Half of California’s school music programs have been Canceled in the last eight years. This is removing an important tool for childhood development. Below, we will look at How singing helps brain development and How to pick up the slack where t...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I often get enquiries From people looking for one-to-one singing lessons. I tell them that unfortunately I don’t offer them.     I...

[this is an updated version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about 10 ways to be a better choir member. This was prompted by an earlier post on whether you need singing lessons or not i...

Wedding Recessional last February 1, 2014

A piece From Jonathan Baltera's graduate conducting recital.

"How Can I Keep From Singing," arr. Gwyneth Walker. Based upon a Quaker hymn. Recorded live on Friday, March 15, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church, Pompano Beach, Florida. Performed by the Saint Mary's College Women's Choir and the Concert Choir ensem...  more"How Can I Keep From Singing," arr. Gwyneth Walker. Based upon a Quaker hymn. Recorded live on Friday, March 15, 2013, at First Presbyterian Church, Pompano Beach, Florida. Performed by the Saint Mary's College Women's Choir and the Concert Choir ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Conductor: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. http://www.saintmarys.edu/music-womens-choir  

"Lux Arumque" by Eric Whitacre. Text "Light and Gold" by Edward Esch, Latin translation by Charles Anthony Silvestri. Recorded live on December 8, 2013, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers and Me...  more"Lux Arumque" by Eric Whitacre. Text "Light and Gold" by Edward Esch, Latin translation by Charles Anthony Silvestri. Recorded live on December 8, 2013, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Chamber Singers and Men's Auxiliary ensembles of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson.  

Diponegoro University Choir - Rimini International Choral Competition 2014, sacred category, gold medal (Champion / 1st place category) Conducted by Jefry Franklin Bode

"The Singing Place" by Joan Szymko. Text by Lily A. Long. Recorded live on May 15, 2015, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Dir...  more"The Singing Place" by Joan Szymko. Text by Lily A. Long. Recorded live on May 15, 2015, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Concert Choir ensemble of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Artistic Director: Wallis Peterson, Accompanist: Gayle Giese. Cold may lie the day, And bare of grace; At night I slip away To the Singing Place. A border of mist and doubt Before the gate, And the Dancing Stars grow still As hushed I wait. Then faint and far away I catch the beat In broken rhythm and rhyme of joyous feet,— Lifting waves of sound That will rise and swell (If the prying eyes of thought Break not the spell), Rise and swell and retreat And fall and flee, As over the edge of sleep They beckon me. And I wait as the seaweed waits For the lifting tide; To ask would be to awake,— To be denied. I cloud my eyes in the mist ...    less