5 | HEROES CHORAL/ VOCAL PROGRAM from the president’s pen · by robert istad 6 | FIRE, FIRE letter from the editor · by eliza rubenstein

8 | HELPING HANDS from the vice president’s pen · by lou de la rosa

Dr. Robert Istad Dr. Christopher Peterson 10 | FREEDOM ROAD Director of Choral Studies Choral Music Education/ a youth takes a life-changing tour · by jenny tisi

Recent performances and recordings include: 2018 Performance at ACDA Western Division Conference, 19 | SEEN & HEARD 2018 Performances with the , Pacific , and with Segerstrom Center for 20 | ACDA NATIONAL CONFERENCE the Arts, 2017 recording with Yarlung Records, 2016 Recording with John Williams for Sony Classical, 2016 Performance with Kathleen Battle, 2015 Choral- 21 | CCDA SUMMER CONFERENCE AT ECCO Orchestral Performances in Paris, France.

Recent repertoire highlights: Mahler Eighth Symphony, 22 | 2019 CCDA STATE CONFERENCE Lang The Little Match Girl Passion, Mendelssohn Elijah, Bernstein Chichester Psalms, Howells , Bach 25 | BE A REAL PERSON St. John Passion, Händel Israel in Egypt, Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms, Lauridsen Lux Aeterna. the composer’s voice · by dale trumbore Annual performances: the Los Angeles Philharmonic 27 | GEORGE HEUSSENSTAMM COMPOSITION CONTEST Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, and Andrea Bocelli at Walt Disney by david montoya Concert Hall, the , and major arenas. 28 | VISION FOR THE FUTURE Annual performance tours: including, Spain, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Russia, New York City, Paris/ scholarship fund donors Northern France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Australia. 30 | NEWS AND NOTES Annual, fully-staged operatic productions with happenings from around the state orchestra. The ACDA student chapters of USC, 33 | TOP FIVE: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY Distinguished alumni: Deborah Voigt, Rod Gilfry, Charles Biola, and Azusa Pacific University by buddy james Castronovo, Rene Tatum, Jubilant Sykes, and Christopher kicked off their academic year in style! Job. Here’s to a great 2019 for all of us. 34 | TOP FIVE: HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS Graduates from our Master of Music in Choral Conducting program are successfully conducting by tammi alderman performances with collegiate ensembles, professional choruses and orchestras, and companies 37 | TOP FIVE: CHORAL COMPOSITION throughout the world. by david montoya M.M. Choral Conducting graduates gain real-world experience leading performances with CSUF’s award- 38 | CALIFORNIA ACDA DIRECTORY winning choirs, orchestra, and opera theater program.

100% employment rate for choral music education graduates.

Students perform, rehearse, and record in the superb, astonishing acoustics of Meng Concert Hall. music.fullerton.edu

2 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 3 From The president’s pen: CANTATE HEROES Volume 31, Number 2 WHEREAS, y heroes coordinate honor choirs. and our entire team of nimble volunteers, our Seriously. We have an amazing team of students were able to have the world-class Official publication of the the human spirit is elevated to a M broader understanding of itself educators that donate immense hours of time choral experience they had been working so California Choral Directors to provide world-class musical experiences diligently to prepare. Thanks to CCDA’s Association, an Affiliate of through study and performance in the aesthetic arts, and to California’s choral students every year. tireless volunteers, parents and grandparents the American Choral Our marvelous CCDA Honor Choir Chair, got to celebrate their children’s accomplish- Directors Association Robert Istad is in his WHEREAS, Molly Peters, assembles a team of dedicated ments in the midst of unimaginable tragedy. second season as the volunteers to plan and implement auditions, CCDA again provided inspiration and Eliza Rubenstein, editor serious cutbacks in funding and support have steadily eroded state Artistic Director of accommodations and operations for our relief for a beleaguered community. When I [email protected] institutions and their programs regional and all-state choirs every year. I am contacted Mary to thank her for her incredible Pacific Chorale. Istad throughout our country, consistently impressed with the quality of their work, she graciously responded, but then is also Professor of organization and the tireless passion with began a conversation about the ways in which GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS which they approach this annual labor of love. we could make CCDA’s honor choir programs BE IT RESOLVED Music and Director Molly and her team never settle for status even more effective and more embracing to We welcome and encourage CCDA members that all citizens of the United quo. Rather, they always work to make our students requiring special accommodation. to contribute articles, announcements, music and States actively voice their affirmative of Choral Studies book reviews, job vacancy listings, photographs, honor choir programs better, more effective, Mary is my hero. and collective support for necessary at California State and most importantly, more meaningful to our This situation highlighted one of the many and other items of interest to Cantate! funding at the local, state, and national University, Fullerton, students. Under her leadership, CCDA has ways our teaching and music-making changes Please send queries and article ideas to levels of education and government, developed an all-state middle school chorus, lives. Bill Dehning always said, “Conductors to ensure the survival of arts programs where he was [email protected]. You are also created a wonderful scholarship program, and serve people and music, in that order.” I for this and future generations. welcome to submit completed articles, but please recognized as CSUF’s is working with our friends in CBDA and think we all understand that mission in our note that not all articles received will be published. CODA to create a more affordable, excellent lives. We work tirelessly to make sure that California Choral Directors Association 2016 Outstanding experience for our students when we return to people of all ages know how loved they are, empowers choral musicians to Deadlines for publication are as follows: Professor of the CASMEC in 2020. They are my heroes. how essential their voices are to the fabric August 15 (Fall issue); November 1 create transformative experiences for of our communities, and the ways they can Year. He is the former (Winter issue); March 1 (Spring issue). California’s diverse communities. n November, our state experienced an impart that positive energy to every person The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. Artistic Director of Iunprecedented natural disaster. The Camp they encounter. I thank you for all that you do CCDA is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt Fire was the deadliest wildfire in California to support people through music. Thank you Long Beach Camerata corporation and an affiliate of the history. As I write this letter, almost 700 for every hour you’ve stayed at work late to American Choral Directors Association. Singers and Long people are missing, 79 have died, and help that struggling student, for every moment ADVERTISING IN CANTATE thousands are without shelter. The Camp you’ve remained in the parking lot after Beach Bach Festival. Please visit our website (www.acdacal.org) or Fire coincided with our Coastal Honor rehearsal to show the lonely they have a friend, e-mail us at [email protected] for UPCOMING EVENTS He is Dean of Chorus Choir. Mary Stocker, our Coastal Honor and every time you reached well beyond your complete information on advertising in Cantate, Choir coordinator, was notified on the day America’s Academy for responsibilities to give a piece of music’s joy to including rates, deadlines, and graphics specifications. ACDA National Conference of our first rehearsal, that our rehearsal and others. Advertisements are subject to editorial approval. Conductors, and has February 27-March 2, 2019 (Kansas City, MO) performance venues would be closed due You are all my heroes. Look at what we are prepared choruses for to the fire. In addition, a number of our already accomplishing together in California. CCDA State Conference students were affected by the fire. She was Let’s do even more. On the cover: Members of the Carlmont High School a number of America’s horrified that our students would be denied choirs in Belmont perform in their “Cold Hands, Warm March 14-16, 2019 (San Jose) finest conductors and this important musical opportunity, and ee you at ACDA National in Kansas City Hearts” holiday program. Photo by Robyn Peters. immediately went to work. She put her life on Sand our CCDA Conference in San Jose in orchestras. hold to find a place for our students. She and March! When you are there, do not forget to I both thank Dr. Jeffrey Benson for opening take time to cheer on our honor choir students San Jose State University’s School of Music from the audience. They deserve to perform and Dance at the last minute for rehearsals for an amazing audience.  and performances. Thanks to Mary, Jeffrey

4 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 5 didn’t even keep anything of real financial or sentimental here’s grace in practicing detachment and embracing letter from the editor: value there. (We regularly crack ourselves up talking about Timpermanence, but they’re no insurance against the “the Klee” that hangs above the fireplace, but it’s a poster pain of loss, of course. For far too many of our colleagues, we got for seven dollars at a swap meet.) The cabin was friends, and students here in California, the losses of the past FIRE, FIRE and is a bonus for us, an indulgence made meaningful and year have been nothing short of calamitous, and recovery necessary chiefly by its capacity to bring people joy—and, as demands a balance of time, money, music, and compassion, we realized during those three days of distant impotent fear, for starters. You’ve just read in Rob Istad’s column about how y heart sank when I got the text from cry, and a blessed breather, from our everyday made precious in part by its ephemerality. the dedication of CCDA members made our regional honor Mmy friend and colleague Sarah as we lives as a conductor and a veterinarian. I suppose I could say the same of the vocation I’ve chosen. choirs a refuge in the midst of the flames this fall, and you’ll both drove back from ECCO in separate cars And according to the fire maps that Julie What we musicians do isn’t a biological or bureaucratic read in Lou De La Rosa’s article on the next page about a on different freeways: “Just saw news about consulted after I called her from the car that imperative in the world, much as it feels like one when we musical connection that’s bringing relief to California wildfire the Cranston Fire causing evacuations in late July afternoon, it might all be up in do it with love and skill; it’s a necessity only insofar as we victims all the way from Washington, DC. Lou’s piece also Idyllwild. Is your cabin at risk?” flames. Eliza Rubenstein is the humans crave beauty, peace, insight, and connectedness. We includes information about a Gofundme campaign you can So that explained the swelling plume traffic in impermanence. We devote weeks and months to support if you’d like to extend a bit of tangible kindness to Director of Choral of smoke out my driver’s-side window. o avoid unnecessary melodrama, I’ll skip perfecting art that’s gone as soon as we create it. the students of Paradise High School, which was destroyed to the end of the story for a moment: Our and Vocal Activities at I’d watched it billowing from the distant T Yet we all know that in times of crisis, when the trees burn along with virtually its entire town. The non-profit California mountains and stretching wider and blacker place didn’t burn down, but it came damn or the earth shakes, when the firm foundations we rely on Community Fund (www.calfund.org) is another good place to Orange Coast College, across the eastern sky as I’d driven south, close. The fire, ignited by an arsonist in the are disturbed or destroyed, we turn as often and as intensely start if you’d like to help the wider relief effort throughout the and the Artistic and the brutal heat and brittle dryness of the hills just beyond our corner of town, destroyed to the transient things we love as we do to the tangible ones. affected areas of the state. afternoon meant it was spreading fast. The five of our neighbors’ homes—houses we That which is already evanescent by nature can’t be taken Let us all give what we can give, in dollars or in hours, Director of the sight alone had made passed regularly during away from us. Making a life as a conductor teaches us, and let us encourage the students and singers in our lives to be Orange County me feel sick even our dog walks—before consistently if imperfectly, the tricky, sticky art of forming our informed and mindful stewards of the beautiful, fragile state before I knew the fire firefighters working on we call home. We are, after all, beautiful, fragile people who Women’s Chorus deepest connections through a medium that’s forever slipping was threatening our the ground and from the through our fingers. love a beautiful, fragile art form.  and the Long Beach favorite town. air stopped its progress Lots of California about a third of a mile Chorale & Chamber choral folks know from our door. The hills Orchestra. She Idyllwild for its for miles around were famous arts school blackened, but the town holds degrees from and its fabulous was spared, and so was Oberlin College and summer music camp, our little green cabin, UC-Irvine, and she but my partner, this time, at least. We’re Julie, and I bought fine, and we’re fortunate, is a former animal our tiny cabin there Idyllwild after the fire unlike hundreds of shelter supervisor and for entirely non- thousands of other professional reasons. We’d taken weekend Californians during this devastating year of the co-author of getaways to Idyllwild with our dogs for years, ewiges Feuer. a book about dog hooked by the town’s artsy culture, its scenic But for about 72 hours, everything we spot in the San Jacinto mountains, its clean saw on the fire maps and the Twitter feeds adoption. Eliza’s family air and impossibly starry night skies, and that we refreshed on our screens from a includes her partner, its wonderfully oddball population. (If you hundred miles away told us that our house haven’t experienced the place yourself, all you was probably gone, and perhaps our (and our Julie Fischer; a yellow really need to know is that the town’s elected many friends’) beloved mountain village as Labrador named mayor is a golden retriever.) well. Those three days, we joked darkly in the weeks that followed, became an unintended Dayton; and a cat So when we happened upon a small green cabin there that needed a new owner, exercise in compulsory Buddhism—in the named Wilbur. She’s we snapped it up with the understanding art of letting go, of seeking peace in our passionate about that it was equal parts Good Investment and helplessness, of releasing our attachments to Innocuous Midlife Crisis. We’ve spent many places and possessions and pleasures that grammar, Thai food, of our rare free weekends there in the four might turn to ash at a moment’s notice. photography, and the years since, hiking with the dogs, watching To be sure, Julie and I knew that even Steller’s jays at our bird feeder, and filling if our place was lost and our hearts were St. Louis Cardinals. the bathroom with weird St. Louis Cardinals broken, we were better off than many people memorabilia. Sometimes neighbors stop in town and throughout the state. No people by with snacks or invitations. Sometimes or pets had been hurt; our cabin was insured; chipmunks come into the living room. It’s a far it wasn’t our primary residence; and we

6 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 7 From The vice president’s pen: HELPING HANDS n the aftermath of the devastating wildfires moved. We are honored for CCDA to act as the Ithroughout the state this fall, people around conduit to direct whatever contributions come in the nation have sent messages of support to fire via TCCW, to those choral organizations most victims and rallied to assist as they could. The severely affected by the fire, especially the choirs feeling of helplessness in the wake of such a at Paradise High School, which burned to the force of nature is universal, as is the empathy ground. They lost everything. that comes from knowing such destruction Our hope is that as choirs again raise their by natural disaster could happen to any of us voice in song out of the ashes, spirits will also anytime. be lifted and communities will begin to heal. Lou De La Rosa is the In late November, CCDA President Your goodwill and support will help make this past president of CCDA Rob Istad received a message from Michael possible. Darling, an administrator with The City Choir Again let us express our great appreciation and the Director of of Washington, DC (TCCW). The choir on behalf of CCDA for the selfless generosity of Choral and Vocal members, upon hearing of the unprecedented TCCW; indeed a choir with “a sound, and a wildfires in our state, decided they would like kindness, like no other.” Studies at West Valley to specifically help choral programs affected College in Saratoga. by the fires by donating a portion of the owever, one program does not a proceeds from their January concert. The community or a school make. There are He has taught music in H President’s Council discussed how best to a tremendous number of needs that tax the the San Jose area for use the proceeds. We recognize that wildfires financial constraints of students and parents devastated communities all over the state, but even in the best of times. I cannot imagine more than 30 years, the town of Paradise was virtually wiped off trying to teach students who have lost their including 13 years at the map, so that is where we chose to focus school, their town, their homes, cherished these efforts in order to do the most good. mementos, and worst of all, loved ones trapped Lincoln High School, President Istad asked me to work with in the conflagration. The administration of a visual and performing Michael Darling to formalize the donation Paradise High is committed to bringing a by TCCW of proceeds from their January 6 sense of normalcy to the lives of their students. arts school. He has Twelfth Night concert to CCDA, which will Principal Loren Lighthall, who was Follow your passion! served his peers through pass along those funds to the Paradise High tasked with reopening the school in a School Choral Program. With the sponsorship different location with few resources, replied numerous professional of TCCW, we inserted the following letter in to me in early December. He wrote out of organizations. Lou feels their January 6 program, addressed to TCCW frustration: “Unfortunately the bean counters Bachelor of Arts Dr. Jeffrey Benson, Board President Carol Perez, M.D., along and attorneys make helping our kids more Concert Choir lucky to be married to Bachelor of Music director of choral activities with a promotional advertisement to encourage difficult than it should be in this time of Choraliers in Performance [email protected] Mary and is proud to be further donations from their audience. crisis. We have set up a GoFundMe that will help fund yearbooks, prom, senior activities, Vocal Jazz Ensemble Bachelor of Music SJSU Choirs the father of Christine, Dear Dr. Perez: and other events that would now be difficult Treble Choir Education SJSU Choirs Katherine, and Emily. He On behalf of the California Choral Directors for our kids to afford. Contributing to that Spartan Glee Club Master of Music in @SJSU Choirs Association’s 1,500 members, we want to would be helpful. Another way to help Choral Conducting enjoys woodworking, Opera Theatre sjsu.edu/music thank The City Choir of Washington, TCCW, would be gift cards. They would be given Summer Masters loathes plumbing repairs, for its thoughtfulness in reaching out to CCDA directly to students and would help them Degree in Music and offering to help choirs, and in turn their and is a die-hard fan of with immediate needs right away.” (The Education communities, impacted by the wildfires that link to the GoFundMe account set up by the 2010, 2012, and devastated our state, particularly the town of the Activities Director at Paradise High July 15-19, 2019 Paradise in Northern California. Your kind sjsu.edu/music/ 2014 World Champion School is https://www.gofundme.com/ words and offer of support speak to a kinship paradise-high-activities.) choralworkshop San Francisco Giants. and sense of family shared by choirs large and As we enter the second half of this small across the country. Although separated by academic year, I encourage all of our members many miles and time zones, please know that to reach out to victims of the fires and we think of TCCW as a friend and neighbor. mudslides over the past two years. Though out When your very kind offer was discussed on of the news, their struggles continue. Thank the CCDA President’s Council, we were quite you for your generosity and caring. 

8 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 9 FREEDOM ROAD

wish I were a good sleeper, but I’m not. I never have been. My brain never completely shuts down, so some of my best ideas for concerts I have come from “brain-planning” during sleep. Thus it was no surprise to me that one morning over Christmas break, 2016, I woke up with a vision. Eighteen months later, and after eighteen months of planning and more road blocks than you can possibly imagine, I took 41 young choristers and 14 adults on a 10-day choir tour to Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Missouri. Choir directors have asked, of all places, why would you take your choir to the deep south, in late June, during the current political climate in our country? Let me tell you why. I am a dreamer. I believe in the power of all things good. And I want things fixed. To me, there is absolutely nothing more powerful than the voices of the youth I am privileged to stand in front of every week. I know you understand this. Sharing your voice, an instrument that is connected to every fiber of our being, is extremely deep and intimate, and I’m grateful for a church community that understands this, believes in me, and believes in our youth. With their blessing and support—and a ton of fundraising, from tamale sales to coffee houses to Drag Queen Bingo—we were able to put this dream into action. It changed our lives.

by Jenny Tisi

10 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 11 I have watched the documentary The Singing • The 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, tour. This was my biggest learning experience, and at as facilitators of conversation on our tour; two of them Revolution more times than a person should probably Alabama times, my biggest shortfall. women lead our Racial Justice Ministry at All Saints, watch a documentary. It’s about how the small, mighty • The Civil Rights Voting Museum, Birmingham, After I began working with ACFEA, I met with and one is a Senior Consultant and PhD from Freedom country of Estonia preserved their culture and saved Alabama a brilliant woman of color: Lisa Sharon Harper from Road, a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in themselves from Nazi and Soviet regimes through the Freedom Road (www.freedomroad.us), a consulting Multicultural Professional Psychology (as well as a • The Brown AME Chapel, Selma, Alabama power of singing. Thousands of singers come together organization that helps craft justice-oriented events and dedicated choir parent!). every year in Tallinn for a festival. I met one of the • The Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma, Alabama experiences. We discussed the demographics of our Before we went on the tour, we scheduled Saturday conductors, Hirvo Surva, at an ACDA summer • The French Quarter and the 4th Ward, New Orleans, choristers. All Saints is a predominantly white church, rehearsals and opportunities to facilitate conversation conference in Washington, and he explained to us that Louisiana and it would never have occurred to me, a white woman, that would help us understand what we were going to experience. This went far beyond learning the music Estonia continues the song festival, even though they • The Slave Haven Underground Railroad House, that I would need to consider the imbalance of whites to for a tour. Our conversations were deep, and got us have their freedom, because it is a way for them to come Memphis, Tennessee people of color in my choir when taking a group to the together for a “family meeting.” To me, that sounded south. I was grateful for the conversation with Lisa and thinking way outside our comfortable box. I learned brilliant, and it got me thinking: How could I help to • The Rock and Soul Museum, Memphis, Tennessee her opening my eyes to the balance that would need to more from our facilitators and from my own choristers heal my country through choral music? • The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine happen, so that our choristers of color would have their than I ever learned in my schooling. I work at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. Motel, Memphis, Tennessee voices amplified. From her social location and expertise Our prep work began with watching Whose Streets?, It’s well-known for being a peace and social justice • The Michael Brown Memorial, Ferguson, Missouri in taking pilgrimages to the south, she recommended a documentary about the events in Ferguson when that we strive for a balance of 51% or more people of Michael Brown was killed. Our rector, who was from minded church with a strong choir program for adults, • The Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, Missouri children, and youth. The children’s and youth choirs color, especially African Americans. In our group of 41 St. Louis and had been a part of the Ferguson uprising, have traditionally attended festivals and ACDA • The Old Courthouse, Saint Louis, Missouri touring choristers, we had 15 choristers who were people knew all of the activists in this movie. They had become his family, and we were lucky enough to sit and meet conferences, and being a part of that world has brought These sites, as well as five concerts in churches and of color. We had 14 seats that we could fill on the bus with two of them on our tour. us great joy and experiences we will never forget. But I museums along the way, gave us a view of the south that for chaperones and others that wished to join us, and we We also had conversations about each memorial and began to ask myself, “What do I want for this program? none of us expected and that many of us never knew decided to fill as many of those positions as possible with museum we were going to visit, and we prepped our Does being a part of these festivals speak to the core existed. With each bit of knowledge we gained, the persons of color to get us closer to our balance. In the choristers for the conversations we would have on our of what All Saints is about?” In some ways, yes. voices of our youth soared, and each concert sounded end, we had 55 people, 21 of color and 24 white. Three tour. We talked about reading cues—knowing when “Are my choristers getting an education by attending different—not because of the venue, but because we of the African American women in the group acted these festivals?” Absolutely! But what if we could do were changed: gutted, sometimes horrified, but also something different, something that would educate us, blessed beyond measure. spread joyful praise, expose deep pain, find hope, and There’s a lot of prep work that needs to be done help heal our nation? Could we possibly do all that in before a tour like this. I cannot impress upon you enough “We Are One” tour repertoire a one-hour performance? Why not take us to the most the need for preparing your choristers for what they Songs of Praise Keith Hampton: Shout of Praise painful places in our country’s history? Why not create will experience, the emotions that they will feel, and the a concert based on those themes and take it on the road? conversations that must happen before, during and after Rollo Dilworth: I Sing Because I’m Happy And that’s what we did, by creating the “We Jeffrey Ames: Let Everything That Hath Breath are One” tour. BUt how can we praise god when.... Eliza Gilkyson, Arr. Craig Hella Johnson: Requiem met with a select group of choristers and Pepper Choplin: Angels Unaware I our rector. We sat down with a map and Arr. Josephine Poelinitz: A City Called Heaven figured out a route to take that could be done , Arr. BOB Chilcott: MLK on a bus in a reasonable amount of time, then presented the idea to ACFEA so that they Songs of Hope and Healing Charles Albert Tindley: We Shall Overcome could create the tour for us. Our trip would start Parton, Arr; Johnson: Light of a Clear Blue Morning with a flight to Atlanta from LAX, and took Pepper Choplin: We Are Not Alone us to Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma, Carl Steubing: Brothers Alabama. We then traveled on to New Orleans, Dan Forrest: ALways Something Sings Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; and Ferguson Trad. South African, Arr. van der Merwe: Ukuthula and St. Louis, Missouri. Trad., Arr. Baker: The Storm is Passing Over In ten days, we went to the following Common, Arr. Mark Brymer: Glory museums and landmarks: • The National Memorial for Peace and Social There Is Unity James Taylor, arr. Jasperse: Shed a Little Light Justice and Legacy Museum, Montgomery, Jacob Narverud: Sisi ni Moja Alabama Doobie Brothers, Arr. Thrower: Listen to the Music

12 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 13 someone wanted to talk or when someone just needed annoying a white woman.” one day is, of course, impossible. We started our day to be left alone. We talked about how each one of us That night, we drove to our former rector’s house for with a three-hour bus tour, some free time in the city, and would have our own set of pain, anger, frustration, a pool party and a barbecue. We were all grateful for the then an amazing barbecue meal with a live jazz band grief, and guilt. We talked about the importance of not break. and dancing, all in our concert clothes and right before letting white voices dominate the conversation. None of The next day, we took in the 16th Street Baptist our second tour concert. We performed at a small church this was easy, yet every bit of it was necessary. Church and the Civil Rights Voting Museum. Watching with amazing acoustics and gracious audience members. Our concert program had four sections. The first, my choristers walk down the stairs to the exact spot “Songs of Praise,” was filled with favorite gospel tunes where the Ku Klux Klan bombed the church in 1963, Day 5-6: Memphis, Tennessee we have performed over the years. The second section, killing four young African American girls on their way “But How Do We Praise God When....”, dealt with to Bible study, gave me more pause than I’d expected. he next day, when we drove to Memphis, emotions the pain of natural disasters, homelessness, slavery, and They went to see the stained-glass window where only Tcaught up with us, and it was here that I realized the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. After a brief the face of Jesus was shattered during the bombing, too. that I had made some mistakes. At dinner that night, intermission, our next and longest section was “Songs These are experiences that stick with me and haunt me. it was clear that I was not allowing enough time for of Hope and Healing,” followed by “There is Unity.” When we went to the Civil Rights Voting Museum, processing the emotions of our choristers and adults. we made an offering: We formed a circle beneath a dome The facilitated conversations we’d envisioned for our Day 1-2: Montgomery/Birmingham, Alabama and sang Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of U2’s “MLK.” bus rides were not what we had originally planned. Our The youth sang with their eyes closed. It was one of the head facilitator was under the impression that we could ur first city was Montgomery, where slave ships most beautiful moments on our tour. Later that night, stand in the aisle on the bus and have guided discussions Odelivered enslaved people to warehouses along we had our very first tour concert at a local Episcopal about what we were going to see and what we had taken the Alabama River. The streets now bear landmark church in Birmingham. in. After the bus driver told us that was not possible, signs remembering the tragic and horrific events that the amount of time we had at our stops along the way to happened there. At the center of town, two streets Day 3: Selma, Alabama process was not nearly enough. We had over-planned the form a cross, and in the center is a beautiful Grecian activities for this tour, and our desire to have processing fountain. In this intersection is a small sign marking the ur next day took us to Selma. We drove to the time and the voices of our people of color heard suffered exact spot of the auction block where enslaved people OBrown African Methodist Episcopal church, a bit. I began to crash, and if not for the support of my were sold. The dichotomy of the fountain and the where civil-rights protesters gathered to march across rector and his support, I don’t know how well we could reminder of the atrocities committed there was beyond the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and where Malcolm X us their stories from Bloody Sunday, they led us in a few have recovered from this moment. We had to make it eerie, and it reminded me of the whitewashing of my and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave speeches. We freedom songs, and then we sang to them. One of them a priority to process, and if that meant we left out a education; we tend to bury what really happened when stood in that church, behind that pulpit, using the piano stood up and say that she had more hope for the future planned activity, we did so. At the end of each evening, the truth is too painful to confront. I had a hard time they used to accompany freedom songs, and we sang to because of us. That’s a big compliment and a welcome we gathered in our hotel and talked about our day, no walking through these streets. three beautiful women who had crossed the bridge with responsibility, and it’s more than my choir and I will ever matter how tired we were. We had to. In Montgomery we also visited the new National MLK. As I told them, this was like the Sistine Chapel get out of any festival. We visited the Slave Haven Museum, which was a Memorial for Peace and Social Justice and Legacy to me—just as sacred, or maybe even more so. They told Later that afternoon, we met with Joanne, another safe house on the Underground Railroad. We heard Museum. I learned history I hadn’t freedom fighter who gave her testimony from Bloody stories about how black toddlers and babies were used known, while watching my choristers Sunday. She recalled lying in the back of a car, on her as foot warmers under the covers for white people. We walk with their own journals in sister’s lap, with her sister’s blood dripping onto her learned about the quilting squares that were made as hand, taking notes, looking at body. We asked her if she would walk across the bridge clues for a map for escape along the Underground painful propaganda from the era of with us, and she answered, “I already walked it.” We Railroad. We went into the crawl space of the home, slavery and beyond, and reading decided to circle around her and offer her a song (again, where slaves would hide for weeks at a time. The claus- and watching films about what “MLK”). Joanne sobbed into her hands when we were trophobia of staying in that space for five minutes was really happened. I watched their finished, then looked up at us and said, “You are the hard enough; I cannot imagine adding fear and panic to empty stares, the way they slowly ones we have been waiting for.” Our singers said, “We the equation for weeks at a time. lowered their heads and picked up just cannot let her down now.” Afterward, we crossed The following day, we went to the Lorraine Motel, their pens to write. We all gave each the Edmund Pettus Bridge in complete silence, with our where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot. Before we other space while offering a hand, rector leading the way—shoes off, as it was holy ground. entered the museum, we gave a short a cappella concert a hug, and a shoulder for crying It was a moment of beauty. right in front of the balcony where he was murdered. when needed. They read the names This, too, was holy ground, sacred space; we could feel of those who were lynched and why Day 4: New Orleans, Louisiana it. After that, we went inside the motel and performed they were lynched. They shook their the same concert in the main lobby. With each heads in anger and disbelief as they ur journey took us next to New Orleans. This was performance, we could feel the emotion and the weight read things like “Was lynched for Oa quick visit, and to experience New Orleans in of the tour on our choristers.

14 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 15 was after this that we met with two of the activists from On this last evening we gave our last concert, at Reflections from the singers Whose Streets?, the documentary we’d watched. The Christ Church Cathedral in Saint Louis. By this time, presentation of these two young women made a huge every bit of emotion could be seen and heard through “This was my first time ever going to the Deep South, and really my first time being impact on our choristers, who asked them questions, the voices of our choristers. The exhaustion from the past exposed to problems like slavery and segregation firsthand. There were many powerful circled around them and sang a song, and got their tour eighteen months of arranging this tour and the emotional images and moments of the tour that will always be remembered by those who T-shirts signed by the activists. whirlwind of ten packed days hit me like a ton of bricks. witnessed them. No words can describe them, other than Pure and Raw.” That night, when we got back to our hotel, we I was grateful for an evening in the park with cannolis. Sam, College Freshman debriefed, and I started to feel a sense of heaviness and We spent our last day at St. Louis’s City Museum, guilt for what I had put these kids through. There was which is the craziest collection of stuff that has ever been a lot of crying, hugging, holding, and unspoken anger. turned into an adult jungle gym, with everything from “A lot of things stuck with me from tour. The cultures, landscapes, and traditions There was also a lot of speaking out and the need to airplanes hanging from the side of the building to big of the places were a big change from the scenery I was used to in California. But process, which our facilitators handled like champs. At chutes and tunnels to climb through. It was what we all overall, the part that stuck out to me the most was the fact that on this tour, I was the end of the meeting, I simply had to stand up and ask needed—time to unwind and be kids and not carry the getting a personal look at my history and heritage. I got to meet people who had the choristers if I had made a mistake. Had this been too weight of the world on our shoulders. actually been a part of the civil rights movement—in the past and currently—and visit much for them? Did they regret this tour? Their answer: historical sites from times of slavery and civil oppression. I felt like the events I had Absolutely not. They needed to see this. They needed une 20-30 seems so far away right now. The new read about as a child finally had some substance to me and my heritage. to know the truth, no matter how painful. Jchoir season began, our seniors went off to college, Samantha, high school Senior and we still have much to process and unpack. What’s Day 8-9: St. Louis, Missouri next for us? I think I will find it difficult for us to do “The tour gave me some incredible memories. I think what stuck with me the most was any other kind of tour or festival that does not involve a when we performed for three individuals who were a part of the marches in Selma. Our next day took us to the Gateway Arch—an peace and social justice action like this. We have much still to learn, much to heal, and much to discover about We had a set line up, and I had no idea I would be performing ‘Glory.’ When we did (on amazing structure that stands just across the street from ourselves. I encourage us all to think outside our boxes. the spot), I saw the expression on all of their faces change. They stood up, and I knew I the Old Courthouse, where the Dred Scott decision was made. From the steps of the courthouse, you can see the Where can we spread joy? Where can we help bring was doing something more meaningful than I had thought. Throughout the tour, healing? Do you have faith in the power of choral music reactions to that song stuck with me. I didn’t know the impact this song could have Arch in front, the Mississippi River behind, and free land on the other side. Dred Scott unsuccessfully sued and the power of your choristers? on people because of what they’ve faced, and I am so thankful I got to be a part of it.” for his freedom from that very spot. Let’s talk. Let’s plan. Let’s heal.  GabI, High school Sophomore

Jenny Tisi was a public school music educator for 22 years and has Day 7: Ferguson, Missouri taught all age levels, Kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition to o speak of our time in Ferguson is difficult. Our vocal music she has taught piano, Ttour bus weaved its way down the curvy streets, clarinet, violin, musical theatre, and and in small groups guided by our rector, we visited music theory and appreciation classes. the Michael Brown Memorial site. We already knew She received her Bachelor of Music that the neighbors were tired of the site becoming a tourist attraction, so we came in silence and with degree from the State University respect. We brought teddy bears, notes, and other of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia small gifts, and we placed them around the plaque and her Master of Arts in Liberal for Michael. We held hands and bowed our heads in Studies from SUNY at Stonybrook. silence, and as we walked back to our bus, we saw The subject of her thesis was the the large cut-out of asphalt in the street, patched with performance of sacred music in the new asphalt; this marked the spot where Michael public schools. In her spare time Brown’s body lay for four hours. His blood had she enjoys cooking Italian food, soaked the street, and the blood-stained pavement had been removed and replaced. Michael Brown walking, hiking and sun worshipping. was 18, and a recent high school graduate. This She lives in Pasadena with her two hit home for our choristers, especially those close to mini-Dachshunds. his age. There were many tears and much anger. It

16 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 17 SEEN & HEARD Top: Members of the Pacific Chorale (Robert Istad, director) perform their Carols by Candlelight concert in Newport Beach (photo by Drew A. Kelley); center: the Riverside City College Chamber Singers (John Byun, director) model their holiday sweaters; Arrowbear Music Camp bottom: the choirs of Santa Clara University Choral Session (Scot Hanna-Weir, June 23-29, 2019 director) sing during their Grades 9 th-College Tammi Alderman sold-out Festival of Lights Scholarships Available performance at the Mission

Campers will enjoy a week of intense Santa Clara (photo by vocal instruction in a beautiful, historic, Stan Olszweski). Send rustic mountain setting. We offer a one-of-a-kind camp program your best photos of your Since 1942! Eric Graham that ties together music, traditional camp choir’s activites—musical activities, and a social experience that or extra-musical!—to carefully bonds the entire camp into a close-knit circle of friends. [email protected]

arrowbear.com if you’d like them to be 909-867-2782 considered for publication [email protected] Stacey Kikkawa in a future issue!

18 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 19 Kansas City Chorale Mark your calendars… Seraphic Fire Lorelei Ensemble Voz en Punto (Mexico) Nairobi Chamber Chorus (Kenya) Ansang City Choir (S. Korea) St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir (Slovenia) Tallahassee Community Chorus Kansas City Symphony & Symphony Chorus …and many more! 2019 SummerAt E.C.C.O HONOR CHOIRS

Children’s Emily Ellsworth, conductor Conference

MS/JH SATB Derrick Fox, conductor ACDA HS/Collegiate SSAA National Sandra Snow, conductor July 21-24, 2019 HS/Collegiate TTBB Jefferson Johnson, conductor Conference

AND MORE! Headliner: Dr. Charlene Archibeque Legacy Directors Chorus Professor Emerita, San Jose State University “A Journey Through ACDA History”

Pre-Conference “Welcome to KC” event on Tuesday evening featuring: Kansas City BBQ Registration opens early April Allegro Choirs of KC KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI Heartland Men's Chorus Kantorei FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 2

Interest Sessions & Exhibits

Conference Hotel: Session presenter applications: Kansas City Marriott Downtown www.calcda.org The Kauffman Center The Folly Theatre Dec.1- Jan. 24 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral

WWW.ACDA. ORG

CHORAL JOURNAL June/July 2018 Volume 58 Number 11 1

20 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 21 22 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 23 the COmposer’s voice: BE A REAL PERSON henever a conductor or ensemble my hair in three days. I was wishing I was at Wperforming my music tags me in a home. If I could redo that post now, I wouldn’t post about their performance, I have two necessarily share all that information in the simultaneous thoughts: I should probably share caption. But in a string of other people’s this and Is there any real reason for me to share airplane photos, mine would have stuck out this? When I post because I “should,” but I if I’d mentioned even a little bit of the story Dale Trumbore is a Los haven’t thought through why anyone would be behind that photo. interested in that post, it inevitably gets fewer When you’re promoting your work in a Angeles-based composer responses than when I’ve asked myself if what real way, you have to be willing to be a little and writer whose music I’m sharing is compelling. Even on the internet, vulnerable. Real people are flawed. people can usually sense when we’re faking A few years ago, one of my favorite writers, has been performed by enthusiasm. Curtis Sittenfeld, shared a lengthy post with her organizations including I have a mantra that I say to myself now very mixed feelings about receiving a lukewarm whenever I’m wondering how and what to New York Times review for her latest book. The the Los Angeles share: Be a real person. Real people have reason I enjoy Sittenfeld’s books is the same Children’s Chorus, distinctive voices and interesting stories. Yet reason I enjoy her posts: she captures human when we’re promoting ourselves, we slip into experiences and emotions in a devastatingly Los Angeles Master generic, forced language we’d never use to tell a accurate way. I’m sure there’s plenty in her life Chorale, Modesto friend or close acquaintance about our work. that she chooses not to share on social media, There’s the “Come to my concert!” post, but because of the bracingly honest way that she Symphony, Pacific which neglects to give any actual reasons does share her work and her life, I’ve become an Chorale, Pasadena to come to the concert. There’s the post- even bigger fan of her and her work. performance “So grateful for my collaborators!” If our hypothetical composer mentioned that Symphony, The Singers, post that fails to mention any details about how he experiences writer’s block every once and a and VocalEssence. the concert went. We trot out this tired self- while like the rest of us, or that he’s tired from promotional language concert after concert, as if hopping on and off of airplanes all the time, How to Go On, the fact that other people use these words means we’d probably like him a little more—because of we have to use them, too. his humanness, not in spite of it. Choral Arts Initiative’s I understand the sentiment. But what album of Trumbore’s specific details make this performance different hen I urge you to “be a real person,” I from others? If you’re trying to convince me Wmean this: share a slice of your reality in choral works, was a to come to your concert, well, why should I every post you make, and think twice about the #4-bestselling Classical attend? Yes, live music is wonderful, but I’m an language you use to promote your work. Instead introvert. I like staying indoors, where I don’t of mechanically sharing an upcoming concert album on iTunes the have to make polite conversation with strangers because you think you should, first ask yourself week of its release. and pay $9 for parking. Why is your concert what story you’ll tell about that performance. worth leaving the house? Whenever you share information, ask yourself Hear Dale’s music at On every platform, there are composers and why you feel the need to share it at all, and daletrumbore.com conductors who share only the best and most whether that information is worth sharing in the braggy posts about their music. “Humbled first place. Incorporating your actual life and to be working with this amazing ensemble!” human feelings into your posts helps distinguish “Here’s a gorgeous sunset I captured en route your story from everyone else’s. Especially in an to my outstanding gig!” “Feeling blessed to have artistic field full of others who do exactly what reached a double-barline!” How do you feel you do, setting yourself apart can only benefit reading these posts? You might secretly resent your career. them, or find them impossibly annoying. You In person, we can’t help but be ourselves. might reach for the “unfollow” button. When we’re posting about our lives online, I’ve posted that flying-to-a-gig photo before. though, it’s up to us to tell our stories in a way The mid-air sunset may have been lovely, but that captures our thoughts, our feelings, and when I took that photo, I was on hour five of how we live our lives. The social-media posts that flight, feeling tired, slightly claustrophobic, we share add up to a much bigger picture about and annoyed at the stranger who kept sticking who we are. What would happen if we let our his elbow over the armrest. I hadn’t washed stories be real? 

MMCC-Ad-CCDA-Cantate-7.5x10-bw-Smr2019-#2-outlined.indd 1 10/24/18 1:04 PM

24 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 25 the fourth annual george heussenstamm CHORAL COMPOSITION CONTEST

The CCDA Choral Composition Contest at ECCO now moves into its fourth year! Last year’s winner was Mark Growden, with his stirring and timely SATB offering Saguaro. We add his name to the growing list of talented previous winners along with Jasper Randall and Nancy Reeves. They all attended the CCDA Summer Conference at ECCO for free—could you be next? Find that piece you’ve been developing, or start fresh, and submit your composition with the chance to have it shared with and sung by 175 choral directors this summer.

As in years past, George Heussenstamm is the benefactor who funds our competition. Please visit www.GeorgeHeussenstamm.com to learn more about this talented and generous composer.

Enter CCDA’s 4th Annual George Heussenstamm Composition Competition!

ELIGIBILITY: Current CCDA members who are able to attend the Summer Conference at ECCO 2019 are invited to submit a score. (Previous winners are not eligible.)

HOW TO ENTER: Please submit your anonymous, unpublished scores, a cappella or with piano accompaniment (no obbligato instruments), IN any voicing, along with an anonymous demo recording (MIDI is acceptable, but voices are preferred) through the CCDA website, www.calcda.org.

Submissions will be accepted from Feb. 11, 2019 through Mar. 11, 2019, 11:59 P.M. PDT. Only electronic scores will be accepted.

Scores that do not meet the above requirements may not be considered.

Winner: The winning composition will be chosen by a committee of three CCDA members and will be announced on the CCDA website on April 15, 2019. The winning composer will receive a scholarship for tuition, room, and board at ECCO 2019, and will have their composition copied, distributed and read at the conference. The winning score may also receive consideration for inclusion in the new and forthcoming CCDA Choral Series. [NOTE: CCDA reserves to the right to declare “no winner” if it is deemed appropriate.]

For more information, visit www.calcda.org/repertoire-resources/choral-composition

26 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 27 Vision for the Future Scholarship Fund Donors

special care has been given to the preparation of donor acknowledgments. We regret any errors or omissions. please contact us at (657) 217-0767 or [email protected] with corrections. Thank you for your support!

President’s Circle Anthony Lien * Monica Maddern Platinum ($500 and higher) in honor of Buddy James, Michael Curtis Mannah Daniel Afonso * Najar, and Matthew Potterton Brianna Mowry Tammi Alderman * Eric Medeiros Laura Natta (Crosspoint Wellness) in honor of the past and present in memory of Tim Shannon Joshua Palkki CCDA board David Montoya * Molly Peters Lori Marie Rios * Kristina Nakagawa * Rachelle Randeen in honor of Lois Caran, Joe Huszti, Krista Scharf and Charlene Archibeque Kenneth J. Abrams California State University, Bakersfield President’s Circle Kim Nason * Gemma Arguelles Gold ($300 and higher) in honor of Rob Istad Kimberlee Bratton Lou De La Rosa * and Chris Peterson Bernadette R. Burns in memory of Dr. Daniel Hoggatt Matthew Netto * Eileen Chang Dr. Robert Istad and in support of CSUF contributions to Ryan Clippinger David Navarro * the choral world Andrew DelMonte * Dr. Christopher and Tina Peterson * Erika Jackson DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC & THEATRE Duane and Linda Lovaas * Nick Strimple * Mary and Wally Purdy * Derek Jamieson in honor of James H. Vail in honor of John Alexander and In Othello Jefferson Burt and Polly Vasche * Memory of Richard Knox Susan Zimmer Johnson VOCAL ENSEMBLES VOCAL AREA FACULTY Shawn Reifschneider * Joyce Keil Chamber Singers Prof. Heather Chu, Instructor of Voice Zanaida Robles Christopher Luthi Opera Theatre Prof. Katherine Kiouses, Instructor of Voice & Voice Class President’s Circle James & Marilyn Shepard National Concerts Silver ($100-$299) Will Skaff and David Xiques Jessica Nicholson University Singers Dr. Soo-Yeon Park, Director of Opera Theatre & Diction Kyle Ball Peggy Spool * Loretta Pearce Women’s Choir Prof. Peggy Sears, Instructor of Voice Jeffrey Benson * Joe and Dana Stanford in honor of Dr. Douglas Chase Dr. Angel M. Vázquez-Ramos, Director of Choral & Vocal Studies Jenny Bent Jonathan Talberg * Patricia Schultz Glenn Carlos Kathryn Thickstun Rebecca P. N. Seeman Mike and Julie Dana * Janice Hawthorne Timm Adam Serpa HOW TO APPLY Anonymous Betsy Cook Weber Karyn Silva All prospective students must apply through CSU- Mentor (csumentor.edu), the in memory of Paul Salamunovich Shelby Smith California State University website designed to help students through each phase of their Brandon Harris Supporter (up to $49) in honor of my mother and father, application process. CSUMentor is also a great way to begin planning for college and to Mark Hulse Daniel and Suzie Smith keep track of your academic progress. Buddy James Bethany Alvey Mary Stocker Beth Klemm * Jessica Cosley Dwight Stone in honor of Norman Paschen Scot Hanna-Weir Darla Tuning 9001 Stockdale Hwy. | Music Building, Room 105 | Bakersfield, CA 93311 Bruce Lengacher Mary Anne James Phone: (661) 654-3093 | Fax: (661) 654-6901 | Email: [email protected] in honor of George Attarian Stacey Kikkawa and Byron McGilvary John Knutson * Founder’s Circle CSUB.EDU/MUSIC

28 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 29 Send news of hirings, retirements, awards, American School of São Paulo, Brazil. Amanda Isaac by Angel Mannion, Folklore Guild specializes in recording commissions, premieres, collaborations, or now holds the job at BHS, leaving her post at Norris Middle choral music for video game, TV, and film soundtracks. News and notes School and area elementaries in Bakersfield. Amanda projects to your regional representative Locke, formerly of Taft Union High School, is now Sally Husch Dean, Founding Artistic Director of the San from around the state or [email protected]! teaching at Bakersfield South High School, following Katie Diego North Coast Singers, has announced her retirement at Villereal’s move from BSHS to Oceanside. the close of the spring 2019 season. Dean and her advanced John Carter, retired Columbia College choral director, has treble choir, Caprice, will perform Bernstein’s Mass with San BAY AREA of music for worship in a joyful setting. Handler and Jill Anderson as they begun a series called Sonora Sings Classical, inviting any Diego State University in December 2018 and Bernstein’s The concert, In Honor of St. Cecilia, offer a concert of songs of hope and and all to the historic Red Church in Sonora to read through Symphony) with La Jolla Symphony and Chorus in March was held at St. Joan of Arc Parish The annual event Real Men Sing, resilience on March 3, 2019 at SLO’s serious choral literature, with accompaniment but without 2019. which brings together middle and high in San Ramon and was presented United Methodist Church. A highlight rehearsal. For the first such event last March, the church was school tenors and basses for a day of in conjunction with the National of the concert is Carol Barnett’s My at capacity with 200 area singers. Beer Choir San Diego, produced by the Choral Consortium camaraderie and music-making, took Association of Pastoral Musicians. People Are Rising, co-commissioned of San Diego, celebrated its one-year anniversary with a place at CSU East Bay on Friday, by Canzona and other women’s choirs. SOUTHERN REGION November 7. Organized by Dr. Buddy CENTRAL COAST REGION Halloween bash led by Juan Carlos Acosta. Beer Choir Featured guests are the young women San Diego held nine events in its first year, each with a James, the day ended in a concert led of Vivace from the Central Coast Youth In August, the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus welcomed The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Choirs different theme, song leader, and craft brewery location. The by guest conductor Travis Rogers. Chorus, violinist Brynn Albanese, and Fernando Malvar-Ruiz as their new Artistic Director, will present “All of Us,” a program- program showcases San Diego’s diverse choral community percussionist Keeth CrowHawk. and named Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Kai On Friday, November 7, high school centered on themes of diversity and and extensive craft brew industry and has been attended by Ryssdal as Chair of the Board of Directors. Malvar-Ruiz most singers from Sonoma County and acceptance. Under the direction of over 600 participants. CENTRAL REGION recently served as Music Director of American Boychoir and the Bay Area gathered for the 17th Dr. Scott Glysson, this collaborative Annual Sonoma State University High is only the third person to lead LACC since its inception in NORTHERN REGION effort of several departments will create On a grant from CSU Stanislaus for School Choral Festival in the exquisite 1986. He succeeds Anne Tomlinson, who stepped down a sensory experience for the audience. research in his native Brazil, Dr. Daniel Schroeder Hall. Hosted by Dr. Jenny after a 22-year tenure. The fall of 2018 was a challenging time for many schools in Saturday, March 16, 2019, 8:00 p.m., Afonso interviewed conductors and Bent, the event’s guest clinician was Dr. the North State. The large fires that enveloped our region had Harold J. Miossi Hall, Cal Poly SLO. presented master classes and conducting Donald Kendrick of the Sacramento The Los Angeles Master Chorale (Grant Gershon and a direct impact on many of members and their organizations. workshops this past summer. The work Jenny Wong) are nationally and internationally touring their Choral Society and Orchestra. The San Luis Vocal Arts Ensemble Between cancelled rehearsals due to extremely poor air quality, took him to the far-ranging states of stage production (directed by Peter Sellars) of Lagrime di San smoke that came through poorly sealed doors to fill classrooms, competed in the 7th Canta Al Mar, an Brasilia (the capital in central Brazil), Drs. Rebecca Petra Naomi Seeman Pietro (“The Tears of St. Peter”), a 75-minute a cappella closures galore, and the loss of homes by choral members in internationally acclaimed choral festival Curitiba in the south, and Bahia in the (University of San Francisco), Scot work by Orlando di Lasso. If you didn’t see this impressive our schools and communities, the Northern region felt the in Catella, Spain, to great success. northeast, as well as to Rio. Daniel Hanna-Weir (University of Santa performance at the 2018 Western ACDA, visit www.lamas- effects of fire in so many different ways. But through all of Their October concert tour included has written a new choral suite to be Clara), and Julie Ford (Saint Mary’s terchorale.org for dates and locations. it, the sense of community among musicians throughout the ten concert performances, sightseeing, published by earthsongs in the fall. College) highlight two collaborative state has been felt and seen through charity, love, and offers of activities: The three schools made an and participation in cultural events in “what can we do to help,” and for that, we extend a thank you Kathy Blumer has retired after a Congratulations to Dale Trumbore, the winner of ACDA’s intercollegiate weekend tour to Los Malaga, Sevilla, and Barcelona. The to all for your support throughout this time and beyond! stellar career teaching all levels of public first Raymond W. Brock Competition for Professional Angeles to sing in the Fourth Annual Ensemble brought home Silver medals school choral music, most recently Composers! Her composition, In the Middle, will be California Catholic College Choral in Folk Music and Mixed Choir and Dr. Steve Kim has joined the faculty at Simpson University at Clovis High School. Jennifer performed by the Aeolians of Oakwood University (Jason Festival (“C4”), and Dr. Seeman a Gold medal in Sacred Music, and as the Director of Choral Activities. Dr. Kim and his family Appleby will move to Clovis HS from Max Ferdinand, director) at the 2019 ACDA National has connected our team with Derek Musical Director and Founder Gary join us after a big move from the University of Maryland, Granite Ridge Intermediate, where Conference in Kansas City. Tam to establish a Justice Choir-SF Lamprecht received a special award for and he has been working with many schools in the region his selection of repertoire. Riley Garcia will begin teaching. already as a clinician or appearing as an audience member at Bay Area Chapter. Activities revolve Jonathan Talberg of CSU Long Beach was recognized Riley is a recent grad of CSU Fresno. performances in the community. around local issues and/or the urgency and awarded for his Leadership in Music Education from the of current events, typically using the Daniel Newman-Lessler is music The Tenor/Bass Choir from Rayburn Long Beach NAACP in November. Justice Choir Songbook as a springboard director of Music Academy of the West’s The high schools of Redding held their annual fall festival Intermediate School in Clovis sang at for empathetic community conversation. program “Sing!” The program will in November where the schools not only perform for one CASMEC in San Jose last February FAR SOUTH REGION Please contact Rebecca at seeman@ another with their various choirs, but also work together on provide after-school music education under the direction of their conductor, usfca.edu for more information. in partnership with the Santa Barbara two selections for a combined choral spirit to unify the schools. Allison Crose. Congratulations! Ruben Valenzuela and Angel Mannion wrapped up This year’s festival featured Dr. Scott Glysson, the Director County Education Office. Sing! will Kudos also to Heather Bishop, whose The Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San an 11-month-long choral festival celebrating the music of of Choral Activities from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, as the enhance existing music programs and stunning Women’s Chorale from Clovis Francisco’s fall concert featured vocal Canadian composer Healey Willan. “Willan West” ran from guest conductor and clinician for the three hundred students provide opportunities for 66 elementary North High School performed in March activist Melanie DeMore. The concert January to November 2018. Mannion and Valenzuela worked involved in the event.  school students, who will also have an at ACDA’s 2018 Western Division offered a premiere of her powerful work, closely with the Healey Willan Society and developed a close opportunity in the future to appear with Conference. Polly Vasché, retired Freedom Land, and concluded with a relationship with Mary Willan Mason (Willan’s daughter) the London Symphony Orchestra. in 2004 as conductor of the Thomas community sing led by Ms. DeMore. over the course of the project. The conductors thank Toronto Thanks to our Regional Representatives (Alissa Aune, Julie Downey High School Choirs, Modesto, composer Stephanie Martin, who made the project possible. Ford, Polly Vasché, Carolyn Teraoka-Brady, Stacey Kikkawa, The Canzona Women’s Choir continues was named the Conference Honoree. Fourteen choirs and music teams from and John Russell) for collecting and sharing news from their their 10th Anniversary Celebration the Oakland Catholic Diocese gathered San Diego choir Folklore Guild was featured on Netflix show areas! Send your news to your regional representative if you’d under the direction of Cricket Christopher Borges of Bakersfield on November 10 to share a wide variety “Chef’s Table” and video game “Lamplight City.” Directed like to be included in a future issue. High School has taken a job at The

30 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 31 Top Five for your Choir: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

ost high school singers come to college Mchoirs with little experience singing Sing Ye to the Lord (Israel in Egypt) the great choral and orchestral repertoire yet SATB/SATB, piano or orchestra their voices are maturing to a point where Many choirs default to choruses of they can handle the demands of this music. when they want to perform music by Handel, Even though our budgets are often too tight to but he has so many more options, and this Buddy James is perform a mass or on our own, we can one is thrilling. You need numbers to take on Professor of Music at still introduce our singers to this great music by the two choirs and you need singers who can performing a movement or two from a major CSU East Bay, where he handle polyphonic writing, but if you have work or reaching out to a local orchestra and those two prerequisites then this movement serves as Chair of the asking if they would like to combine forces. Put may become one of your choir’s favorite together a couple of choirs and an orchestra selections. Department of Music and suddenly there are numerous major works and the Director of within your grasp. Your singers will be exposed to a work of historical significance, growing Choral and Vocal Lacrimosa (Requiem) vocally and musically from the experience, and SATB, piano or orchestra Studies, and was the audiences love them even when the music is not from Messiah! Mozart only wrote the first eight measures Founding Director of Below is a list of five movements from of this movement, but what a glorious eight the School of Arts and major works that would work well for most of measures they are! And the rest of the movement, completed after his death, still has Media. He has taught our college choirs. Only one is of significant difficulty; the rest are approachable musical great emotional impact. Highly recommended. at the University of gold. Each of the following titles is available RETHINK via cpdl.org/wiki and imslp.org, and there are Southern California, also excellent editions readily available for He watching over Israel (Elijah) VIRTUOSIT Y UC Berkeley and UC purchase. SATB, piano or orchestra Irvine, Whittier College, This movement clearly demonstrates how Antonio Vivaldi Mendelssohn’s writing sits so well for the Elizabethtown College, Et in terra pax () voice. Accompanied by a beautiful piano Choral & Sacred Music DEGREES OFFERED and Millersville SATB, piano or orchestra reduction and concluding with a famous chorale.  at USC Thornton Choral Music BA, MM, DMA University, where he was The “Et in terra pax” movement is the Sacred Music MM, DMA probably the most beautiful in this doable named Person of the major work, with long rich vocal lines that Are you thinking about what it means to be a Year in 2004. create breathtaking tension and release classical musician? We are. Introducing our APPLICATION DEADLINE moments for the singers and the audience. DECEMBER 1, 2019 new approach to undergraduate education Fall 2020 Admission for freshman, in our Classical Performance & Composition transfer, and graduate students Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Nun Division. Our new model, which we’re calling komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61) Financial packages available for SATB, piano or orchestra the ReDesign, will challenge you to develop undergraduate and transfer students a distinct artistic voice and create a thriving The music of Bach can be challenging for any Teaching assistantships and scholarships choir and is, therefore, often overlooked. I love available for graduate students career in choral music. this particular movement because it is doable with piano and it fits nicely as an addition to a fall or holiday program. @USCThornton music.usc.edu/choral

32 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 33 Top Five for your Choir: HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS

very year I look for that magic piece on Ed Hughes has set the Hodie Christus natus Ewhich I can combine my high school choirs est chant with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel in concert. Sometimes these pieces lean toward for a very serene opener to a winter concert. absolute simplicity and others are a touch more I’ve done this piece with only my beginning complicated. What I’ve found is that the time treble and bass choruses and with the full spent on preparation is always worth the effort. consort of students. It works beautifully in the The students in the smaller ensembles love round and is an incredible tool for teaching

Tammi Alderman is singing with a big choir, and it’s a great tool for line, chant, and independent singing. If you creating a feeling of family and continuity in a want to go crazy, teach the second chant in FRESNO STATE CHORAL DEPARTMENT director of Choral/ high school program. Latin as well. Bonus points if you have hand Vocal Music at San These pieces are some of my favorites from bells or tone chimes as well! the past decade. Marino High School. Arr. B. Wayne Bisbee She also teaches at CSU Arr. Dan Davison Caroling Fantasy The Wind that Shakes the Barley SATB or SSA, piano, flute, handbells, Fullerton’s School of SSATB, SSA, piano, drum, opt. guitar percussion Music, where she is a Walton Music WW1498 Santa Barbara Music Publishing 1041 MUSIC university supervisor for This song is set in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 This medley combines The First Noel; Sing MAJOR/MINOR and has been covered by folk artists since We Nowell; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; choral music education it was written in the late 1800’s. It sounds and Have a Merry Christmas. There are parts AUDITION DATE students. Ms. Alderman distinctly Irish and takes the chorus through for handbells (simple), glockenspiel (simple) an emotional journey driven by love and war. and flute (advanced). The choral parts are is head of the choral It looks more difficult than it is. Feel free to be primarily unison for TB throughout, and program at Arrowbear creative with how you assign your choirs to sing some nice canons create the aural illusion of a the parts; at one point, I had fiddles play the complicated piece. My students had the most Summer Music Camp SSA chorus because we did not have enough fun singing the 7/8 sections of God Rest Ye. and is on the faculty singers on our tour. Be sure to add guitar and You will need to be on your rhythmic game, the Choral Advantage drum (the parts are easy and you likely have a but students will love the fun meter changes. student or two that can play them). Camp through the Arr. Brad Holmes Pacific Chorale and Joan Szymko Weeping Mary It Takes a Village SSA/SAT/A(T)TB, a cappella CSU Fullerton. Tammi SATB, percussion Santa Barbara Music Publishing 750 is also the assistant Santa Barbara Music Publishing 331 Holmes’ arrangement of this early American conductor of the Long Here is a setting of the West-Africa proverb “it Hymn (from The Social Harp) utilizes simple takes a village to raise a child” with additional body percussion and location of singers to give Beach Camerata Singers. text by the composer. The piece begins with the audience a different experience. It is written a soloist lining out the melody while the choir for triple choir to be performed antiphonally creates a collective heartbeat using simple body in whatever space you have. While this piece percussion. There are several opportunities is potentially the most difficult of the listed to highlight solos or small groups in this one. group, the individual parts themselves are quite It works equally well with a mass choir or a easy and relatively repetitive. Again, choose to smaller SATB group. Add congas or other be creative with the division of your students. percussion for a great rhythmic feel. The beginners can all be members of one chorus while the advanced ensembles can cover Arr. J. Edmund Hughes all the parts.  Alleluia, Rejoice! SA or TB or SATB, handbells Santa Barbara Music Publishing 1093

34 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 35 Top Five for your Choir: CHORAL COMPOSITION omeone once asked me, “Which Star Wars From 10 Things I Learned from Thomas Scharacter is your favorite?” Thinking about Miyake it carefully, I realized that I most identify with • Don’t let physical limitations keep you from David V. Montoya has Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi. Ben was a top notch pursuing, and succeeding at, what you love. guy in his field who held great influence with been teaching music in the next generation of students, but far from • Spending time in your director’s office is the California public being a complete master, he sought the wisdom some of the most educational time you can of his mentors for guidance. I want to be like experience. schools for 26 years,. stangeland family june 30 - july 10, 2019 that. We glean so much from those who guide He currently teaches us into experiencing our art, and we learn From 10 Things I Learned from William Belan more about life from those wise folks who took at both La Habra • If you want to express yourself in musical Youth Choral Academy us under their wings at various stages of our composition, listen, listen, listen to every and Sunny Hills High careers—those mentors who saw something kind of music in every style. A peak artistic experience for high school choral musicians under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong at the world-renowned Oregon Bach Festival. special in us. Schools, and he is a • Using your music for social awareness is a Spend 10 days performing exceptional choral literature and strengthening your passion for the choral arts through daily rehearsals, classes, and workshops. I decided one summer day to attempt to great thing for all parties involved. published composer. distill some of that wisdom, and then to share it with my mentors and teachers, and with my Learn more about From 11 Things I Learned from George colleagues and students. Reflecting on those www.OregonBachFestival.org/sfyca Heussenstamm him and explore his teachers who have meant so much to me has compositions by visiting increased my gratitude and appreciation for the • You can learn whatever you want to learn at role that they have played in my musical story, any age. his website, www. and it inspires me to offer the same to my own • When composing music with text, the music montoyamusic.com. students. We are in a profession that celebrates must be great by itself. It must stand on its niversity of edlands the student-mentor-student lineage in a grand own. U r way. As we begin this new year, I encourage you to type out what you remember most about From 12 Things I Learned from Donald school of MUsic your own teachers. Find those little experiences Brinegar that have stayed with you—some inspirational, • Everyone needs a mentor to help unfold Bachelor of Arts • Bachelor of Music some silly, and even some brutally honest. their art to them. Master of Music • Artist Diploma Here’s a brief sample from my list of Things that I Learned from My Teachers, in the order • It is OK to teach your students new things, Music Scholarships & that I worked with each person. Thank you to even if you are still learning those things, as each of my mentors for teaching and inspiring long as you are passionate. Graduate Assistantships Available me to this day. CCDA members, I would love to read your own lists! Send them to me From 14 Things I Learned from William Dr. Nicholle Andrews at [email protected] for possible inclusion Allaudin Mathieu Director of Choral Studies in a future Cantate article! You can find my • When the student is ready, the teacher complete list at www.MontoyaMusic.com. appears. Dr. Joseph Modica From 11 Things I Learned from Tony Azeltine • Allow your teacher to tear your music apart Associate Professor of Choral Music and rewrite it to make it better. If you are • Use the compositional material that you humble enough to learn why he or she did, Information and applications have already written to write the rest of your you will be a better composer.  [email protected] piece. 909-748-8014 • You don’t have to create new material all www.redlands.edu/music the time. • When making music – composing, singing, playing – never do the same thing twice.

36 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 37 CCDA BOARD Directory CONGRATULATIONS CALIFORNIA EXECUTIVE BOARD REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES CHOIRS ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL President REGIONAL YOUTH Community Choirs 2018 CONCERT TOURS Robert Istad REPRESENTATIVES Jenny Bent (562) 822-5952 Children’s & (707) 664-3925 [email protected] Bay Area Community Youth [email protected] Chino Hills High School Julie Ford Kimberly Nason MS. LAURA RUTHERFORD President-Elect (925) 631-4670 (949) 472-6492 Music in Worship Choir Director Beverly Hills High School Jeffrey Benson julie julieford org MS. STACEY KIKKAWA @ . [email protected] Ruben Valenzuela (408) 924-4645 (760) 715-7956 Vocal Music Teacher jeffrey.s.benson@ Central Junior High & Middle [email protected] Rocklin High School gmail.com Polly Vasché School San Jose State Choraliers, Helsinki MR. SHAWN SPIESS (209) 526-9692 Susie Martone Vice President REPERTOIRE-SPECIFIC Choir Director Campolindo High School [email protected] [email protected] Lou De La Rosa MR. MARK ROBERTS Contemporary Commercial Director of Choral Activities Central Coast Senior High School (408) 206-7192 Choirs l delarosa wvc Carolyn Teraoka-Brady­ Tammi Alderman Fountain Valley High School . . @ William Zinn gmail.com (805) 689-­ 1780­ (626) 299-7020 x3615 MR. KEVIN TISON (916) 601-4175 Vocal Music Director cteraoka-­brady@ [email protected] Biola University [email protected] Membership & sbusd.org DR. SHAWNA STEWART Development Dr. Jonathan Talberg Director of Choral Activities Far South COLLEGIATE Ethnic & Multicultural Lori Marie Rios John Russell Perspectives San Jose State University (818) 679-7463 College & University DR. JEFFREY BENSON (917) 686-0110­ Angel Vázquez-Ramos [email protected] Buddy James (714) 305-1087 Director of Choral Activities West Valley College [email protected] (510) 885-3128 [email protected] MR. LOU DE LA ROSA Treasurer Northern buddy.james@ Director of Choral & Vocal Studies Chris Peterson csueastbay.edu Men’s Choirs Alissa Aune Resounding Achord (657) 278-3537 Gavin Spencer (530) 277-6691 Two-Year College MS. KRISTINA NAKAGAWA [email protected] (530) 241-4161 Artistic Director [email protected] Arlie Langager Peninsula Cantare [email protected] Campolindo Choirs, Nashville Executive Administrator/ DR. JEFFREY BENSON Southern (858) 774-­ 0412­ CCDA Office Artistic Director Stacey Kikkawa [email protected] Vocal Jazz Kathleen Preston (310) 551-5100 Michelle Hawkins 921 N. Harbor Blvd., #412 Student Activities (650) 738-7134 [email protected] Josh Palkki La Habra, CA 90631-3103 [email protected] (657) 217-0767 (202) 679-3350 josh palkki csulb edu Professional Choruses [email protected] . @ . Molly Buzick Pontin LIFELONG (714) 662-2345 EVENT CHAIRS [email protected] Choral Composition Summer Conference CCDA State Conference David Montoya Women’s Choirs at ECCO at CASMEC (626) 419-8031 Tina Peterson Jeffe Huls Kristina Nakagawa [email protected] (562) 453-9681 [email protected] (408) 205-6050 [email protected]

artistic@ Biola Chorale, Dublin CLA Coordinator resoundingachord.org Willow Manspeaker wmanspeaker stevenson @ - Fountain Valley Troubadours, Sydney school.org COMMUNICATIONS

All-State Honor Choirs Cantate Editor Webmaster & Social Media Coordinator Eliza Rubenstein Graphic Design Jason Pano Molly Peters www.perform-international.com www.perform-america.com [email protected] (213) 880-7597 [email protected] Anthony M. Lien (408) 768-0733 (530) 758-5896 [email protected] cantate.editor@ [email protected] gmail.com [email protected]

38 • Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 California Choral Directors Association Leading the Way Cantate • Vol. 31, No. 2 • Winter 2019 • 39 California Choral Directors Association 921 N. Harbor Blvd., #412 La Habra, CA 90631-3103

CSULB’s four full-time tenure-track Vocal/Choral/Opera faculty work tirelessly to provide the highest quality educational and performing experiences for our students in eight ensembles, opera workshops, and musical theatre productions. Full-Time Faculty Dr. Jonathan Talberg, Director of Choral, Vocal, & Opera Studies Dr. David Anglin, Director of Opera Studies Prof. Christine Guter, Director of Vocal Jazz Dr. Joshua Palkki, Choral Music Education Degrees Offered Performance (including voice, opera, or jazz), choral music education, choral conducting (M.M.) and composition. CSULB alumni sing with L.A. Opera, L.A. Master Chorale, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and opera houses from San Francisco to the Met. Choral Music Education graduates lead programs of distinction at all levels, elementary to collegiate.

Selected High-Profile Choral Performances ACDA, NCCO, and CCDA invited appearances in 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, and 2012. 2017: Chamber Choir: Winner, International Competition of Choral Singing, Spittal, Austria 2016: Chamber Choir: Winner, “Choir of the World,” Llangollen, Wales

For more information, please contact: Joshua Palkki, PhD Coordinator, Choral Music Education [email protected]