This summer two new works from Glenn McClure’s series “Emancipation Again” will receive their second performances. The Emancipation Oratorio at Chautauqua The Emancipation Oratorio travels to the famous Chautauqua Institute on July 7 for two performances by the Rochester Oratorio Society under the direction of Eric Townell. They will join singers from the institute, soloists...
Read More“Soul of a Free Man” is the newest addition to “Emancipation Again: A Musical Freedom Trail.” The High School and Middle School Choirs of Geneseo Central School will join 3 soloists to sing this new work based the writings of Haitian Revolutionary, Toussaint L’Overture. This new work began with research by the 7th grade Social Studies classes (taught by Bonnie...
Read MoreWe traveled to the John Brown Farm Historical Site just outside of Lake Placid for the second performance. The performance of “Voices of Timbuctoo” kicked off a full day of music, speakers, and commemorations for the work of John Brown, Harriet Tubman, and other North Country Abolitionists. We gathered under a large tent for African drumming and dance, a monologue by the famous...
Read MoreEverything a composer could want. The performance was right on! The choir, the soloists, the accompanists played every bit of soul that this piece had to offer (and a little more than I expected in some cases!). But that wasn’t all. The church was packed. By some estimates, there were upwards of 500 people there. Now, a couple weeks ago, I played at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in...
Read MoreAfter a wonderful day of good food and conversation with Helen and her husband Joe, we headed to St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake for the rehearsal tonight. What a marvelous choir! It is made up of singers of all kinds, including some that have sung at the Met and others that are just learning. There are several mother-son/mother-daughter combinations of singers as well. Francesca...
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