Summer- Break??
Friday, August 2, 2019 at 12:36PM 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.
