For the next several episodes, we’re partnering with Chorus America to bring you a sneak preview of what’s coming up at  the Chorus America Annual Conference, being held this year in our home town, San Francisco! We hope you’ll enjoy this opportunity to get to know a bit more about the conference’s speakers and their areas of expertise, and especially to get to know these folks on a personal level. 

This week on In Unison: a sneak peek of a conversation on socially conscious repertoire that focuses on environmentalism and the growing anxiety regarding climate change. Dr. Kirsten Hedegaard, founder of the EcoVoice Project and director of choral activities at Loyola University Chicago, will moderate a discussion exploring how composers are engaging with this issue in a variety of ways and how choral music provides a unique opportunity to grapple with the climate crisis.

We hope to see you in San Francisco for the Chorus America Conference, May 31 - June 2, 2023. More information is available at chorusamerica.org.  

Music excerpts 

• “Fire,” by Katerina Gimon, performed by Loyola Chamber Choir, directed by Kirsten Hedegaard
• “Earth Song,” by Frank Ticheli, performed by Loyola Chorale & Chamber Choir, and University of Illinois  (chorus members from Urbana-Champaign, Springfield, and Chicago campuses), directed by Kirsten Hedegaard 

Episode references

• Chorus America conference
• Dr. Kirsten Hedegaard
• The EcoVoice Project
• New Earth Ensemble

Theme Song: Mr. Puffy by Avi Bortnik, arr. by Paul Kim. Performed by Dynamic

For the next several episodes, we’re partnering with Chorus America to bring you a sneak preview of what’s coming up at  the Chorus America Annual Conference, being held this year in our home town, San Francisco! We hope you’ll enjoy this opportunity to get to know a bit more about the conference’s speakers and their areas of expertise, and especially to get to know these folks on a personal level. 

Building on a shared understanding that songs are stories and choruses and singers are storytellers, today’s episode with Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler will give us a sneak peek at his Chorus America conference session where we explore the question: How can we envision and manifest antiracism in every aspect of our field, from repertoire to the way choral organizations are structured?  

We hope to see you in San Francisco for the Chorus America Conference, May 31 - June 2, 2023. More information is available at chorusamerica.org.  

Music excerpts 

• “Chains,” written by Gary Hines, performed by Sounds of Blackness
• “Optimistic,” written by Gary Hines, performed by Sounds of Blackness
• “Total Praise,” written by Richard Smallwood, performed by Richard Smallwood and Vision

Episode references

• Chorus America conference
• Dr. Antonio C. Cuyler
• Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Cultural Organizations
• Arts Management, Cultural Policy, & the African Diaspora
• Alysia Lee, Baltimore Children & Youth Fund
• “Hold Fast to Dreams,” by Joel Thompson, performed by the Atlanta Master Chorale, Dr. Eric Nelson, conductor; Joel Thompson, accompanist (YouTube)

Theme Song: Mr. Puffy by Avi Bortnik, arr. by Paul Kim. Performed by Dynamic

For the next several episodes, we’re partnering with Chorus America to bring you a sneak preview of what’s coming up at  the Chorus America Annual Conference, being held this year in our home town, San Francisco! We hope you’ll enjoy this opportunity to get to know a bit more about the conference’s speakers and their areas of expertise, and especially to get to know these folks on a personal level. 

One of the most important ways we can learn about each other is by singing each other’s songs. This belief is at the heart of conductor, singer, and vocal activist Melanie DeMore’s work. Join Melanie for this workshop and session where she will ground us in what it means to be solidly human and challenge us to be more understanding and empathetic through the connection of singing together.

We hope to see you in San Francisco for the Chorus America Conference, May 31 - June 2, 2023. More information is available at chorusamerica.org.  

Music excerpts 

• “Aćhe-o-kwa” by Melanie DeMore, performed by Melanie DeMore and St. Paul’s Episcopal School Choir
• “Sending You Light,” written and performed by Melanie DeMore

Episode references

• Chorus America conference
• Melanie DeMore
• All One Tribe Collective
• Obeah Opera
• Threshold Choir

Theme Song: Mr. Puffy by Avi Bortnik, arr. by Paul Kim. Performed by Dynamic