In honor of spring’s arrival, I present my piece “Blühende Bäume” (Blossoming Trees) for SSATBB choir and strings, performed by Neue Kammer Leipzig. Coming soon to MusicSpoke!
Listen to Blühende Bäume by Zanaida Robles on #SoundCloud:
Regular readers know that I’m taking a big group of singers to New York and conducting a concert at Carnegie Hall on March 28. Please send us good vibes from wherever you are, and we’ll give you a full report in the next issue! For now, here’s more about the project:
Are you in New York? Please join us!
Let My Love Be Heard feat. Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast Tuesday, March 28 at 8PM Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall
This compelling program features a commissioned work, Truth, by indigenous artist Sage Bond and arranged by Zanaida Robles. It asks urgent questions about who is seen and heard, historically and into the present day.
This is the moment I realized, “I can’t believe I’m really taking these 94 high school musicians to New York next week!”
For Fun
Visiting with the USC Chamber Singers — They sound great on my setting of Psalm 61!
This is a holy time. It is heralded by Mardi Gras, the Tuesday of revelry and indulgence before Ash Wednesday, a day of solemnity and spiritual focus. This is when many Christians around the world begin observing the season of Lent (the 40 days and nights before Easter) by taking on a beneficial challenge or abstaining from certain comforts in order to fortify themselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Like a New Year’s resolution, Lenten disciplines can be very hard to keep. As a Christian, the time to which I look forward most is Easter: the resurrection; the end of 40 days and nights of wandering in the wilderness — a joyful and much anticipated day of rebirth. With the promise of Easter far off in the distance, it’s a little easier to commit to maintaining a Lenten discipline.
I feel like my Lenten experience started months ago, when I embarked on the final push toward conducting Coleridge-Taylor’s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast at Carnegie Hall this coming March. And now, with the actual season of Lent upon us, taking on the enormous task of organizing this historic performance feels even more significant. Sometimes I feel like I’m under attack. Sometimes I feel alone and lost. I feel worn, starved, and stretched beyond my limits. Sometimes I feel like I can’t go on. But the promise of salvation and rebirth linger in the distance. Like the old Negro spiritual says, “I gotta keep my hand on the plow and Hold On!”
And then, oh what a happy Easter this will be! I’ll be singing “The Strife is O’er,” “Welcome Happy Morning,” Lo, the Day of Days is Here,” and so much “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!” I’ll be singing and shouting and feasting and drumming, giving thanks to God for such an amazing day! Liturgically, there may be 40 days of Lenten hell, but there are 50 days of Easter bliss. Since my Lent seems to have lasted for months and months, you’d better believe that my Easter is about to last for years to come!
Composition
Come hear my new work, “Intersectionality”, with VOX Femina, in a couple of weeks:
Made in LA Identity and Belonging in the City of Angels Saturday, March 11 at 7PM First Congregational Church of Los Angeles
Join us as we celebrate the many cultures and communities that define our “City of Angels!” Explore the unique soundscape created by the diverse communities of Los Angeles and enjoy music in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and Farsi, honoring the ecclecitc populations of the city. Featuring new works by LA-based composers Zanaida Stewart Robles, and Saunder Choi, plus a collaboration with GMCLA a cappella group Aftershock!
Conducting
March includes some very fun music during the 11:30am service at Neighborhood Church:
3/5 — Music by Joni Mitchell and Eliza Gilkyson
3/12 — Music by Ludwig van Beethoven and Buryl Red
3/19 — Works by Palestrina and Coleridge-Taylor
HIAWATHA’S WEDDING FEAST @ IN LA AND AT CARNEGIE HALL
3/24, 7:30pm @ Emmanuel Lutheran Church in North Hollywood
3/28, 8pm @ Carnegie Hall, NYC
Singing
This past weekend at Neighborhood Church, I was thrilled to sing “Dear Husband” from Songs of the Slave by Kirke Mechem and Dream Variation by Margaret Bonds.
For Fun
Memories of Valentine’s DayStudents admiring Dr. Robles’s new coat
During the 2023 ACDA National Conference Feb 22-25 in Cincinnati, I’m presenting an interest session with my colleague Will Chandler on “Re-Discovering the Choral Music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.” I’m also hosting interest sessions, participating in panel discussions, attending reading sessions, and engaging with friends and fans.
Hope to see you there, my choral peeps!
Conducting
I’m conducting one of my favorite choral chestnuts, “Choose Something Like a Star” by Randall Thompson (pictured), this Sunday 1/29 during the 11:30am service at Neighborhood Church.
In February, I’m conducting “Rise Up, My Love” by Healy Willan, “Red Red Rose” by James Mulholland, and Der Gang Zum Liebchen by Johannes Brahms.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: The benefit concert on December 16 was a big hit, and proceeds exceeded our expectations. Thanks to the generosity of concert supporters, we’ve now raised about 3/4 of what we need in order to fully fund our Carnegie Hall trip in March.
More to come soon — it’s getting close!
Singing
Also this Sunday 1/29, I’m singing my setting of “Imani” (faith) for solo voice and organ at the 9am service at Neighborhood Church. Come hear us!
Neighborhood Church in Pasadena
For Fun
Frostig School students rockin out at their January “Motown” music recitalHW Students with residents after singing at a local senior care facilityOn one of our rainiest days this month, a bird flew into my classroom and wouldn’t leave. I caught it when it tried to settle in the corner of a window. While excitedly showing it to my colleagues, I accidently released it in the HW bookstore. An hour later, after much coaxing and laughter, it safely departed.
The legendary Bishop Michael Curry preached live at St. John’s Cathedral on Saturday January 14. I was star-struck!
Ollie’s Corner
Ollie, sad to see the Christmas tree go back in the box
On December 10 and 11 at Belleville Congregational Church in Newburyport, MA., my 3-movement cantata “Guidelines” for SATB choir, treble choir, and chamber orchestra was premiered by the Newburyport Choral Society in their “In Terra Pax” concert, conducted by Ryan Turner. I couldn’t attend due to commitments at home. I heard it was fun to sing, which means the world to me.
Conducting
Ollie NOT watching his sister play Mary in the NUUC Holiday pageant
What a wonderful time I’ve had directing the upper school choirs at Harvard-Westlake and the pageant players at Neighborhood Church. Making music with these young people really put me in the holiday spirit!
Thank you so much to everyone who supported our Neighborhood Church Choir Fundraiser concert on December 16th. The concert was a big hit, and proceeds exceeded our expectations. Thanks to the generosity of concert supporters, we’ve raised about 2/3 of what we need in order to fully fund our Carnegie Hall trip in March. More to come soon!
Ollie’s Corner
Hope your holidays are warm, memorable, and full of joy!
My settings of Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis are now available from Oxford University Press:
I am honored to share that my Magnificat was also included in the new Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers.If you need a Magnificat for your Advent service music this year, check out mine!
Upcoming events
SUNDAY, December 4 at 7pm
Olive Rehearsal Hall, Colburn School, Los Angeles
Tonality performs my composition Lady in Blue as part of their concert called “Right to Heal,” which takes a broad look at healthcare and its inequalities.
Rugby Auditorium Harvard-Westlake Upper School Campus, Studio City
Zanaida conducts the Harvard-Westlake Wolverine Chorus, Bel Canto, Chamber Singers, and Jazz Singers in their joint winter choral concert called “What Blooms in Darkness,” featuring works by Lili Boulanger, Shawn Kirchner, Herbert Howells, Williametta Spencer and more.
SATURDAY, December 10 at 7:30pm SUNDAY December 11 at 2pm
Belleville Congregational Church, Newburyport, MA
The Newburyport Choral Society presents the world premiere of my composition Guidelines as part of their winter concert called “In Terra Pax.” Guidelines is a commissioned setting of the poetry of Newburyport poet Rhina Espaillat.
(Revised flyer updated 11/29/22, with easier-to-scan QR code and additional instructions. Thanks, everyone!)
FRIDAY, December 16 at 7pm
Come hear music that will get you in the holiday spirit and support our church choir’s trip to sing Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast with Zanaida at Carnegie Hall! Featuring Christmas favorites such as Star in the East, The Christmas Song, Carol of the Bells, and sing-along favorites, plus a sample of the music to be performed at Carnegie Hall on our tour!
Soloists include Miriam Adhanom, Adrian Bañuelos, Michael Fausto, Carla Jaime Perez, Cesáreo Pérez and Zanaida Robles, with pianist Wells Lang. Suggested donation $20, Or use the QR code to support the trip even if you can’t attend the concert!
For Fun
I had so much fun as the clinician for the C4 Festival in Santa Clara, CA. We worked our butts off, and wow did it pay off!
I love roller coasters! Glad I got to celebrate Nat’s birthday with her at Knott’s Berry Farm this month.
