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.
I’ve been grieving a lot this last month. That’s why I’m so thankful for my husband and my two daughters, who live with me and continually remind me that I’m loved and that I’m not alone. And when I don’t feel like I can lean on those in my household, I’m grateful for my network of friends and family who are with me in spirit, letting me talk with them, listening to me, helping me bear my grief. The deaths of loved ones, the sad endings of friendships, the loss of resources and abilities, challenging environmental changes, war and poverty in the world, and the unrelenting passage of time have all been heavy on my heart.
What does it even mean to let go of that which we cherish and on which we rely? Perhaps letting go has to do with accepting things I can’t change. Too often, I distract or numb myself to avoid feeling lonely, or angry, or powerless and hurt. In order to help process this often debilitating grief over things I can’t change, my therapist challenged me to face it without numbing (alcohol) or distraction (Netflix). So I’m trying to take time to feel these tough feelings. And I’m discovering that remembering what I loved and cherished about these losses can be helpful. I go back and forth between “It’s over now, it hurts so much, and/or there’s nothing I can do” and “remember how great it used to be? I’m so glad I had that.”
Eventually, I get curious and ask myself, “what are the ways in which my life now has remnants of past joys and lost loves?” This curiosity leads me to photos and letters and traditions and keepsakes that hold deep meaning and relevance, making me smile. I also discovered there were things I was keeping (clothing, knick-knacks, photos, letters, traditions, etc.) that also made me smile but no longer held meaning for me. Getting rid of those now meaningless things felt oddly good. It made me even more grateful for the things, people, and memories that continue to hold meaning and importance for me. I guess that’s how gratitude became an antidote to my despair. But I couldn’t arrive at genuine gratitude until I let myself grieve.
This Thanksgiving, may we be kind to ourselves and to one another. May we give ourselves and each other the space we need to genuinely grieve without distraction and numbness, so that we can be genuinely grateful.
Conducting
“Lights of Remembrace“
Wednesday, November 29 @ 7pm — Free Museum Plaza, Forest Lawn Glendale English language service, featuring the Harvard-Westlake Chamber Singers I’m conducting music by Brahms, Forrest, and Sweelinck.
Thursday, December 7 @ 7pm — Free Rugby Auditorium, Harvard-Westlake School I’m conducting music by Robles, Coleridge-Taylor, Valverde, Hairston, Rutter, Hogan, Haydn, Aguiar, and more.
“Neighborhood Christmas Concert”
Friday, December 15 @ 7:30pm — Free Neighborhood UU Church, Pasadena 2nd annual Christmas concert, featuring guest soloists from our NUUC community, along with the best sing-alongs ever. Suggested Donation: $25 to support NUUC Music programs.
Christmas Eve Service
Sunday, December 24 @ 8pm Neighborhood UU Church, Padadena I’m conducting new music by Robles!
Composing
YAY!!
The first draft of my LA Master Chorale commission is complete! Now I need to edit it and make it presentable. Don’t forget to get your tickets for the world premiere in April.
Here’s the premiere performance of my arrangement of “His Eye is on the Sparrow” presented by the Frost Chorale, conducted by Dr. Amanda Quist. The whole concert was outstanding! My piece begins around 26:40.
For Fun
Redlands High School Treble Choir Festival with my group Bel Canto from HW
Working the registration table for SCVA Honor Choir weekend. So proud that three of my HW students were selected to participate!
Since I really enjoy doing composer/conductor residencies with college students, I would love to do residencies in French-speaking and/or Spanish-speaking countries. I want to immerse myself in the language, work with composition students on writing choral music, and conduct a concert with a collegiate choral ensemble featuring my choral works.
I want to sing my own music with a small group of highly-skilled singers, performing concerts in the Los Angeles area and beyond.
I want to write or record or collaborate on something that’s good enough to win a Grammy, or a Pulitzer, or something else like that.
Dream big or go home, right? What dreams do YOU have?
Composing
My newest composition “From the Stone Age” premieres with Melodia Women’s Choir of New York on November 19, at Church of the Holy Apostles in NYC. Check it out here:
I’m conducting a reading session of my works along with works by my friend Reena Esmail (pictured) at the Southern California Vocal Association Fall In-Service, and it’s coming up later this week! on
Friday, October 27, 2023 9:00am to 4:00pm
Glendale City Church 610 E. California Ave. Glendale, CA 91206 Map & Directions
Playing djembe at church with native Tongva flutist Michael Whitehorse AvilesSpider problems at home. Happy Halloween!Ollie in his classic sexy ‘sploot’ positionI ran into Betty J. Ford at Rhythm of the Village African boutique in Altadena. Betty J. Ford is a well known pianist, composer, teacher, mentor, and pillar of the community. She took me to dinner at the vegan restaurant next door before I gave her a ride home.Archie in the laundry hamper. Just, why?
I want to rest and relax. But I want to catch up on chores and personal projects. I want to respond to all my unread emails. I want to do something special, eat something special, go somewhere special. I want to play video games and nap all day long. But I want to exercise. I want to go hiking and kayaking. I want to practice piano and compose music. I want to get my car fixed and schedule doctor appointments. I want to pay my bills and call my mom and update my website.
Alas, at the end of the day, I basically did none of this! But maybe all I was supposed to do today was make this list. I also took a short nap. I got my COVID booster and caught up on correspondence.
Conducting
I’ve been earnestly practicing conducting lately. I make short videos and post them to social media to hold myself accountable. It’s scary and frustrating, but valuable. Check out what I’ve added to my TikTok and IG pages.
For Fun
Hurray for Bell Choir at NUUC!Ollie, looking like he was assembled incorrectly First football game of the season at HW: we won! Ollie and Archie on timeout after a morning of mischief
My work as a composer, music director, teacher, wife, and mom is incredibly complex. Though it’s overwhelming at times, the exhilaration and affirmation I receive from my work makes it all worthwhile. But self-care is crucial! You can’t effectively take care of anyone or anything unless you take care of yourself!
Self-care is everything including (but not limited to) taking your medicine as directed, going to bed early/on time, consistently cooking and eating healthy meals, saying prayers and meditating, waking up early and reading a book or exercising instead of checking email and social media sites as soon as I open my eyes. Self-care is anything we do to bring balance and perspective to our bodies and minds.
After enduring the Armageddon-level struggle of bringing Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast to Carnegie Hall this past spring, I decided I needed some epic self-care. Here’s what I did:
I took a trip by myself to Costa Rica in May, and visited my friend, Dr. Jaclyn Normandie:
I went to Hawaii for the first time and took my daughters with me in June:
I went to the ECCO Choral Conference to recharge and serve with friends in July:
CCDA ECCO Retreat (aka summer camp for choral musicians)
I hosted a terrific Summer Intensive with the Zanaida Stewart Robles Singers at the beginning of August:
And I went to Disneyland for my oldest daughter’s birthday in August:
Not gonna lie, the financial strain has been difficult this summer. But it was oh, so worth it! I cherish these photos as evidence that my self-care work was warranted. And I’m inspired to ensure my future self-care regimen always includes something epic that I can look forward to and look back on with pride and joy.
Conducting
Calling musicians of all ages, new, and returning! A vital part of our worship is music. This is your opportunity to join in. Register now for our 2023-2024 church year in Neighborhood Chorus, Youth Choir, or Bells. Registration ensures we have enough materials for everyone. All participants register anew each year. For questions contact music Director, Dr. Zanaida Robles. The schedule is as follows:
Neighborhood Chorus 1st rehearsal: Thursday, 8/31 from 7pm-9pm (earlier start time for 1st rehearsal) Rehearsals every subsequent Thursday from 7:15-9pm First Performance: Ingathering on Sunday 9/10 at 10am
Youth Choir 1st rehearsal: Sunday, 9/17 at 1pm Three Sunday rehearsals: 9/17, 9/24, 10/1 Performance: Sunday 10/8 during the 11:30 service
Neighborhood Bells 1st rehearsal: Tuesday, 9/5 6pm-7pm Rehearsals every subsequent Tuesday from 6pm-7pm First Performance: Sunday 10/15 at 9:30am & 11:30am
Upcoming events
Thursday 12/7 @ 7:30pm Harvard-Westlake Upper School, Studio City, CA A fall choral concert featuring multiple composers. My piece “Umoja” is being performed by treble choir Bel Canto.
Saturday, 12/2 @ 7pm St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA The Chestnut Street Singers are performing my piece Ecstatic Expectancy as part of their concert entitled “Ask the Winter Moon.”
Ollie (and Archie’s) Corner
Ollie and Archie, our new kitty, are already close buds!
