Where Have I Been, Where Am I Now?

I have been silent on this site for a while. It's not because I didn't have things to say; I just got caught up in an incredibly busy stretch. Just prior to Ash Wednesday I had one of those weeks that just took up a ton of time. There were sermons to write, worship services to plan and prepare for, devotions to write, all on top of my normal responsibilities. By the time I got to the end of the day I was just spent and without another ounce of creativity. So, I apologize for my absence and will do my best to be a little more regular in the future.

I'm currently in Mobile, AL for the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division convention. This is a week filled with concerts by some of the finest choral groups in this part of the country, educational opportunities offered by esteemed conductors and composers, and a chance to meet and talk with others in the choral music field. My plan is to post some highlights of each day, letting you know about things I learned, groups and songs that I heard, and other interesting tidbits that I discover.

Today was the opening day, and the first day is always a "reconnaissance day". Concerts and sessions are usually held in about five or six different venues in a city, so after checking in it's good to find them at a leisurely pace so that you can get to them quickly later in the week. The opening concert was truly outstanding. It was a concert by The Concordia Choir from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. The director, conductor and composer Rene Clausen, is retiring at the end of this school year, so this is his final choir tour. This is a group that you should definitely search for on YouTube. The songs that really moved me were "The Road Home" by Stephen Paulus and "And So I Go On" by Jake Runestad. The latter is a musical conversation between two people who loved each other, but one has passed on. It's an incredible piece of music.

On a more disturbing note, there was much conversation about coronavirus. Many of the choral directors here are from universities and colleges. A large number of schools are beginning to extend Spring Break or move to online classes as part of the effort to stem the spread of the disease. This is great for many classes, but impossible for choirs. There was much conversation and concern about the rest of the semester.

Tomorrow is a day filled with sessions and more concerts. Check back tomorrow night for an update.