Category Archives: Choir

The Purpose of Art

Yesterday I had the honor of accompanying my daughter Shelby as she sang at her Great Grandma’s funeral. The music on that day was not for the purpose of entertainment or to feed the ego of the performer. Once again, I was reminded that the arts are not expendable. The arts are an essential part […]

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Morten Lauridsen — An American Mystic

“A Mystic,” that is how musicologist Nick Strimple described composer Morten Lauridsen. The 2014 movie, Shining Night,  is a window into the life of this American composer. Shining Night looks at Lauridsen’s relationship to art, nature, spirituality, and his love of poetry.  The movie takes you to a cabin on Waldron Island and reveals deep […]

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The Classical Music Scene is Changing — Ad Astra Music Festival in Russell, Kansas

While in Russell today working on a noisy piano pedal at the Deines Cultural Center, I had some extra time and walked down to a local coffee shop. There sat John Bitsas  Ad Astra Young Artist bass-baritone who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Simpson College.  John was there interviewing […]

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