Here's what's new at Conspirare this month |
|
Preview the GRAMMY® Awards Program Book
Craig Hella Johnson and singers from The Singing Guitar, nominated for Best Choral Performance, will be attending the Premiere ceremony in Las Vegas, NV. We are grateful to our friends at Dialog Group for helping us share Conspirare with the world on p. 81 (PDF p. 83).
|
|
Choirs Around the Country are Singing Considering Matthew Shepard
With more and more choirs returning to in-person concerts, performances of Craig Hella Johnson's Considering Matthew Shepard are being planned around the U. S. and abroad. A broad spectrum of choirs, from college ensembles to professional and community adult choirs, are including CMS in their offerings this Spring. One of these ensembles is the Broad Cove Chorale-Unicorn Singers, who had to postpone their performance due to the pandemic. Singer Joan Soble reflected, "CMS raises consciousness and encourages activism lovingly. Gently compelling us through words and music to walk in the shoes of others, including those we might easily judge, scorn, or hate, it cultivates our common humanity and helps us recognize that we need one another in order to grieve, grow, and move forward with hope and the possibility of making and living in a better world." Learn more about this performance and others happening around the country on the Considering Matthew Shepard project page.
|
|
New Podcast Explores Professional Choirs
Craig Hella Johnson shares stories about the development of Conspirare in Seraphic Saturdays' latest episode on the development of professional American choral ensembles.
Host Dr. James K. Bass can be heard as soloist and chorister on Conspirare's Pablo Neruda: The Poet Sings. Fellow episode guest Eric Alatorre made his Conspirare debut in October's Path of Miracles.
|
|
illumine Continues to Develop Young Vocal Artists
In 2020, Conspirare Youth Choirs graduated and became their own non-profit, illumine. They are celebrating two years this Spring! Illumine Artistic Director (and Conspirare soprano) Nina Revering is eager to reach new families and singers, and continue their mission to bring an extraordinary music education experience through the vocal art. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Attend illumine's Spring Concert "Reveal" on May 7 at 7:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin
- During the month of April Illumine will hold open rehearsals each Monday evening from 5-7 PM (kids aged 7-12) and 6-8:30 PM (kids aged 13-18) at First Presbyterian Church. Come get a first-hand experience making awesome sounds together!
- Auditions for the 22-23 season begin April 1 by appointment, and will continue through the summer.
- illumine Summer Camp is a non-auditioned, fun summer opportunity happening August 1-5 from 9 AM-3 PM daily!
Alumni updates: CYC 2009 graduate Elena Villalon is a rising star in the world of opera; more recently, 2020 graduate Molly Snodgrass is completing her freshman year at the Juilliard School in Manhattan!
|
|
Camilla Tassi Named 2022 Burry Fredrik Design Fellow
Conspirare's Projection Designer Camilla Tassi (Path of Miracles, Margaret Bonds: Credo, and Liturgy of St: John Chrysostom) was awarded the Burry Fredrik Foundation Design fellowship for her work in projection and video design. The award is given annually to a design graduate of the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Read more in American Theatre.
|
|
All times listed are in the Central time zone. Click on underlined links for more information.
More than 70 GRAMMYs across music genres ranging from classical and jazz to R&B, global music and more - including Conspirare's The Singing Guitar nomination category, Best Choral Performance - will be awarded at Premiere Ceremony. The ceremony will stream live on GRAMMY.com and Recording Academy / GRAMMYs YouTube Channel.
Join Craig Hella Johnson and poets Michael Dennis Browne and Lesléa Newman for a conversation about the creation of Considering Matthew Shepard and the power of art and music to help people learn, grow, heal, hope, and love. Joan Soble, a singer in the Broad Cove Chorale-Unicorn Singers, who will be performing the piece on April 9 and 10 in Norwell,MA, will moderate the conversation. TO REGISTERGER: email the University of Massachusetts OLLI office at ollireg@gmail.com and request to be signed up for this event. Zoom details will be sent out to registrants the day prior to the event.
|
|
Fri., May 6, 2021 at 8 pm Earth Ritual - live and livestreamed!
Conspirare closes the season the world premiere of Robert Kyr's Earth Ritual. Earth Ritual calls us home to our relationship with the earth. This environmental oratorio for voices and instruments includes texts from several traditions.
Thurs., May 19 at 5:30 pm Hidden Music to benefit Conspirare
This year's Hidden Music will be the most vibrant yet. We’re at Springdale Station, an East Side venue with a relaxed vibe, bringing together long-time supporters and brand new friends for a night of song with Craig Hella Johnson and singer song-writer Matt Alber. Good friends, great food, a gorgeous setting, and an opportunity to see how your generosity sustains Conspirare in 2022 and beyond.
Contact Natalie Seeboth (nseeboth@conspirare.org) for sponsorship opportunities. Single tickets on-sale April 1.
|
|
Look Who's in the Spotlight |
|
Each month we highlight a different artist, ambassador, staff, board member or collaborator from the Conspirare family. Conspirare has performed at St. Martin’s for many years because of its acoustics, architecture, and warmth. This month we are excited to introduce you to Rev. Ellen Williams, Senior Pastor at St. Martin's.
You spend a lot of time in the Sanctuary. What is something interesting to you about the church sanctuary that you think would be interesting for our listeners?
Two things to start with - the beautiful arched ceiling of the sanctuary was the largest single-pass concrete pour at the time in 1960, and the high altar, carved in the 1920s, includes an image of Moses with horns on his head, due to a famous translation error from Hebrew to Latin. There are many more fun facts about our beautiful sanctuary I will be happy to share with your listeners in the future.
Can you describe one of your memorable Conspirare moments?
The first Conspirare concert I saw was Path of Miracles. Experiencing the Camino de Santiago within Saint Martin’s sanctuary was so inspiring that my daughter and I will be walking the actual Camino in fall of 2022.
What was your favorite music in high school?
Growing up in a small town in north Texas, I listened to anything from country with my dad to whatever my older siblings were playing on their turntables or my friends in their cars. Truly, my favorite music was anything I could sing along to.
Conspirare is grateful to Ellen Williams and the current and past St. Martin's staff. Through their support we've offered many concerts and recorded the GRAMMY®-winning Sacred Spirit of Russia, The Hope of Loving and Path of Miracles at St. Martin's. The photo below, from October 2021's Path of Miracles, showcases the interplay between the altar and visuals created by Camilla Tassi projection designs and Viera Buzgova's lighting.
|
|
Ways to Support Conspirare |
|
Become part of our Hella Circle with a monthly gift of $10 or more. Benefits at all levels.
|
|
Did you know you can add Conspirare to your Amazon Smile account? You can support Conspirare while shopping! |
|
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs. Please check with your employer & double your gift.
|
|
Thank You to the Generous Supporters Who Bring Conspirare's Song to Life |
|
www.conspirare.org I 512.474.5664 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
