PS22 Chorus

This chorus from Staten Island never ceases to amaze me. YouTube is full of videos from the 5th graders from PS22, and they are well worth watching. What is particularly moving about these kids is their commitment - they sing absolutely from the heart. There is a good article about these students at http://www.brooklynrail.org/2008/07/streets/glee-club.

The video posted here is excellent, but there are many, many more that are just as good. Just go to YouTube and type in PS22.

CBS Sunday Morning Celebrates the Importance of Singing in a Choir

This recent segment of CBS Sunday Morning sings the praises of choral singing. There are a few clips of an event I sang at with Minnesota Chorale during the Minnesota State Fair in 2008. I couldn't find me, but I really was there :)

g

Never Stop Singing: Documenting Minnesota's Choral Legacy

 

 

 

Never Stop Singing, a documentary about choral music in Minnesota, will have its public television premier on TPT Sunday, June 7 at 8pm.  The program will be broadcast statewide on TPT MN, channel 2.2 in the Twin Cities. (check local listings in other areas). 

This documentary features  interviews with noted musicians Dominick Argento, Anton Armstrong, Philip Brunelle, David Cherwien, René Clausen, Peter Hendrickson, Maria Jette, Stephen Paulus, Robert Robinson, Kathy Saltzman Romey and Dale Warland among others. Several Minnesota choirs will be featured as well, both in rehearsal and performance. 

The Minnesota Chorale was filmed during the making of the documentary, and I will be as curious as anyone to see what footage was used in this documentary (if any).  There is even a picture of me on the website, but that is the only clue I will give.

 

 More information is available at http://www.neverstopsinging.org 

 

 BROADCAST DATES & TIMES

 

 tptMN (KTCA-DT 2.2)

 June 7 at  8pm

 June 8  at 2am

 June 8  at 8am

 June 9 at  2pm

  

 tptLIFE (KTCI-DT 2.3)

 June 14 at  noon

  

 tptMN (KTCA-DT 2.2)

 July 5 at 7:30pm

 July 6 at 1:30am

 July 6 at 7:30am

 July 6 at 1:30pm

  

 tptLIFE (KTCI-DT 2.3)

 July 12 at  1pm

  

North Dakota State University Concert Choir

As part of their spring tour, the North Dakota State University Concert Choir will be performing in Minneapolis. Directed by Dr. Jo Ann Miller, they are a truly stellar group. Here are the details:

North Dakota State University Concert Choir
Directed by Dr. Jo Ann Miller
Thursday March 12
7:30 p.m.

First Christian Church
2201 First Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN

Building a Vocal Community with Ysaye Barnwell March 7

Ysaye Barnwell is one of the founding members of the vocal group "Sweet Honey in the Rock". You can get a better idea of what she has to offer by checking out her myspace page at WWW.MYSPACE.COM/YSAYEMBARNWELL. This workshop that she is giving will be fantastic. Come prepared to sing!

Details:

Saturday March 7 from 10:30 - 12:00

Minneapolis Community and Technical College

T Building Plaza Level

Free and open to the public

I strongly encourage each and every one of you to go to this event. Here is a link the flyer for you to download and share with friends.

http://files.me.com/empauly/37ogxj

Minnesota Orchestra presents "Mass" by Leonard Bernstein

This coming Thursday and Friday evening, the Minnesota Chorale will join the Minnesota Orchestra in performances of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass". This is a cool piece, and is not frequently performed in its entirety. Student rush tickets may be available on Thursday evening. Highly recommended: there are moments of intense beauty and high drama. Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Wicked) with an interesting contribution by Paul Simon. Click here for more information.

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to sing this piece again. 

InChoir - Another chance to Sing Messiah for Free

Minnesota Chorale has a wonderful program called "InChoir" where people can come and sing along during specific rehearsals. The next event, December 15, is one of our Messiah rehearsals. It is free, and a wonderful chance to sing the work. For more information, click here.