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G786-GV1NT8 The rest of the videos can be found on CWU Music Department's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CWUMusicdept Follow the choir on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CWU.Chamber.Choir All CWU Chamber Choir videos found on YouTube are posted only after an agreement is reached or a contract is signed with the composer and/o...    less

(A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog Choral Clarity) How do we measure success? This, of course, is a lifelong question that stares us in the face every day. This article is far less philosophical, but does perhaps pose a way ...

A Professional Chorus of Amateur Singers Created in 2003, Harbourtown Sound is the Hamilton Chapter of the Ontario District of the Barbershop Harmony Society…but we are so much more! Beyond the traditional barbershop-shop style, Harbourtown Sound...  moreA Professional Chorus of Amateur Singers Created in 2003, Harbourtown Sound is the Hamilton Chapter of the Ontario District of the Barbershop Harmony Society…but we are so much more! Beyond the traditional barbershop-shop style, Harbourtown Sound offers a wide range of sounds and professional a cappella entertainment styles to bring back fond memories or create new ones. From singing telegrams to large Choral performances, Harbourtown Sound delivers memorable a cappella jazz, swing, soft rock, pop, traditional and inspirational music performances for any occasion. Harbourtown Sound is proud to support local charities while serving, educating and entertaining community, business and charitable organization members as well as senior citizens and school children in the greater Halton-Hamilton region. As with our Vision our Mission has remained constant from the beginning, "The Harbourtown Sound Chorus endeavours to: 1. Maintain a high-quality, performance-driven and competitive chorus through ...    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

The following text has first been pusblished on the INTERKULTUR Blog, "Personal reports" section.   By Marijan Milić (President of Croatian Music Society Čarobna frula, Conductor of youth choir Čarobna frula) When I saw on web the announcement...

Live performance at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL on May 18th, 2015

Live performance at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL on May 18th, 2015