Blog: Open Intervals
What is Solo & Ensemble? And What Do the Judges Do, Anyway?
Solo & Ensemble (or "Solo-Ensemble") is a yearly opportunity for kids in music programs to perform a solo, duet, and/or a small ensemble piece and get some feedback from a judge. This feedback includes a rating and if it's really high, they can go on to perform at state and receive another critique.
For some students, Solo & Ensemble is the only time they get to perform outside of band, orchestra, or choir. (I'll focus on choir and solos & vocal ensembles in this piece.) It may be the only time …
Sing the Body Electric - Adjudicating Solo & Ensemble
Tuesday evening I adjudicated a Solo & Ensemble contest and was struck by the goals of each of the young singers. While it's impossible to know all their personal goals without having spoken with them, a few things were obvious: some stood up and sang a song because they love to sing, some because it's what they do in their free time, some want to sing something with their friends, some to learn something, some because they wanted specifically to give the gift of music. Some to do all these thi…
Talking Bach with Steve Staruch
For the video series Conversations with the Bach Society of Minnesota I sat down with Minnesota Public Radio host, violist, and all-round cool dude Steve Staruch to talk about the drama in Bach's oratorios, churches without bathrooms, and roadtrips to Bethlehem.
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Presentation Vespers - February 2, 2014
Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata 161 Komm, du süße Todesstunde (Come, you sweet hour of death)
Sunday, February 2, 2014
4:30 p.m. | free will offering
The Christ Church Choir with friends from the Elm Ensemble
Nicole Warner, alto
Craig Lemming, tenor
Paul Boehnke, conductor
Baroque Chamber Orchestra
3244 34th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-721-6611
Durufle Requiem - October 26, 2013
Saturday, October 26th, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Requiem - Maurice Duruflé
Gloria - Francis Poulenc
Durufle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nicole Warner, mezzo-soprano
Gerard Sundberg, baritone
Rebecca Whitney, soprano
Richard Hynson, conductor
Christ King Parish2604 N Swan BlvdWauwatosa, WI 53226
I am thrilled to announce this upcoming performance with the Bel Canto Chorus and Richard Hynson. We've traveled South America together, w…
Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot - November 17, 2013
J. S. Bach Kantata BWV 39 Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot (Break your bread for those who hunger)
Sunday, November 17th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. church service, all are welcome
Paul Boehnke, conductor
Nicole Warner, alto
The Choir at Olivet Congregational Church
Making Music in the Holidays
The holidays are a feast for the senses—you might not think so, given the sensorial overload that it usually is—but if you stop and think about it, the smells of cookies and meals cooked especially for a large gathering (or a small one), the sight of a Christmas tree, the mood that can be created with just a few candles and dimmed lights.
3 Tips for Not Crying While You're Singing
Or How Not to Cry at a Wedding. Or a Funeral.
Or at the End of Mahler's 2nd Symphony
Singing is an emotional venture. Listening to singing can be wrenching when you're emotional and it hits you right there--and it can be even harder when you're doing the singing. So imagine you're singing at an emotionally charged event like a wedding or maybe a funeral, or someone close to you has just passed away and you're on to sing Mahler's 2nd Symphony (known as the "Resurrection Symphony").
An excerpt fro…
How Many Languages Do Singers Need to Speak? Part 2
In Part 1 you discovered just how skilled at foreign languages singers need to become. It takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of time to pronounce a foreign language accurately or to learn to speak it. One element is vitally important:
the meaning.
The meaning of the words and their expression is of utmost importantce in any performance, whether it's a concert with thousands in the audience or a nighttime lullaby for one little child.
This is a vastly different performance philosophy than the…
How Many Languages Do Singers Need to Speak? Part 1
Singers really only need to speak one language, however the reality is that they need to be able to pronounce at least a half-dozen and should learn to speak as many as possible. Even if it's just your basic greetings and vocabulary.
This is not to say, however, that singers should stress themselves out about learning multiple foreign languages. Too many singers stress themselves out about their language skills being not "good enough," as it's easy to forget how much time and practice it take…