Tag: Tonality

Organizations and Institutions

There are so many institutions and organizations that are a blessing to my life. Some have been blessing my life for decades! Besides the pride and joy I feel to be employed at Neighborhood UU Church Pasadena and Harvard-Westlake School, I was happy to reconnect with friends in the George Robert Garner III branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians during a recent branch meeting via Zoom. Watching my freshman daughter perform as a soloist during the Beach Cafe at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB was thrilling not only because my kid was brilliant (!), but because of all the familiar faces and pathways and buildings I got to enjoy at my alma mater.

This fall, I’ll reconnect with friends from the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the California Choral Directors Association through various projects and performances. Organizations like Tonality, Street Symphony, USC Thornton School of Music, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, All Saints Church Pasadena, The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company, and more – these special organizations and institutions with which I’ve been affiliated are never far from my heart.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the ups and downs organizations and institutions must endure. No organization is perfect, and there are times when I feel let down by them. Still, I value the vision and purpose of these institutions. I recognize the ways in which I have benefitted from their existence, and I want to give back. I can’t participate in everything nor do I have a ton of volunteer hours or money. But I’ll try to show up when I can and give a little money here and there whenever possible.

This is how I can live out my gratitude.

Favorites

I recently realized that Dr. Adolphus Hailstork is my favorite Black composer! It feels really good to have fallen in love with this composer simply from just being exposed to his music more and more on the radio and on social media. Dr. Hailstork celebrated his 80th birthday this year! Here’s my current favorite piece of his, sung by one of my favorite ensembles:

Shout For Joy by Adolphus Hailstork:

The release of my first commercial single, “Ecstatic Expectancy”!!

On Monday September 23, my choral piece Ecstatic Expectancy was released on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Instagram/Facebook, TikTok & other ByteDance stores, YouTube Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, Saavn, Boomplay, Anghami, NetEase, Tencent, Qobuz, Joox, Kuack Media, Adaptr, Flo, and MediaNet.

Look for Ecstatic Expectancy wherever you listen to music, and let me know where you were able to find it! My first commercially released album is soon to follow, too, so stay tuned!

For Fun

Conducting the Neighborhood Chorus for Ingathering/Water Communion Sunday, September 8

My office at school (for which I am grateful!) sometimes feels like a sad closet with a lame window. So I created some sunshine to brighten it up.

Did you know you can swim, fish, and go kayaking in the Los Angeles River? Last month, I had the best time kayaking on the water in this very picture. Can you imagine me in a kayak, paddling down that sliver of water in this picture!?! I’m planning to go kayaking one more time before LA River Kayak Safari closes for the season on September 30.

Sexy Archie

Ollie looking down on us all

Originally published as part of Zanaida’s September 2024 newsletter

September 25, 2024 Zanaida 0

How’s it going?

I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. To be perfectly honest, I’ve had a rough time this month. The COVID surge and subsequent cancellation of music events, choir festivals, projects, and rehearsals was emotionally hard to bear. Being Director of Music at Neighborhood Church and conducting the Neighborhood Chorus is an important artistic outlet for me. So having to go virtual and choirless for services and canceling choir rehearsals for the first few weeks of the year left me feeling pretty low. But the love and support of family, friends, and colleagues have helped me to weather this storm. And I’m happy to say that things seem to be looking up.

Resignation from Tonality

After three terrific years, it was time for me to step down from serving on the Tonality Board of Directors. Tonality has many incredible projects on the horizon. And while my journey with the organization is at an end, I wish Tonality all the best in the months and years ahead.

Composition

My work “Veni Sancte Spiritus” will be performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale in Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday, January 30. Get tickets at lamasterchorale.org. Hope to see you there!

Here’s a recent home recording of my Kwanzaa song: “Nia,” with vocals and percussion performed by Natalie, Vincent, and Zanaida Robles. It features the new tongue drum that Vincent got me for Christmas:

Listen to “Nia” by Zanaida Robles on #SoundCloud:

Listen here

Ollie’s Corner

Here’s Ollie being a vicious predator toward a toy snake.

January 25, 2022 Zanaida 0

New headshots

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!

More about Shawn

Singing

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. 

Get to the church

Community News

HW students to join this year’s honor choirs

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.

Please listen and share!

For Fun

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!

Arachnid alert!

(with a little fiesta flair this year…)

Ollie’s corner

October 25, 2021 Zanaida 0

An Unlikely Spiritual Practice

Almost everyday, for better or for worse, I log on to Facebook, sometimes multiple times per day. If I can stay away from negativity, I’m sometimes able to connect and catch up with friends and colleagues in fun and creative ways through this social media outlet.

Every morning, Facebook lets me know how many friends are celebrating birthdays on that day. I know from experience that there’s something really sweet about receiving birthday greeting from all your “friends” on Facebook. Sometimes, there are like 20 friends who all have birthdays on the same day. That’s a lot of “Happy Birthday!’s” to write, which could take up quite a bit of time.

One day this month, it occurred to me that the daily Facebook birthday list was a tool I could use to send positive vibes, even prayers to all my “friends” through out the year. It doesn’t matter that I don’t necessarily “know” every single person. I have an opportunity to send light and love to all these people; to meditate on and acknowledge the worth, dignity, and belovedness of about 3,000 specific individuals in my circle of facebook friends over the course of a year just by wishing them a “happy birthday.”

When I look at it like that, wishing a happy birthday to all these folks seems like the least I could do to actively send positive energy into the world on a daily basis, perhaps thereby making it a better place. Actually, this “happy birthday” practice is more for ME than it is for them.

Composition

Since this time last year, more 100 schools, churches, community choirs, professional ensembles, and individuals from around the world have purchased or commissioned my music. I never EVER imagined I could make it this far as a composer.

Thank you to everyone who who has shown an interest in my work; everyone who encouraged me and believed in me; my family, especially my incredible mom for being the very best assistant on the earth; and Lauri D Goldenhersh for helping me share my news and my music with the world.

Singing

Earlier this month, I was elated for my first live vocal recording session since the pandemic began. I had forgotten how much I love session singing. I loved seeing friends and meeting new singers. Plus, I had forgotten how pretty-darn-good I am at this kind of high-pressure gig. I’m grateful to live in a city where this work is possible. Here’s hoping for more! 

Community News

As the chair of Tonality’s Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce that our new album America Will Be has just been released. America Will Be speaks to issues that have been quieted in our attempt to portray the United States as a beacon of opportunity. In styles as diverse as the topics, this music brings voice to the most vulnerable – to lift them up, to reflect on the reality of our society, and to sing about peace and unity. Through our song, we look toward a more perfect union for ourselves and future generations.

Congratulations, Tonality!  Check it out here

Ready to Join the Choir and Sing With Me?

Neighborhood Chorus at Neighborhood Church in Pasadena is now accepting singers on all voice parts. The excitement is building as we turn our attention toward returning to our beloved sanctuary for live worship in September. Neighborhood Chorus is finally coming back in-person with regular Thursday night rehearsals in the sanctuary beginning on September 2 from 7:15pm-9pm.

Conducted by Dr. Zanaida Robles, 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. Our new Sunday worship schedule calls for the Neighborhood Chorus to sing 3 Sundays per month during the 2nd service only. COVID vaccination is required of all singers, and we will 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. I can’t wait to make music with you again!

For Fun

I actually went out to a thing!

Earlier this month, I fed my soul with some live jazz, compliments of the John Tegmeyer Quartet. Can’t wait to see these cats play again!

And finally (below), here’s Ollivander, the magical kitten, helping me multi-task ❤❤❤

August 25, 2021 Zanaida 0