I've always meant to work towards these & this seemed the year to do it. With the AAGO in hand, I'm allowed to try for the Fellow certification next year, the highest certification offered. As they say in Elf, "It's time to start preparations for next C[ertification]mas!"
Thanks to Kelly & Ben for their support, Marianne who helped me practice writing music dots, & my mom who helped watch Marianne during the three marathon days of exams. (& a special shout-out to my mom who quizzed me for multiple hours during a road trip to southern Maryland!)
(mine included Louis Daquin, Noël Variations no. X; Herbert Howells, Psalm-Prelude Set 2, no. 1 (Psalm 130, "Out of the depths"); Thomas Kerr, Arietta; and J.S. Bach, Fugue in E-flat Major BWV 552, "St. Anne").
...general music knowledge, liturgy, dictation, & error detection) & ~2 hours of practical work (including rehearsal work, conducting, & – at sight at the keyboard – transposition, melody harmonization, figured bass realization, improvisation) inclusive of ~40-minutes of recital repertoire...
The AAGO and ChM are Masters-level equivalency certifications & are dependent upon ~9 hours of written testing (including harmony, form, composition, counterpoint and fugue writing, knowledge of vocal production, choral & organ repertoire, organ registration, chant notation & performance...
Excited (and, I'll admit it, relieved!) to learn that I recently received Associate and Choirmaster certifications from the American Guild of Organists!
Many, many thanks to Lavena Johanson and Ben Hawker for their brilliant performance (linked below) back in May 2023, and to St. David's Episcopal Church for the continuing ed funding that supported the award application, and congrats to fellow finalist Marshall Jones!
In "Embarrassment of Riches" news, I learned that my monodrama/art song "I will never stop embracing you" – about the Scottish Otherworld tale of Tam Lin as a lens for neurodivergent love and acceptance – is a National Finalist for The American Prize's Charles Ives Award in Vocal Chamber Music.
Learned this morning I am a finalist in 3 categories of The American Prize: The Dale Warland Choral Conducting Award; Major Choral Works, for Altus Prosator; & the Thomas Putsche Memorial Award for Bessie & Ma, libretto by @caitlinvincent.bsky.social Thanks to all the performers of these!
Something I wrote back in November, and thinking about it today with RFK's confirmation and the swirl of cruelty including the cuts to NIH funding as well as the overt anti-Trans, anti-Queer messaging in the recent removal of websites and health data.
Grover – an all-black "miniature" lab – stands alert in the white snow.
A little known fact about Grover (who turned 13 this last month!) is that he has impeccable camouflage in the snow. You wouldn't think it, but just observe: he blends right in. Incredible.
Daryl Yoder and Jung-Yoon Lee receive a standing ovation after a brilliant performance of Schubert's "Winterreise."
Joshua Bornfield introduces their music before it is performed by Michael Manganiello and Stephanie Baird at songSLAM at National Sawdust in NYC>
A busy weekend for the singers at St. David's Bmore – on Friday, Daryl Yoder & pianist Jung-Yoon Lee performed Schubert's "Wintereisse" on the St. David's Series while at the same time Michael Manganiello & Stephanie Baird performed music by Josh Bornfield at songSLAM at National Sawdust in NYC!
I remember reading/listening to The Dark is Rising series and The Prydain Chronicles around the time I experienced L’Engle!
But thei were all of them deceivid for anothir environment-killinge plagiarism machyne was made
This is such a phenomenal read.
My dad gave me the heads up that it was tricky so I came prepared with some deep-cut nerddom! Still didn’t get perfect though!
Always lovely to pull out old favorites in the new year: some Bach, some Duruflé, and “Lead, Kindly Light” by Haley Olson!
Pictured: Bach “Christ unser Herr,” Duruflé’s “Prelude on the Introit to Epiphany” on the console; three scores, including Haley’s.
#choir #organ #newmusic #choral #baltimore
Bows either the cast
With our wonderful Mechanic/Reporter
With chorus & orchestra members
With Johnny, Bessie, Ma, and Pa
Super proud of the work of the students at Georgia Southern Opera, who put together the production of “Bessie and Ma” by Caitlin Vincent and me featured at the ‘24-‘25 @nationaloperaassociation conference in Savannah! #opera #newopera #newmusic #composer #librettist #savannah
Getting ready for liftoff! At dress rehearsal for the @nationaloperaassociation performance of @caitlincvincent ‘s and my “Bessie and Ma.”
Image: a wooden propellor on stage blocks.
#opera #newmusic #operasinger #bessie #bessiecoleman #composer #librettist
It’s not every day you get to pick up trolley tickets for your opera!
Coming up Tuesday: @caitlincvincent and my opera “Bessie and Ma” at the 70th @nationaloperaassociation conference!
Pictured: trolley tickets to Bessie and Ma.
#opera #newmusic #composer #libretto #song #artsong
A view out the airplane window with shafts of light shining on rivers.
Just arrived in Savannah, GA for the 2025 NOA conference, which will feature “Bessie and Ma,” by Caitlin Vincent and me, as the winner of the ‘24-‘25 Dominick Argento Prize in Chamber Opera!
#opera #composer #newmusic #libretto #noa ##bessiecolemam #song #singer #artsong
SO GOOD
It was my uncommon pleasure to write the program notes for "and we, each" Michael Hersch's new opera, which premieres tonight. A lovely surprise to learn that the essay was also published by The Hopkins Review:
hopkinsreview.com/features/to-...
toi toi toi to everyone! #opera #newmusic #theater
ID: Sheet music on a music rack, looking up at the pipes of a pipe organ.
Today’s view from the console: Baltimorian Thomas Kerr’s Miniature Antiphonal on a Pedal Point,” my new arrangement of The Old Church Yard & a reprise of “of sound and light.” Out of frame: Douglas Guest’s “For the Fallen” & Vierne’s Carillon de Westminster. Happy All Saints (and belated Samhain)!
Post concert: left to right, Doug Buchanan, Peter Sheppard Skærved, and Benjamin Buchanan
Mid-performance: Peter with bow and violin, reading music of two stands; behind him is half of the Choir of St David’s.
As I give spoken program notes, Peter sits thoughtfully with bow and violin.
Mid-performance, Peter looking back at the choir of St David’s. The marble steps and altar are in the background.
Still on a cloud after last night’s concert with Peter Sheppard Skærved, featuring music of Robert Saxton, Gloria Coates, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the world premiere of my new piece “…of sound and light…” Mòran, mòran taing to Peter and the intrepid choir of St David’s, Baltimore.