As we move into the new year, there’s an incredible energy in the air for choral musicians across New Mexico! January will bring together hundreds of young singers for our Elementary andYouth All-State Choirs,ahighlightofouryearthatshowcasesthededication,talent,andjoyofouryoungestvocalists This eventismadepossiblebythetirelessworkofourdirectors,accompanists,andvolunteerswhobelievein nurturing the next generation of choral artists.Thank you for inspiring your students and helping them discoverthepowerofsinging.
Evenmoreexciting,theSouthwestAmericanChoralDirectorsAssociation(SWACDA)Conferencewillbe held right here in Albuquerque for the very first time! This is a momentous opportunity to welcome colleagues from across our region to experience the warmth, artistry, and hospitality that make New Mexicosospecial.Fromoutstandingconcertstoinspiringsessions,it’ssuretobeamemorablecelebration ofchoralexcellence.
I encourage everyone in our state to participate, connect, and take pride in all that New Mexico’s choral community has to offer.Whether you ’ re preparing singers for All-State or planning to attend SWACDA, yourcommitmentkeepsourartformthrivingandourcommunitystrong IlookforwardtoseeingmanyofyouinAlbuquerquethisspring.Let’smakeitaneventtoremember!
Warmly,
EmeryEdwards
R&R Resource
Andy Waggoner Community Choirs R&R Chair
HOPE,JOY,PEACE,andLOVE
Hello SWACDA Friends! I hope this article finds you all well But, I recognize that it is now the middle of DecemberandIknowVERYWELLhowyouaredoing!Hanginthere!
Our Chorus is celebrating our 50th Anniversary this season and so we wanted to commission a piece to commemoratetheoccasion.ThomasYonke,ayoungcomposer/pianist(whoyouneedtokeepyoureyeon!) wrote a beautiful song entitled "MyVoiceWill Light theWay." My only requests were that he incorporate Hope, Joy, Peace and Love into the piece, but with a secular text What he ended up was a stunning text withevenmorebeautifulmusic "Amelodyofhope,Iwillsingthemall,myvoicewilllighttheway"
After all, these four words go far beyond some of our Advent Wreaths. For our community choirs "community,"Iwanttooffersomewordsofencouragementbasedonthesefourtenets
HOPE:Formanyofmysingers,theyhavealotoflifegoingon.Somehavejoborhealthissues,relationship andfamilydramaorsadness,andevenfinancialstrains.SingingwiththeircommunitygivesthemHOPE that things are going to be ok. As a conductor, you hold the power in each and every rehearsal to set the tone OfferafeelingofHOPEtopeoplewhomayneedit
JOY:I'msureIcouldcitestudyafterstudythatprovesthatsingingprovidesJOYtotheperformerandthe listener.Butallweneedistolookatthefacesofourcrewwhentheynailsomething!Thereissuchapride in being a part of leading non-professional singers to excellence.With the above mentioned stresses and strains,wehavetheopportunitytoofferoursingersJOY.Itstartswithus.
PEACE:I'vebeentryingtowatchlessnews,scrollsocialmedialess,andspendmorequalitytimewiththe people who are important to me. I'm working on my inner (and outer) PEACE. We are inundated with politics, keeping up with the " " and the constant pressure to give 110%. I got to a point where if I was not insanely busy, I not only felt like I was forgetting something, but I even felt guilty. It was like a was wearing my busy-ness as a badge of honor. Instead, let's try to focus on peace. If we as conductors are at peace,ifweleaveallthetroublesatthedooranddon'tcarryitontothepodium,wehavetheopportunityto give our singers the peace they need, even if they don't know they need it And of course, singing a beautiful text and forgetting the troubles of the world gives us a true sense of PEACE that we can share withallthesingersaroundus.
R&R Resource
Community Choirs Continued
LOVE: We love what we do Our singers can be frustrating, trust me, I understand But for many, the interactiontheyhaveinrehearsalandperformancemaybetheonlypositiveinteractiontheyhavehadthat day (or longer.) If we lead with love, if we assume the best intentions in our singers, our board members andourvolunteers,wewillberewarded.Achoirthatloveseachother,andlovestheirconductor,cancreate stunningmusicalexperiences Letusbediligentinofferingourfolkssincerekindnessandlove Now,Ilose my patience just like everyone else! But offer suggestions and corrections sandwiched with compliments and love! Show them you care and they will follow you to the moon and back. Let all we do be done in love LOVEforpeopleandloveformusic
