Abundance with Grace

We’re all surviving to the best of our ability. But our abilities and resources differ depending on our circumstance, our history, or our environment. Sometimes a person’s burden is not so obvious, especially in festive settings. So in the midst of both abundance and scarcity, may we strive to pay attention and speak and act graciously with each other this Thanksgiving.

NUUC Christmas Concert – December 19

Enjoy selections from Magnificat by J.S. Bach, plus traditional sing-along favorites you won’t want to miss. Guaranteed to make you smile!

Compositions

Five performances in Colorado, Dec 6-21

Internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso, composer, and Colorado native Aaron Larget-Caplan joins Kantorei in holiday performances featuring seasonal selections written for Guitar and Choir, including the world premiere of his own Cider Meditations. We will also feature works by composer and guitarist Jeffrey Van, whose compositions gained widespread recognition through his collaborations with the renowned Dale Warland Singers. Adding to the excitement of new musical discoveries, the concert will present the world premiere of a new work by composer Zanaida Robles, commissioned by Kantorei’s own Scott Horowitz and his wife, Leah Weinberg.

Join us as we combine traditional holiday spirit with contemporary compositions, offering audiences both seasonal favorites and the excitement of hearing new works performed for the first time.

Learn More

LA River Scenes – world premiere!

December 16 in Downtown LA

LA River Scenes blends melodies I made up in my childhood and young adult years with impressions from my recent experiences with the LA River Kayak Safari tour company. The LA River Kayak Safari journey begins with a bike ride along the LA river’s edge followed by an fascinating history lesson about the Elysian River Valley and finally an exciting kayak trip down the luscious river with baby rapids and deep pools of up to 10 feet. My piece reflects the love and pride I feel for my hometown and my excitement over discovering I can go kayaking near Dodger Stadium in summer.

Photo of Aron Kallay by Elisa Ferrari

Event Details

For Fun

HALLOWEEN MEMORIES
I decided to go ahead and carve my pumpkin even though it was several days after Halloween had passed. WORTH IT!!

CHOCOLATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

I helped organize this year’s HW Professional Development Interdisciplinary Session “Chocolate Day!” From holding the huge alien fruit pods to tasting the difference between the bitter, slimy-yet-crunchy fresh fruit and the powdery, complex-flavored bean once the fruit was fermented and roasted; to exploring the intersections of history, art, science, and economics and finally tasting and packaging our work: making chocolate with the help of brilliant friends is fun!

I also did some research and found these two songs about chocolate that I’d never heard before:

Chocolate Sundae on a Saturday Night by Doris Day

Chocolate by Soul Patrol

Ollie and Archie, warming our hearts as they warm each other

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Ready for a spicy season

I’m excited to get back to making music with my choirs at school and at church this week, but it’s hot out here in SoCal! Don’t be deceived by the pumpkin spice lattes and halloween decor showing up in stores— summer is still with us.

As for me, I kinda like the heat, but I’m praying for a mild fire season this year. Be careful out there.

The Arid Land
by Lynn Riggs

There will be willows plunging
Their bloodless roots in air
And the hard crooked flying
Of buzzards circled there.

About the treeless wastes
No sand may ever heap
With water, nothing will run
And nothing creep.

Arid, desolate, defiant
Under its iron band
Of sky, we yet may love
This so sunny land.

Composition

Not gonna lie: I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment, but looking forward to some extra composing time afforded by the upcoming Labor Day holiday… What will you do with yours?

Conducting

As the Director of Music at Neighborhood UU Church Pasadena, I cordially invite you to join our Neighborhood Church Music Ensembles this fall!

Soundcloud Song of the Month

Magnificat

by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Memories of the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Singers from 2022 – what a joy it was to rehearse and perform with this group! Here’s the Coleridge-Taylor Magnificat from that concert.

Listen to Magnificat by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor by Zanaida Stewart Robles on #SoundCloud:

Listen on Soundcloud

For Fun

ZSR Summer Choir Intensive performance on 8/11/24

Mario in awe of Ollie

A rare photo of Archie looking majestic and sexy

One can never get enough kitty love

Stay cool out there!

Originally published via the August 2024 monthly newsletter

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The work

I’m somewhere in between Juneteenth and Independence Day. I feel fiercely American. I feel fiercely Black. Balancing various aspects of my identity is challenging. While I’m finally proud of who I am and where I come from, I am still learning to live authentically and humbly in community with other Americans who are both the same and different from me. In other words, I’m still trying to “do the work.” I inhabit creative spheres where ADEIB and social justice are at the forefront of our consciouness – where we often talk about “doing the work,” which means…well what does it mean??

I asked Perplexity, a conversational search engine, to define “doing the work.” Here’s what it said:

“The phrase “doing the work” is often used in personal development, professional growth, and social justice contexts. It generally refers to the process of putting in effort, time, and energy to achieve a goal, improve oneself, or address important issues…The key aspect of ‘doing the work’ is that it often involves challenging oneself, facing uncomfortable truths, and making consistent efforts over time. It’s about taking active steps towards growth and improvement rather than passively hoping for change. This phrase emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and commitment in achieving meaningful progress in various aspects of life.”

Welp…there you have it.

Soundcloud Song of the Month

Veni Sancte Spiritus

by Zanaida Stewart Robles

I guess you could call it my best seller!
Listen to Veni Sancte Spiritus by on #SoundCloud

Listen on Soundcloud

Composition

My piece “Once I filled My Hand With Mist” in the Out From the Shadows Series with Gentry Publications, edited by Marques L. A. Garrett and James Green, is here!

Check out the video below, or…

Get info and order here

Conducting

🎶 Join the ZSR Choir Intensive! 🎶

Are you a singer aged 15+? Take part in an intergenerational summer choir experience that will:
✨ Sharpen your choral skills
✨ Serve your community
✨ Rediscover your love for choral music
✨ Engage spiritually and culturally through music

FEATURING: Musical Selections from “Songs of Ascent” by Shawn Kirchner

Program Fee: $100 (Suggested Donation)
Proceeds benefit Neighborhood Church Music Programs

📅 Dates:

Aug 5, 6, 7, & 8: 7:15 – 9:15 PM Piano Rehearsals
Aug 10: 10 AM – 12:30 PM Dress Rehearsal
Aug 11: 9 AM CALL, 10 AM Church Service
📍 Performance Location:
Neighborhood UU Church
301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103

🎤 Limited to 50 singers! 🎤

🗓️ REGISTRATION DEADLINE: July 22, 2024

Register now and be part of something special! 🌟

Sign up here

For Fun

*Memories from The Lion King in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl – still unpacking this transformative experience.*

*Favorite Summer Cocktail: Spicy Mango Whiskey Sour*

*Felicity, singing and SLAYING IT with the Zaire King Band at the Laguna Beach Music Festival*

Check them out on Spotify

*Summer trampoline workout thwarted by cats*

Welcome to summer!

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Now the Rejoicing!

Gloria to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth!

Now the rejoicing! Songs fill the hall.
Now the doors open, welcoming all
Of those who have waited with hope for this peace
And this love and this joy to commence with increase.

Gloria to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth!

Now for the child inside of us all;
The twinkling of lights on trees so tall;
For the giving and getting of so many gifts;
For dancing and feasting and mending of rifts.

Gloria to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth!

Now the reunion of fam’lies and friends;
Now the forgiveness and making amends.
Now is the time when we welcome the light; when we find what was lost, when what’s wrong is made right.

Gloria to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth!

Now that we know we’re no longer alone;
Now that the miracle has been made known;
Now that our heaven is made here on earth;
Now at long last, as we welcome new birth!

Gloria to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth!

(This is a carol I wrote for inclusion in the 6th edition of Oxford’s Carols for Choirs, which was published this year. We gave the world premiere performance during the 8pm Christmas Eve service at Neighborhood UU Church, Pasadena)

Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 24 @ 8pm
Neighborhood UU Church, Pasadena

Celebrating Kwanzaa with a Blast from the Past

I got into the Kwanzaa spirit this year by watching the Neighborhood UU Church virtual Kwanzaa service from 2021 on youtube. My segment on “Decorating for Kwanzaa” happens around 13:15. There are also dance videos of my songs “Kujichagulia” (Self Determination) and “Kuumba” (creativity). Watch the entire 44 minute videos service for a beautiful and informative exploration of this annual celebration of Black and African-American culture.