Upcoming Premiere, SAI Commission

Dear Friends, 

Here is the link to info on the premiere coming up May 7, 2022-  we hope you can

attend!  

https://fwcchoir.org/events/

Genevans Perform Psalm 95 at 2022 Spring Concert, Summer Tour

    The Genevans,the student choir of Geneva College,had their Spring Concerts on March 18th & 19th, 2022 in John White Chapel, Old Main, on campus. Among the selections sung was O Come, Let Us Sing for Joy (Psalm 95), Diane Whitacre's commissioned work for the 80th Anniversary of the Genevans. The group will embark on their Summer Tour to Isreal and Ireland next month, May 2022, taking along Psalm 95 as part of their programs.  The Genevans are directed by David Kenneth Smith, seen below, with Dr. Calvin Troup, President of Geneva College just behind us. 

                                                    Listen to Psalm 95 

                                                     Dr. Calvin Troup and David K. Smith with Diane

Diane Whitacre Featured Female Composer

   Jodie Blackshaw, a composer from New South Wales, Australia, is featuring Diane in her Female Composer Spotlight this month - the post shares a little about her writing background, her website, dianewhitacremusic.com as well as the YouTube feature of her band piece, Rumor Mill, Grade 4, published by TRN Music Publisher, Inc. 

https://www.jodieblackshaw.com/female-band-composers?fbclid=IwAR3sBya7bSensMUzLbVjumBjYaCsozoWn-RbEctZHk3-WVTH9eW8EQ6ckjI

The Dayton Dream To Be Performed at Iowa State University

  Next Wednesday, Oct 23rd, 2019, The Dayton Dream by Indiana composer Diane Whitacre will be performed by the Ceres Flute Quartet as part of their year-long "HERioc" Concert Series.   

   Sonja Giles, D.M.A., flute professor at Iowa State University leads the Ceres Quartet, an ensemble staffed from Iowa college flute instructors. The ensemble will be giving several concerts around Iowa this academic year. Their "HERioc" Series features women composers of flute literature. 

https://www.music.iastate.edu/people/sonja-giles 

    As part of these performances, each composer has submitted a video introducing themselves and giving background on their piece. 

   The Dayton Dream was commissioned by Kathryn Blocki, http://www.blockiflute.com/The-Dayton-Dream_p_166.html an accomplished flutist from the Pittsburgh area and premiered at the 2015 NFA Convention in Washington D.C. The five-movement work is based on a story about 4 young flute players who visit the the Dayton C. Miller Rare Flute Exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum on a field trip, then have a dream about the beautiful glass and gold flutes coming to life and playing through the museum's rooms.  

   WATCH Dayton Dream Premiere at NFA 2015; Click On Video Link

Summer- Break??

    It's been a busy summer here at dianewhitacremusic, as I am sure most of you can say about your own summer as well.  It always seems like August arrives in such a hurry! 

    In June I was contacted by Dr. Daniel Tembras, Purdue University/Ft. Wayne Director of Bands, to program A Child's Storybook at the upcoming University of Wisconsin/Madison Summer Music Camp. Dr. Tembras was the clinician for the Senior High Band.  I am deeply grateful to Dr. Tembras for this opportunity.  It was Dr. Tembras' Wind Ensemble who made the initial recording of the piece for me, which led to its premiere by the SEDBA North Carolina Bandmasters Honor Band with Eugene Cottrell directing. 

    In August Dr. David K. Smith, Conductor of the Genevans Choir from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA, will be featuring O Come, Let Us Sing for Joy to the Lord, (Psalm 95), at the "Bring You Song" Session at the ACDA-PA Summer Conference.  The reading will be part of the August 6th activities from 1:30 to 2:45.  About 50 choral directors will sing through the piece.  I wish I could be a fly on the wall for that event!  The setting of Psalm 95: 1-7 was the 80th Anniversary commission piece for the Genevans.  It was performed on their 2019 Spring Concert Tour, and also in Europe this past summer. 

Soundfile- Psalm 95, Psalm 98 performed back to back by Genevans 

    And all the while I have been working on a musical based on my grandmother's Chautauqua touring days in the early 1920's, which has been a delightful diversion - but that is a topic for a future post.  

   So yes, it has been a busy summer and no, it has not felt like a break, which is, from this composer's point of view, a great blessing.