My five-movement “Mass in E Minor” is being world premiered by the Southern Tier Singers’ Collective conducted by William Culverhouse on Sunday, April 24 in Binghamton, New York.
Here are some pics from ACDA Western Division Conference in Long Beach, March 2-5:
Backstage before I sang “Lift Every Voice” for the All-Conference SingDinner with composer friends, including Saunder Choi, Juan Carlos Acosta, and Amy Gordon.With Dale Trumbore after our successful co-presentation on “Building Meaningful and Lasting Relationships Between Composers and Conductors”
The California State Music Education Conference last week (CASMEC) was an important reminder that I need to see “my people” periodically. I needed to show up, not just to be seen, but to serve. I needed to listen. I needed a place to tell my story. I needed deep hugs from colleagues, some of whom I’d only ever met on Zoom. I needed to hear how much a few college choral music students really like my music; I needed to notice that I actually have a little fan club! I needed time to myself, away from home. I needed to eat a delicious meal with friends. And I needed to be inspired and challenged over and over again by the conference choir performances. In short, I needed some “soul” food. Can’t wait for more at the ACDA Western Division Conference in Long Beach, CA March 2-5. See more about both as we continue below…
Memories from CASMEC
Composition
Commission inquiries are pouring in!
At the forefront of my mind are commissions for a multi-movement work for SATB chorus and chamber orchestra and another multi-movement work for treble chorus and piano. I’m reading tons of poetry including works by Amanda Gorman, Rhina Espaillat, and Eve L. Ewing. I’m working on a few short instrumental works in preparation for larger works to come. There’s so much to write!!
Performances at ACDA
My works “No Fairy Tale Here” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” are both being performed TWICE! during the ACDA Western Division Conference, March 2-5: On Thursday 3/3 at 5pm, catch the San Jose State Choraliers performing the world premiere of the SATB/strings version of “No Fairy Tale Here.” And the SSA/piano version of “No Fairy Tale Here” will be performed by the Northern Arizona University Women’s Chorale at 8:30am on Friday, 3/4. The CSULB Bob Cole Chamber Choir will sing my arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during their 8pm performance on Wednesday, 3/2. And on Friday, 3/4 at 8pm, I’ll be singing the solo on that same arrangement of mine for the All-Conference Sing. Plus, my setting of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” will be presented in a reading session with one of my USC teachers, Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe.
Presenting at ACDA
On Thursday, March 3 at 1:30pm, I’m presenting a session with my friend and fellow composer Dale Trumbore called “Come Together: Fostering Meaningful Collaborations between Composers and Conductors“. And on Friday, March 4 at 1pm, I’m participating in a panel discussion on “Writing for the Voices You Have: Composing for Middle School, High School, 2-year College, and Church Choirs“.
The blog and newsletter will look a little different soon, as I’ve had some gorgeous new headshots taken, with help from photographer Lauren Desberg! Here’s a sneak peek:
Conducting
I’m conducting the Neighborhood Chorus on “Earth Song” by Frank Ticheli during the 11:30am service at Neighborhood Church Pasadena on Sunday, November 7.
I’m so proud of the work this choir has been doing, and I would love to have more singers on all voice parts. We rehearse on Thursday nights in the sanctuary from 7:15pm-9pm.
Join us!
Neighborhood Chorus is a non-auditioned chorus open to all adults. Our repertoire consists of a variety of classical and non-classical styles, sung in various languages. No training is necessary, however classical choral experience and/or basic sight reading skills are encouraged. Neighborhood Chorus sings 3 Sundays per month at the 11:30am service. COVID vaccination is required of all singers, and we wear masks for the duration of all rehearsals and services.
Please fill out this short form to let me know you plan to sing with us this year. Or just email me.
Composition
Many thanks to my good friend and fellow composer Shawn Kirchner for his encouragement and mentorship. It felt soooo good to spend time with him while he helped me update my ASCAP catalogue. His homegrown grapefruits make incredible juice!
On Sunday November 7, I’m singing “Where er’er you walk” by G. F. Handel and “Dream Variation” by Margaret Bonds during the 9am service at Neighborhood Church. I’d love to see you there.
Four of my Harvard-Westlake choral students were selected for the 2021 SCVA High School Honor Choirs. Congratulations to Gisele Stigi for earning a spot in the Treble Honor Choir, to Kieran Chung for earning a spot in the Mixed Honor Choir, and to Rhea Madhogarhia and Charlie Doris for earning spots in the Vocal Jazz Honor Choir. Kieran, Gisele, Rhea and Charlie will all perform at the 2021 High School Honor Choir Performance at the University of Redlands on Saturday, November 20 at 7pm.
For your consideration
As you know, I am the Chair for the Board of Directors of the non-profit choral group, Tonality. Tonality’s new album, “American Will Be” is under consideration in multiple GRAMMY® award categories this year. Thank you for supporting this fantastic group of artists who have brought so much light and love to the choral community and beyond.
Looks like we’re having a spider problem again. Also, a meme my students helped me make for our new Harvard-Westlake Choir page on Instagram @hwuschoirs… and more Ollie pics!
(if I do at least four of these with intention, I’ll have a pretty good day.)
Pray
Practice Music
Exercise
Drink Water
Do a chore
Read
AKA “If Feelings Could Talk“: Not sure who originally came up with this, but I saw it on Facebook and dowloaded the poster for free from teacherspayteachers.com
Sadness: I might need to cry
Loneliness: I might need to connect
Shame: I might need to exercise self-compassion and mindfulness
Resentment: I might need to forgive
Emptiness: I might need to create something
Anger: I might need to enforce some boundaries
Anxiety: I might need to breathe deeply (and drink some water)
Stress: I might need to slow down (and do less)
(If I do at least four of these, I’ll feel satisfied that, whatever the occasion, it was a successful celebration.)
Decorate Dress up Enjoy special foods Make Music Dance Give thanks for that which is being celebrated
From the book by Don Miguel Ruiz
Be impeccable with your words
Don’t take things personally
Don’t Make Assumptions
Always do your best
Form
Texture
Timbre
Rhythm
Melody
Harmony
Dynamics
(Sometimes “Tonality” is thrown in as an 8th element, but not all music is tonal)
Composition
Summer spree
It has been wonderful to study composition with a private coach this summer. I’m learning to be more efficient, systematic, and disciplined in my practice. I still have so much to learn, but my productivity and stamina have increased tremendously. I’m working on five different projects right now, and feel like I’m actually making progress on all of them.
This pace of work isn’t sustainable throughout the year, but it’s perfect for the month of July. I look forward to sharing the fruits of my labor beginning this fall.
A composer chat for unSUNg
As part of their ‘Holidays in July” fundraiser, I was part of unSUNg’s first composer chat this summer, and the conversation was released on YouTube on July 11. Check out the video to hear me, Amy Engelhardt, Paul Gibson and Michelle Green Willner talk with artistic director Ariel Pisturino about what it’s like to write music for a holiday, which holidays are sorely underrepresented, and what might come next!
Available now: We need a little Kwanzaa
See the program that inspired it all, as a replay of last fall’s “Sharing Music” is available starting today. This diverse program celebrates a variety of December holidays, and includes my settings of “Umoja” and “Kujichagulia”, illustrating two of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The video performance features the West Victory Dancers, with Olivia Bowman-Jackson and Abdur Rahim Jackson.
Nonprofit Music News
CCDA
I am so excited to begin my first year on the board of the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) as the R&R Chair for Choral Composition. The CCDA Summer Summit starts on Monday, July 26. Fall is close at hand, and this is one way we orient our brains towards preparing for our choral programs! You don’t have to be CCDA members to join us for any portion of this, including the meetups!
(I’m going to a couple of the hangouts, including the one in Long Beach with my mentor Jon Talberg at Belmont Brewing Company on Tuesday, July 27th! Hope to see you there!)
Most of the sessions will be available to watch online until October 1st, so you can watch them later if you register.
Registration will be open until October 1st, but try to join us for the live sessions NEXT WEEK! JWPepper virtual repertoire will be available until August 27th.
NANM
The National Association of Negro Musicians held its 102nd convention virtually from July 11 – 14th. Congratulations to all presenters, performers, newly elected national board members, and all 5 national scholarship competition contestants. This convention was truly inspiring!
I look forward to continuing my service to NANM as an at-large member of the national board for the 2021-22 program year.
Tonality
Tonality’s name can be seen in the credits on the Space Jam movie that came out on July 16. We saw it on opening night, just to make sure!
For Fun
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Join me on Sunday, August 15 for a virtual celebration of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s birthday!
We’ll watch a fascinating talk about the sociocultural aspects of Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, followed by a virtual sing-along.
Circle of Life Circle of Friends Circle of Fifths Circle of Care Circle of Security Circle of Siblinghood Circle of Service
A circle is a boundary. The 2020-21 academic year taught me a lot about circles and boundaries. I find that when I’m stressed and scared and frustrated and angry and possibly traumatised or abused, my boundaries become more rigid. I don’t have the capacity for flexibility. It’s a fight or flight modality of thinking. When I don’t have enough money, splurging or spending more is not an option. Saving money, however little it might seem, becomes a matter of survival. When I feel my safety is at risk, adventure is not an option. And trust becomes extremely difficult to embrace. When I feel my sanity is hanging by a thread, self-preservation is survival. I can’t risk even the slightest social or intellectual challenge for fear of completely losing it and breaking down altogether. And so I erect rigid boundaries to keep myself safe, to keep me as healthy as possible, to keep me going when I feel like I could break at any moment. I’d say that for many of us, much of the 2020-21 school year was this way.
But I also think back on those moments when a friend reached out to see how I was doing, or when I was inspired by the work and wisdom of colleagues and students, or when my family came up around me to comfort me or to make me laugh. I recall seeing signs in the midst of darkness that there was light at the end of the tunnel, and it gave me hope. And when I saw hope, I felt the urge to push past a boundary and widen my circle. In these moments of hope, I found courage to ask for help one more time. I found enough courage to take an extra step, even when the ground felt like it was crumbling beneath my feet. I felt courageous enough to trust that if I allowed myself to be vulnerable, the benefits might outweigh the drawbacks. Maybe for a split second, I dared to let my guard down and do or say something with a courageous expectation that my efforts would not be in vain. With hope supplied from the loving energy of colleagues, friends, and family; and with evidence of positive change and growth around me in my community, I found enough courage to push the boundaries that were keeping me in my own little safe circle. And this is how my circle grows.
I understand why we need boundaries. We need to know the limits of our circle so that we can survive. We need to know who not to trust, when to say no, where not to go, and when to conserve resources. But as we define and redefine the boundaries of our circle, may we strive to soften it, push it, and draw it ever wider so that we ourselves may grow. After all, this is the circle of life. It’s not a dead, rigid circle, but a living circle that breathes and moves as life challenges and changes us along the way.
Conducting & Composition
I’m thrilled to share that my proposal to present a session called “Come Together: Fostering Meaningful Collaborations between Composers and Conductors” with my friend and fellow composer Dale Trumbore was selected to be included in the ACDA Western Region Conference in March 2022.
Can’t wait to see y’all in Long Beach!
For Fun
We got a kitten! Meet Ollivander “Ollie” Robles. (more pics to come)
