SPecial issue: Choral music in the time of coronavirus IN THIS ISSUE 5 | THE CALM DURING THE STORM FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN · BY JEFFREY BENSON 6 | VIRTUAL UNREALITY LETTER FROM THE EDITOR · BY ELIZA RUBENSTEIN 7 | CCDA SUMMER CONFERENCE AT ECCO 8 | COPING WITH COVID-19 RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES FOR CONDUCTORS AND TEACHERS · BY ANABEL MARTÍNEZ PAULINE DISCOVERY. DIVERSITY. DISTINCTION. 9 | VIRTUAL LEARNING FRESNO STATE TAKING YOUR CHOIR REHEARSALS ONLINE · BY TORI COOK 15 | WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHORAL CONCERT IS CANCELLED BY TORI COOK CHORAL PROGRAM 18 | ON LOSS, COMMUNITY, AND TAKING A BREATH Fresno State Department of Music • 2390 E. Keats Ave M/S MB 77 Fresno, CA 93740 • 559.278.2654 • www.fresnostate.edu/music BY JENNIE WEYMAN Fresno State is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. Our program provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in music for those planning professional careers as performers, composers, educators, and studio teachers, as 22 | CROWDSOURCING: INSPIRATION FOR SURVIVING THE CRISIS well as those preparing for advanced degrees. We focus on broadening students' intellectual horizons, fostering lifelong BY CCDA BOARD MEMBERS AND FRIENDS learning skills, developing the leaders of tomorrow, promoting community involvement, and instilling an appreciation of world cultures. We nurture cultural competence by celebrating the rich diversity of the campus community and welcoming the participation of all. The Fresno State Choral Program maintains an active performing profile. Our ensembles, 27 | DISTRACTION IN ACTION composed of students of all majors, have been received enthusiastically by audiences at home and abroad. THE COMPOSER’S VOICE · BY DALE TRUMBORE Financial packages available for undergraduate and transfer students. Teaching assistantships and scholarships available to graduate students. 28 | CASMEC AND ALL-STATE WRAP-UP BY KRISTINA NAKAGAWA AND MOLLY PETERS FACULTY DEGREES OFFERED Dr. Cari Earnhart, Director of Choral Activities Bachelor of Arts Master of Arts 30 | SEEN & HEARD Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Music Education Music Education Masterworks Chorus, Conducting Music as a Liberal Art Choral Conducting 34 | VISION FOR THE FUTURE Dr. Emily Mason – Choral Music Education, Vocal Performance Vocal Performance SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONORS University Singers Coronavirus is no match for CCDA’S Dr. Tony Mowrer – Choral Music PERFORMANCE 38 | NEWS AND NOTES intrepid members. See inside for resources Education OPPORTUNITIES HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE STATE and support! Photo by Michael Lopez. PROFESSORS EMERITUS Chamber Singers Concert Choir 42 | TOP FIVE: CHILDREN’S CHOIRS Dr. Anna Hamre Masterworks Chorus BY LA NELL MARTIN Dr. Arthur Huff Opera Theater Dr. Gary Unruh University Singers 43 | TOP FIVE: MUSIC IN WORSHIP BY CHRISTY ROHAYEM MUSIC MAJOR/MINOR AUDITIONS FOR FALL 2020 44 | TOP FIVE: COMMUNITY CHOIRS Feb 8, 2020 BY TAMMI ALDERMAN March 14, 2020 Scan here to receive more information or by appointment about our program 46 | CCDA DIRECTORY http://www.fresnostate.edu/artshum/music/scholarships.html @FS Choirs Dr. Cari Earnhart: [email protected] www.fresnostate.edu/artshum/music/ensembles/major/concertchoir.htm 2 • CANTATE • VOL. 32, NO. 2 • WINTER 2020 CALIFORNIA CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION LEADING THE WAY CANTATE • VOL. 32, NO. 2 • WINTER 2020 • 3 From The president’s pen: CANTATE The Calm During the Storm Volume 32, Number 3 WHEREAS, one of us thought we would be here at unbelievably wise and shared several thoughts Official publication of the the human spirit is elevated to a Nthis moment. Sitting at home, away from for all of us to keep in mind: California Choral Directors broader understanding of itself through our choirs, avoiding most human contact turns Association, an Affiliate of study and performance in out to be just as difficult as we might imagine • Art is resilient. the American Choral the aesthetic arts, and it to be. I cannot say, “I’m doing great,” or • Music is not canceled. Directors Association JEFFREY BENSON IS “I’m doing the best that I can.” I think I’m WHEREAS, simply doing what I can right now for my • We’ve been given the gift of time. We DIRECTOR OF CHORAL singers and for myself. That’s all I have at the should slow down and learn from this. Eliza Rubenstein, editor serious cutbacks in funding and support have steadily eroded state ACTIVITIES AT SAN JOSÉ moment. • Some of the greatest pieces of art were [email protected] institutions and their programs Conductors and teachers are planners made during times of turmoil. Let’s STATE UNIVERSITY. THE throughout our country, (or control freaks, depending on your create! WASHINGTON POST HAILS perspective). We don’t deal well with • Connect with people in any ways you can. GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS uncertainty. This lack of control is creating BE IT RESOLVED HIS CHOIRS FOR SINGING We welcome and encourage CCDA members that all citizens of the United anxiety and stress for our singers and for us. • Keep sharing online tools, apps, funny to contribute articles, announcements, music and States actively voice their affirmative “WITH AN EXQUISITE BLEND, Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim depicts anecdotes and memes, or anything else book reviews, job vacancy listings, photographs, our current frustrations perfectly: “Art, in that might be helpful to others. and collective support for necessary SUBTLETY OF PHRASING, and other items of interest to Cantate! funding at the local, state, and national itself, is an attempt to bring order out of • Listen and expose yourself to new things CONFIDENT MUSICIANSHIP chaos.” Currently we aren’t able to create art with all of this extra time. Please send queries and article ideas to levels of education and government, to ensure the survival of arts programs AND FULLY SuppORTED in the ways we are accustomed; thus chaos [email protected]. You are also • Just be. for this and future generations. is the new norm for many of us. We are welcome to submit completed articles, but please TONE…THAT WOULD desperately craving normalcy, hoping to be note that not all articles received will be published. Thank you to our editor, Eliza California Choral Directors Association BE THE ENVY OF SOME back in front of our choirs and performing for Rubenstein, for putting together this terrific Deadlines for publication are as follows: empowers choral musicians to our audiences. Alas, it’s now our job to be PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES.” edition of Cantate for all of us in this time August 15 (Fall issue); November 1 create transformative experiences for flexible and figure out how to move ahead. of need. Many of you are already sharing (Winter issue); March 1 (Spring issue). California’s diverse communities. HE IS ALSO THE ARTISTIC I have lots of questions and very few answers. I’m incredibly thankful to all of your amazing ideas online for motivating The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. DIRECTOR OF PENINSULA my friends and colleagues in this profession and inspiring your students from a distance. CCDA is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt who are my lifelines right now. We are all We hope this issue provides you with the corporation and an affiliate of the CANTARE, A COMMUNITY incredibly vulnerable and this profession courage to try something new in your virtual American Choral Directors Association. CHORUS BASED IN PALO ADVERTISING IN CANTATE reminds us that it’s okay to share that classroom, or at least provides you the feeling ALTO. HE RECEIVED HIS vulnerability with each other and with our of connection with fellow teachers and Please visit our website (WWW.ACDACAL.ORG) or students. They need to know that they are conductors who are all struggling to bring e-mail us at [email protected] for UPCOMING EVENTS MASTERS DEGREE AND HIS not alone in their uncertainty and anxiety. It’s order out of this chaos. I’m so proud to be a complete information on advertising in Cantate, DOCTORATE IN CHORAL okay to say, “I don’t know.” In fact, I’m trying part of this amazing profession! including rates, deadlines, and graphics specifications. UMMER ONFERENCE AT CCDA S C ECCO my best to embrace “I don’t know!” Advertisements are subject to editorial approval. CONDUCTING/MUSIC JULY 26-29, 2020 (OAKHURST) EDUCATION FROM THE rene Brown taught me that “vulnerability On the cover: Members of the CCDA Coastal FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Bis basically uncertainty, risk, and Honor Choir take a rehearsal break. Photo by emotional exposure.” And of course, my AND HIS BACHELORS Robyn Peters, courtesy of Genevieve Tep. students continue to teach me every single day DEGREE IN MUSIC of my career. In fact, I decided I needed help from them in order to write this article for all EDUCATION FROM NEW of you. I asked them what they thought we YORK UNIVERSITY. all needed to hear during this time of chaos and uncertainty. My brilliant students are 4 • CANTATE • VOL. 32, NO. 2 • WINTER 2020 CALIFORNIA CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION LEADING THE WAY CANTATE • VOL. 32, NO. 2 • WINTER 2020 • 5 letter from the editor: VIRTUAL UNREALITY Registration Begins Mid-April y name is Eliza, and I don’t want to do more saddened than inspired by the “new CCDA Summer Conference Ma virtual choir. normal” of choral singing—the noisy feedback At ECCO Don’t get me wrong: I’m impressed and and the slow wifi and the hours of digital inspired by all the online choral creations I’ve editing and (when all goes right) the screen seen during and before our current crisis, and full of disembodied singers in their little boxes. ELIZA RUBENSTEIN IS THE heaven knows I’ve seen a lot of them, since This is categorically not a judgment on friends send me links to them roughly every anyone else’s online projects.