Phoenix Chorale Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director Composer: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Text: WH Auden (1907-1973) Performed at 'unCLOUDED day', a concert to celebrate the return of live choral music following the Covid-19 pandemic. Solo...  morePhoenix Chorale Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director Composer: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Text: WH Auden (1907-1973) Performed at 'unCLOUDED day', a concert to celebrate the return of live choral music following the Covid-19 pandemic. Soloists: Lies’l Hill, soprano Nina Garguilo, soprano Julia Powers, alto Thomas Strawser, tenor Christopher Herrera, bass Learn more about Phoenix Chorale at https://www.phoenixChorale.org If you like our music, please Subscribe! Video Direction: Andrew Staples Sound Engineering: Sound Mirror I In a garden shady this holy lady With reverent cadence and subtle psalm, Like a black swan as death came on Poured forth her song in perfect calm: And by ocean's margin this innocent virgin Constructed an organ to enlarge her prayer, And notes tremendous from her great engine Thundered out on the Roman air. Blonde Aphrodite rose up excited, Moved to delight by the melody, White as an orchid she rode quite naked In an oyster shell on top of the ...    less

When I was a junior in college, my mother was fighting breast cancer and my way of coping with it was to write a choral piece for her. I wrote “Pour Toi, Mère” (For You, Mother) which premiered at my senior composition recital. A few years later, Kevin F...  moreWhen I was a junior in college, my mother was fighting breast cancer and my way of coping with it was to write a choral piece for her. I wrote “Pour Toi, Mère” (For You, Mother) which premiered at my senior composition recital. A few years later, Kevin Fenton programmed that piece for his choir at FSU. He shared with me his strong connection with the piece at a time when his sister-in-law, Peggy Fenton was also fighting breast cancer. Sadly, Peggy Fenton lost her fight with cancer in 2009. That same year Kevin contacted me and asked if I would write a piece in her memory for her husband and her two daughters. He shared with me a video of a presentation she did at the Mother’s Day banquet at her church, just a few days before her passing. The title of her presentation was “From Hats to Crown”. She shared stories about her life and the many relationship roles one plays: as a daughter, a sister, as a wife, a mother and a teacher. As she talked about each role she wore a different hat. She ended with a crown, shar...    less

The Drake Choir is Drake University’s select touring ensemble, performing regionally on an annual basis and internationally every four years, most recently in May 2012. It has appeared in major venues in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Wales...  moreThe Drake Choir is Drake University’s select touring ensemble, performing regionally on an annual basis and internationally every four years, most recently in May 2012. It has appeared in major venues in Austria, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Wales, and Ireland. The ensemble regularly collaborates with the Des Moines Symphony and sang the Beethoven Ninth Symphony with that orchestra in September 2011. The Drake Choir has performed in Carnegie Hall and has been featured on the conference program of the American Choral Directors Association North Central Division. The ensemble consists of 64-70 singers who are first-year students through seniors and who represent every College of the University. Auditions for returning students take place in April and for new students during the weekend preceding the start of the fall semester. The ensemble rehearses Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 3:30-5:00 p.m. and is conducted by Dr. Aimee Beckmann-Collier, Director of Choral Studies and Professor of Condcuting.  less

Gloria Dei Chorale, Mobile, AL Louis F. Daniel, Director "O Great Mystery" by Louis F. Daniel, All Rights Reserved

This original composition being premiered this afternoon was commissioned by Rainier Chorale “in honor of Ron Bayer, Artistic Director, for his 20 years of dedicated service and leadership.” Written by well-known and respected contemporary composer David ...  moreThis original composition being premiered this afternoon was commissioned by Rainier Chorale “in honor of Ron Bayer, Artistic Director, for his 20 years of dedicated service and leadership.” Written by well-known and respected contemporary composer David Dickau, it hauntingly sets a very thoughtful text by Will Dromgoole. In it, Dromgoole tells the story of an old man who approaches a deep and wide water-filled chasm. He crosses in the evening as he is unafraid, then builds a bridge to span the tide. A fellow pilgrim questions why an old man would build the bridge, as he would surely never pass this way again in his lifetime. The old man lifts his grey head and responds to the questioning traveler that a youth is to follow after him. He too, would need to cross in the twilight dim. The old man answers, “I am building this bridge for him.” The commission process was an interesting and fascinating one in which to be involved. Dr. Dickau was originally approached a year or so ago by the Chorale, and was inter...    less

Hymn

This is actually our 3rd day of practice...sadly, it's also the performance day

Omnia Sol (Let Your Heart Be Staid) Z. Randall Stroope Western High School Fort Lauderdale, FL US Select Women's Ensemble Brandon Monse, director Gary Stroh, piano Florida Vocal Association 2012 South State Choral Music Performance Assessmen...  moreOmnia Sol (Let Your Heart Be Staid) Z. Randall Stroope Western High School Fort Lauderdale, FL US Select Women's Ensemble Brandon Monse, director Gary Stroh, piano Florida Vocal Association 2012 South State Choral Music Performance Assessment Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FL May 2, 2012  

Some reactions to our April 2nd and 3rd concerts with Slavyanka choir. (April 2 and 3, 2011) www.slavicChorale.org