Catching up on posts... Alumni Choirs, College Kids, and crazy schedules

So I haven't posted in a couple week. My life has become a crazy train as the looming holiday season is coming. I also had the incredible opportunity to visit my alma mater and sing one more time with René Clausen and the Concordia College Alumni Choir. 

My fiancé had her first taste of October Moorhead snow and the craziness of my wonderful college friends. 

There was incredible music making and celebration. 

Quickly this was followed by more homecoming activities at Doane University and I my first concert with the Collegiate Choir. 

What a blast! Next was a week of catching up and working hard on holiday music planning.

This week got extra crazy as I help out a colleague to cover some more rehearsals. The LCA 40th Anniversary Season Alumni Choir meets tonight for the first time. And I am just blown over by all the amazing singers and players i get to work with each week in my varied jobs. Yesterday alone was Collegiate Choir, Doane Mass Choir, Kids' Christmas Program, Adult Choir, and Brass ensemble. Today is College kids again and the aforementioned alumni. I am blessed to have such great music (and a supportive fiancé).

Stay Strong! Sing On!

May the force be with you!

So, a choir director gets in front of an orchestra...

Sounds, like a set up for a joke, right?!?!
Singers vs. instrumentalists, and "ne'er the twain shall meet..."
Some people even say singers vs. musicians... ooh, burn!

But I'm not writing today to stir up controversy. So many excellent musicians in community and volunteer groups are both singers and players, vocalists and instrumentalists, soloists and ensemble members. In fact, in my church choir one of the tenors sings in choir, plays in the praise team and brass ensemble, and does his own playing outside of worship.

No today's topic is conducting an orchestra. I am so blessed to have the opportunity this evening to work with and conduct the Lincoln Civic Orchestra. Rob Salistean, the LCO maestro, and myself are doing a director SWAP tonight.

As we prepare for the Brahms, the choir will have an opportunity to rehearse with the LCO conductor tonight. And I am being given a great opportunity to share my thoughts and my arms with the orchestra. I have had a number of opportunities to work with orchestras of many sizes and varying groups of instruments throughout my career. Tonight (and on our concert) I get to stand in front of 80 players, with strings, brass, and percussion. I get test my skills as a conductor. I hope to bring some enlightening ideas to the players on the music we will share. And I get to connect with another great selection of community members.

I know the fruits of our labors tonight will be seen on our concert, November 3rd. I am very excited to step onto the podium and create some wonderful music.