Category: Uncategorized

Zanaida Stewart Robles Singers logo under dramatic stage lights with text announcing the group is officially not-for-profit

ZANAIDA STEWART ROBLES SINGERS

We’re now an official not-for-profit organization!!

Zanaida Stewart Robles Singers creates intergenerational artistic experiences by inspiring and cultivating cultural, intellectual, and spiritual engagement through choral music. 

The ZSR Singers Summer Choir Intensive
is happening August 4-10 at
Neighborhood UU Church, Pasadena.
Cost is $100 per person.
Ages 16+
Visit www.zanaidarobles.com to register or for more info.
Zanaida Stewart Robles conducts a diverse choir and string ensemble in performance at Neighborhood UU Church, with colorful stoles and a pipe organ in the background.

Compositions

Exterior view of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in Missouri, featuring Romanesque architecture, green-tiled domes, and twin towers against a cloudy sky.

New work headed for St. Louis

I just submitted the manuscript for my new setting of O Magnum Mysterium for soprano and organ. The work was commissioned the American Guild of Organists and will be premiered next year at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis during the 2026 AGO National Convention.

Singing

Vocal soloist performs with choir, conductor, and chamber ensemble on stage during a concert, with projected text above honoring Ahmaud Arbery.

Photo by Mercy Luna

Saturday, May 24 was a night of powerful choral singing at the Wallis Theater in Beverly Hills. I was honored to be a soloist with the GRAMMY Award-winning group Tonality in the premiere performance of Alexander Lloyd Blake’s new work entitled Running From, Running To: A Musical Reflection on Ahmaud Arbery.

Read more about this powerful work in these news features in the LA Times and the LA Sentinel

Travel

My HW choral students performed Haydn’s Paukenmesse at Carnegie Hall earlier this month. Though I didn’t conduct the performance myself, it was incredibly rewarding to hear the singers rave about their experience and to see them dance together with joy and pride over their accomplishments. Dr. Julie Yu-Oppenheim was efficient, expressive, and hilarious in rehearsal. And she was masterful on the podium in performance. My students loved her! When we weren’t in rehearsal, we got to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Big Apple.

For Fun

Group of colleagues enjoying an outdoor dinner at a long marble table at a restaurant, smiling and relaxed in the evening sunlight with pizza and drinks.

We had a fun summer-time meet-up with members of the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) and composers from the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA)

Passengers smiling and interacting with a calm tabby cat sitting on someone’s lap during a flight, capturing a joyful moment aboard a commercial airplane.

I sat next to a kitten on the plane to New York!

Happy summer travels

(or staycays), everyone!

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Tips for Living with Social Media

3 Strikes

When scrolling, try closing the app and walking away after three irritating posts. Three strikes, I’m out!

Limits

I set a timer for the period of time of my choice. Or, I might commit to only scrolling past 20 posts, or 10 posts, or however many I deem appropriate for my needs at the moment. I’m better when I’m mindful about my time.

Healthy Scrolling

Here are several pages/people that keep me healthy and happy while scrolling on my socials. I try to visit 5-10 of these each day (unless the three-strikes law thwarts my efforts). I like to think it improves my algorithm, too. I also regularly add to, subtract from, and change up this list:

  • Some facet of the American Choral Directors Association
  • Black and Obsessed with K-Dramas
  • Rhythms of the Village Productions (Altadena, CA)
  • A family member or friend whose political views differ from mine but whose life and work I deeply respect.
  • The Zanaida Stewart Robles Singers
  • Neighborhood UU Church or some other spiritual/religious institution to which I’m connected.
  • Harvard-Westlake School or some other educational institution to which I’m connected.
  • An award-winning performing artist or visual artist 
  • Duolingo
  • An award-winning athlete
  • A family member or friend that I absolutely adore

Upcoming Events

Live in the Lounge: HERS Music Ensemble

The Ebell of LA is proud to present to you a curated voice salon featuring the works of Los Angeles women composers by Hers: Music Ensemble, a newly formed group dedicated to the empowerment and uplifting of musical artists who identify as female. For this special evening at The Ebell, award-winning vocalists Karen Hogle Brown and Tamara Bevard will present vocal selections by celebrated LA composers including Reena Esmail, Zanaida Robles, Dale Trumbore and many more.

Join us for a curated voice salon that will celebrate the amazing creations of musical art happening right in our own beloved city.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025
7:30 PM

Info and Tickets

For Fun

Fun times in Louisville as Guest Conductor for the Kentucky Music Educators Association SSAA All-State Honor Choir.

New haircut with cool African coat and earrings

Ollie warning me never to travel again

Finally saw the movie “Wicked.” I loved it!
Also, I’m in the credits!…

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

— Anne Lamott

View the original newsletter for February 2025 online

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Resolution

This year, I resolve to intentionally explore physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health as I strive to be a source of light for the people to whom I’m connected. May your heart, body, mind, and spirit be blessed this new year and always.

Heart

Tuesday, January 8 was one of the scariest nights of my life, as extremely high winds battered our homes. My heart raced all night as the wind whipped up a fire that destroyed several towns, including the nearby town of Altadena. The power went out as the wind loudly tore over our house like a rampaging animal. From my dark bedroom window, I saw flames on the hillside, swiftly advancing over the brush. Every violent wind gust pushed the fires closer; the hills were consumed by flames. I remember praying out loud, pleading for the wind to stop. The fire raged on even as the winds died down and shifted away from us. And while I’m grateful my home and family are safe, the damage to our beautiful city was vast and brutal. I am heartbroken over the loss of my friends’ homes, schools, and churches. So much that was irreplaceable was destroyed. The kindness and generosity of strangers is what gives me hope in times like these. May hope continue to thrive as we help each other find the way back to wholeness.

Body

This past fall I began a journey to improve my health. I constantly felt heavy, tired, and in pain. In addition to various doctor visits and treatment plans for specific issues, I decided to download and use an app to help me track what I eat. It wasn’t that my eating habits were so bad; it’s that they weren’t in alignment with my nutrition goals. The app helps me to be accountable to myself regarding my goals – sometimes I hate that! When I feel overlooked or underappreciated, I want a treat or a reward or an edible comfort. The app affirms my effort, reminds me to stay on track, and helps me get back on when I’ve fallen off. A helpful tool can make a real difference.

Composition

Psalm 61: Hear My Cry

Hear my cry, O God, and listen to my prayer. I call upon you from the ends of the earth with heaviness in my heart. Set me upon the rock that is higher than I.

Listen here

For Fun

I watched football, ate fried catfish, and created art with my beloved mentor Paul Smith. He taught me a new art technique using paint on tile. I made a “Z,” of course!
A multitude of holidays
Felicity is learning to drive.
A note I found from Santa on Christmas morning
Archie is not modest.
The new heated cat bed is a hit!

May your new year contain more joy than sorrow.

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Education Through Music – Los Angeles

Education Through Music-LA is proud to be honoring Zanaida Stewart Robles with a Shining Star Award on December 6, 2024, given to those whose contributions through music have positively impacted our lives and communities!

ETM-LA provides sequential and comprehensive yearlong music education to under-resourced local schools across Los Angeles County. In our 19th Year, ETM-LA has grown from reaching 2 schools and 800 students to 41 schools and over 19,000 students.

The Gala will honor Music Educator & Artist ZANAIDA STEWART ROBLES (Frozen 2, Mulan, Harvard-Westlake School); Composer & ETM-LA Board Member BLAKE NEELY (Emmy-Winning Composer, Riverdale, The Flight Attendant, Masters of the Air); GAMESOUNDCON. Current and prior celebrity champions include Ed Helms, Kristen Bell, Debbie Allen, Cynthia Erivo, Rickey Minor, Mike Knobloch, Randy Spendlove, Michael Giacchino, John Debney, Siddhartha Khosla, Goldie Hawn, Harvey Mason jr, Christopher Columbus, Bryan Cranston, Sebastian Krys, Jane Lynch, Arturo Sandoval, Hans Zimmer, Rudy Sarzo, and more.

More info

Out for a bit

I’m having surgery and will be on medical leave in December, with a current plan to return to work after the new year. Thankfully, my condition is not life-threatening. The surgery is to alleviate ongoing discomfort and prevent future complications. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts as I prioritize my health. 

Composition

Album release meet-up

Family, friends and fans of Zanaida Stewart Robles are invited to join Zanaida on Sunday, December 8 between 2pm and 4pm for a celebratory meet-up in Pasadena, CA, marking the release of Ecstatic Expectancy. The address will be shared with those who complete this form by December 1:

RSVP by December 1

Conducting

Celebrating friends

My Harvard-Westlake Jazz Singers are performing my friend Amy Gordon‘s arangement of Joy to the World for our Winter Choir Concert on Thursday, December 5 at 7pm in Rugby Auditorium. The concert also features Alleluia by my friend and HW colleague Chris Wong, performed by my HW Chamber Singers.

Thank you, Amy and Chris, for your brilliant music!

My friend and assistant conductor Michael Fausto will lead worship on Sundays and on Christmas Eve at Neighborhood Church while I’m on leave. He will also conduct our Neighborhood Church Christmas Concert on Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm. Thank you, Michael, for stepping up to help out! 

For Fun

Oh.
THESE were the clean clothes we’re supposed to get off of.
Our bad.

Ollie immersed in the classic film UHF starring Weird Al Yankovic.

Me and Felicity at the Michael Mayo concert in Santa Monica last month. Michael, who was a vocal arts student of mine at the Los Angeles County High for the Arts, was on FIRE!! 

Check out his new album – ‘Fly’

And finally,

“It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap:…”

I can now announce that I was part of the choir in the new blockbuster film, “Wicked”, which opened on November 22!

Happy Thanksgiving!

View the original November 2024 newsletter here

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May 25 — Today is my birthday!

Singing

I’m honored to be singing in the 30th anniversary performance of The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl today.

Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary:  A Live-to-Film Concert Event

Billy Eichner
Bradley Gibson
Ernie Sabella
Heather Headley
Jason Weaver
Jeremy Irons
Lebo M.
Nathan Lane
Special Guest Jennifer Hudson & North West

SAT, MAY 25, 8:00PM

Special House Rules Apply

Check tickets and learn more

Conducting

Thursday, June 13
7:30pm at Neighborhood Church
Neighborhood Church Spring Choir Concert

Suggested donation $25 to support the NUUC music program

Congratulations, Felicity!

A glorious prom dress, a dynamite senior recital, now all that’s left is Felicity’s graduation from California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley on Friday May 31. She’ll be attending CSULB for vocal performance this fall, and we’re so proud of her!

Soundcloud Song of the Month

Gloria

by Zanaida Stewart Robles

In honor of my birthday, here’s the joyous “Gloria” from my Mass in E minor.

Listen to this recording by the Southern Tier Singers conducted by William Culverhouse

Listen on Soundcloud

For Fun

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