Starting with Halloween (October 31)
I didn’t care much for Halloween when I was young. The candy was mostly disappointing. Halloween costumes and colors seemed trashy to me. I had no idea what was supposed to be fun or special or “holy” about a holiday that seemed to celebrate fear and deception.
But now, I understand Halloween as a celebration of the triumph of love over fear and life over death. I love the month of October because Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Día de los Muertos have all developed a special place in my heart over the years.
The first time I fell in love with Halloween was at my friend Mandy’s house during my undergraduate days at CSU Long Beach. Mandy invited me to my first Halloween party and helped me carve my first pumpkin. Tons of friends were crammed in that small Long Beach apartment where we drank beer, watched and laughed at classic horror movies, and turned pumpkins into art.
All Saints’ Day (November 1)
I love being an Episcopalian. And though I haven’t gone to my home church in a long time (which is quite common for musicians), All Saints’ Sunday at All Saints Church in Pasadena (pictured) will always hold a special place in my heart. The Sunday after Halloween is one of two Sundays when incense is used during the service — the other is Pentecost, which happens in the summer. At my first All Saints’ Sunday service in 2002, I sang my very first Duruflé Requiem under the direction of my mentor, James Walker. There are no words to describe the overwhelmingly exquisite beauty and power of singing the Duruflé’s work with orchestra in the context of an All Saints’ Sunday service. I had never experienced such solemnity, reverence, and beauty, all at once. I could feel the presence of all the saints, our ancestors compassed around us in that space with all those worshippers, the holy smells, the beautiful garments, the hymns and the sublime music. I’ve never been the same since.
Día de los Muertos (November 2)
I married into a family of Mexican heritage. The Robles family history is rich and beautiful, a lot like my own Stewart family history. That’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with and married a Robles man. Grandpa Mark Robles was a professional guitarist and singer who worked at La Golondrina on Olvera Street, and had several film appearances. Grandpa and his wife, Emily, were devout Catholics and parents of nine children, including my father-in-law, Christopher Edward Robles.
To my knowledge, the Robles family didn’t really celebrate Día de los Muertos. But when the movie Coco came out a few years ago, it resonated deeply with me because of my own family connection to a great musician of Mexican heritage. So although the Day of the Dead isn’t a holiday I grew up with, creating an ofrenda each year enables me to honor the legacy of Grandpa Robles and remember all the loved ones who have passed from this life to the next. Seeing their pictures on the ofrenda during the month of October connects me to my past and reminds me of the love and strength these people continue to give me, even though they’ve passed on.
Composition
My compositions “Can You See” and “Veni Sancte Spirius” have grown in popularity over the past few months, with planned performances by several choirs across the country. Click the button below to check out my colleague Dr. Marques Garrett teaching it to his students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Conducting
I’m back in the saddle!
It’s been fun getting to conduct again, mostly for virtual choir projects where I have to “audiate” the choir (hear them in my head), because they aren’t actually singing with me synchronously.
But I was elated for the opportunity to conduct 3 songs with the group Tonality for the “Tune In Festival” produced by CAP UCLA. Check us out on Friday, October 30 at 9pm. I’m conducting my composition “Can You See,” along with “Sing About it” by Moira Smiley and “America the Beautiful” by Shawn Kirchner, with Shawn himself on piano.
Singing
I sing ALL THE TIME! on virtual choir videos, guide tracks, practice recordings, over Zoom calls, all over my house!… There’s so much singing to do, despite the fact we can’t do it together in person.
For Fun
Honestly, things have been really tough lately. COVID-19, the ongoing images of brutality against Black lives, and the upcoming election have caused my general anxiety to skyrocket.
And yet… the blessings continue. Gratitude returns. Hope is kindled again and again. So what’s giving me life right now?
- Watching the World Series.
- Listening to Billy Child’s new album, “Acceptance”.
- Playing “Bioshock” on Xbox 1.
- Chopping vegetables.
- Bouncing on my trampoline.
- Working on home improvement and seasonal decorating.
- Completing French lessons every day on Duolingo.
- Singing and editing virtual choir videos.
- Playing “Just Dance” on Nintendo Switch with my daughters.
- Watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9 on Netflix with my husband.
- Connecting with friends and family on Facebook and Instagram.
