I’m excited to hear the premiere of my piece A Mighty Strength based on a text by St. Brigid of Gael sung by Angelus at Augustana, directed by Natalie Campbell. Learn more here, and I look forward to publishing this piece to make it available to all!
I Give Voice to My Mother, my song cycle in six movements based on poems by Athena Kildegaard from her book “Course” was performed at Source Song Festival the other week, and I was honored to see it mentioned in the Star Tribune’s review of the festival’s opening night performance. You can read the full review here.
It was quite special to have multiple singers share a song cycle:
Clara Osowski and KrisAnne Weiss, mezzo-sopranos
Maria Jette and Tracey Engelman, sopranos
with Mary Jo Gothmann, piano
Linda Kachelmeier’s “I Give Voice to My Mother” was the highlight of the evening, as four singers traded songs that the composer had created from Kildegaard’s poetry. Opening and closing with soft, simple benedictions from festival co-founder Clara Osowski — whose voice I would have loved to have heard more — the cycle was at its most touching on soprano Maria Jette’s interpretation of “A Healing” and Weiss’ chronicle of a mother’s death, “Cadence.”
Rob Hubbard, Star Tribune
Photo: Source Song Festival Founder and Singer, Clara Osowski (left) and composer Linda Kachelmeier (right)
I’m very much looking forward to the world premiere of four new songs I wrote based on the poetry of Louis Jenkins at the Schubert Club‘s upcoming Courtroom Concert on April 27th! This set focuses on the Duluth native’s love of nearby Lake Superior: The Lake, Picnic on the Shore, Brighton Beach Waves, and Driftwood, and will be performed by Georgia Jacobson, mezzo soprano and Carson Schneider, piano.
I wrote these songs while staying at Bob’s Cabins on the North Shore which had just opened up for the season on May 9, 2021. It was still chilly, but I eagerly went up there for a week alone to sketch out these pieces. I drew such inspiration from the Lake and these captivating poems! Here’s a glimpse from my time there:
I’m proud to be programmed alongside works by Jeremy Walker and Carol Barnett, and you can visit HERE to learn more about the concert and their music.
Details:
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Noon
Landmark Center Cortile (main floor)
Free and Open to the Public
Lake Superior Songs will be performed by Georgia Jacobson, mezzo soprano and Carson Schneider, piano
In February, Border CrosSing premiered my new multi-movement choral work alongside a new work by Nico Gutiérrez, both commissioned as a response to the still ongoing humanitarian disaster at the US-Mexico border, the widespread media sensationalization of a “migrant caravan” for political gain, and the illegal denial of asylum status to refugees. Scored for SATB choir with a modest chamber instrumentation of flute, bassoon, cello and percussion, this 30 minute cantata is structured around the canonical hours of the day that stem from Jewish prayer traditions. Each movement follows the path of the sun throughout the day starting before dawn when it is still dark (Matins) and progressing to after it has set and is dark again (Compline). I look forward to bringing “To Know the Path” to more singing communities!
“The piece explores themes of resilience, community and loss and it’s unlike any other cantata I’ve ever done before.“
Natalia Romero Arbeláez (Singer / Music Educator)
“…integrally and holistically, the piece is built on both awareness and compassion, and fosters that in the listener, as one experiences a kaleidoscope of images from people all over the world progressing through a day of concentrated, positive devotion.”
Jake Endres (Singer / Actor / Music Director / Composer)
Mulier Dierum (Chronicles of Woman) is an epic project that mirrors the strength of cumulative generations of women rising together through the ages. Featuring the voices of See Change Treble Choir and a cast spanning each decade ages 20s to 60s. We build, we honor, we persevere, we flourish. Learn more here.
Online performance preview is available May 8 – 30, 2021.
Full live outdoor performance dates are June 25 – 26, 2021 or June 27th rain date.
I’m excited to announce that I have been chosen as the composer for the 2019 Ketterling Carol commission. “Welcome Yule” will be premiered on the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble concerts on December 13-15, 2020.
