It’s a new year!

Appearances

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!

For Fun

*Frostig School students rockin out at their January “Motown” music recital*

*HW Students with residents after singing at a local senior care facility*

On 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*

View the original email newsletter here, and make sure you’re on the mailing list!

January 25, 2023 Zanaida 0

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa from the Robles House!

Composition

Belleville Congregational Church - Newburyport, MA

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!

December 25, 2022 Zanaida 0

Happy Thanksgiving!

Composition

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.

Tickets and information

FRIDAY, December 9 at 7:30pm

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.

November 25, 2022 Zanaida 0

Action item

I’m listening!

How do you define sacred music?
What styles or specific songs speak to your soul?
What musical experiences ignite your spirit and why?

Send me an email and share your thoughts. Together, we can help bring more awareness, connection, and diversity to our sacred music community.

Planning for the future

I have a passion for help to grow communities of sacred music lovers and music makers. I love what I do, and it takes significant time and resources to sustain this work. Your support is what makes this work sustainable for me. I truly treasure the notes of thoughtfulness and encouragement I receive from newsletter readers on a regular basis – thank you!

As I work to find ways to be of greater service to this community, I wonder if you would consider supporting this enterprise financially. With the future launch of the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Singers as a non-profit organization, I’m beginning to seek sponsors and monthly supporters to help me bring you more concerts, music-making opportunities, news, and new music. I am expanding my work as music director, composer, and advocate for socio-cultural and spiritual connection through music. If you know someone who loves sacred music, please share my newsletter and website with them. I’m honored to partner with you in connecting our community of sacred music lovers. Thanks for helping me grow!

Composition

A trip to Orlando FL for a few days was just what I needed to visit with dear friends and spend some quality time composing. I made some good progress on commissions for Newburyport Choral Society, National Concerts, and Vox Femina. I’m excited to see how everything turns out next month.

*Pictured: Tiffany exhibit at the Morse Museum, a Korean Corn Dog, and kayaking in a Florida swamp.*

Conducting

Students from the University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, Cal Berkeley, and St. Mary’s College will gather for the C4 Festival on Saturday, November 5 at Santa Clara University in San Jose. I’m so excited to fly up and be their guest clinician for the day. How exciting it will be to hear what they sound like on music by Coleridge-Taylor and by yours truly. Many thanks to directors Scot Hanna-Weir, Julie Ford, and Rebecca Seeman for the invitation!

Ollie’s Corner

October 25, 2022 Zanaida 0

How’s your summer going?

Conducting

I was elated over the first rehearsal for our upcoming concert of sacred choral music by Coleridge-Taylor and yours truly. These 16 singers are the best of the best, and I’m a lucky conductor to get to make music with them.

Come with us!

Wanna join me in singing at Carnegie Hall in New York next March 2023? Start by singing with me on August 14, 2022! Thank you to all who have already registered to sing Coleridge-Taylor’s masterwork Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast with me in Pasadena on that Sunday. I’d love to have more volunteers on all voice parts. For information and registration, click here:

Learn more and sign up

All who sing Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast with us on the August 14 performance are automatically eligible to sing it with us again at Carnegie Hall next March.

Singing

It felt so good to sing on a recording session this month, surrounded with good friends and musical superheroes in an iconic studio.

Composition

I’m working on a really cool commission for a multi-movement work for choir and chamber orchestra – it’s my first time composing something for harp. Many thanks to master harpist Ellie Choate for giving me a tutorial!

Thanks!

I just want to say thank you. Thank you all for supporting my work as a composer. Thank you for listening to my Soundcloud recordings. Thank you for purchasing licenses for copies of my scores. Thank you for learning and performing my music. And thank you so much for your patience and understanding when orders were delayed.
Part of my growth as a self-published composer is coming to the realization that I need to make some changes to my business practices. I’m still working on it, but with help from an amazing network of family, friends, and colleagues, I’m headed in the right direction.

A gift for you

As my gift, I’d like to send you a complimentary perusal PDF of one of my latest works: Ecstatic Expectancy, an advent anthem for SSATBB choir and percussion. Simply send me a message to request the score, and I’ll send it to you. This is one of my favorite works I’ve written, and I hope you like it, too!

Here’s the premiere performance on YouTube: