Artistic Council & Education Outreach Reports

 
Communication – Matt Goinz
 
Cantus Activities Week by Week
• 4/25 – Romeo & Juliet rehearsal and donor presentation; company, AC, programming, Idol, Covers, and Davis session scheduling meetings
• 5/2 – Covers and Idol rehearsal, FLEX time; AC and Idol meetings; shot video for Summit promotion at brewery; departing singers interview for Covers program
• 5/9 – Cantus Idol; St Augustine FL (5/12)
• 5/16 – Covers production, programming, HSR, company, and AC meetings; Covers rehearsals; evening open rehearsal hosted by Brock Metzger and Noel McCormick; Cantus at Summit Brewery for happy hour (5/20); Westminster services (5/22); MPR announcement of Chanticleer/Cantus concert (5/19)
 
Communication Highlights
            • MPR announcement of Chanticleer/Cantus
            • Possible recording this summer through Entertainment One
            • Singers next season 9 to 8
                                                                                         
Press, Media, and other Comments
            • Covers press release
            • MPR announcement of Chanticleer/Cantus 5/19 AM
 
 
Production – Matt Tintes
 
            The ensemble is in the midst of learning our music for Covers.  As per usual, we have an eclectic mix of music and styles represented on Covers.  At the writing of this report, we are beginning to have a grasp of the program as a whole, and are really starting to get into the interpretation of the songs.  Covers is always an interesting show to tackle, especially for new singers, because it requires Cantus to use our voices in different ways than the rest of the season, and that effectively means that we’re creating a new “sound” for the ensemble.  A “Covers sound”, if you will.  So this is both a challenging and a really fun time of the year.  Next week we’ll be joined by our instrumentalists, and I’m really looking forward to that!
 
            As far as the production needs of the actual Covers show at the Cowels Center, the production team (consisting of myself, Chris Foss, Matt Goinz, Carly Thornberry & Jeff Bina) has met, and everything is well in hand on that front.  We’re just ironing out a few scheduling details with the Cowels Center and their staff, and we’ll be all set. 
 
 
Programming – Chris Foss
 
Our Romeo and Juliet workshop and donor event went very well performance wise… preparation time was too limited, but it fit within the needs of our calendar.  Lots of familiar faces at the donor event, and a few new ones.
 
The repertoire for our 16-17 touring shows (No Greater Love Than This and Xmas) has been officially finalized after a final re-working from the programming process.  We delivered this to AAM, and will start ordering scores soon for preparation beginning in August of 2016.
 
We have met with and are currently designing a summer program/workshop with the University of St. Thomas school of engineering.  This is in anticipation of our impending collaboration in the 2017-2018 season on the program The Discovery of Sight.
 
We are in talks with Entertainment One Classical to record an album for their label and distribution.  We are ready with repertoire proposals to finish programming the disc once we have reached a final agreement with E1.  Most likely, we will be recording mostly newly composed music for the ensemble within the last several years.
 
We finalized the Covers repertoire and show order once all the arrangements for possible pieces came in.  Should be a fun show!
 
Cantus also spent time brainstorming about possible programs in 2018-19, as well as many different ways that we could be celebrating our 25th anniversary.  It’s always great to get out it front of such important milestones!
 
I have also been in touch with Jeff Beal about his impending commission for our touring show next season.  It has not come in yet, but he is working on it.
 

Education Outreach – Sam Green
 
High School Residency
The final concert took place on Friday April 22 at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina. The students and Cantus performed for a packed house! The concert featured diverse repertoire and an enthusiastic audience response. We have already booked Normandale Lutheran for our venue for ‘16-’17’s final concert on Friday April 28, 2017.
 
Last night, Chris Foss, Jeff Bina and I scheduled our entire school year with our participating high schools for 16-17. Our season with them will include a 60-minute concert at each school, 3 visits from groups of singers, a Festival Day, and the final concert.
 
National Outreach
We are in the process of updating our National Outreach Education offerings. In addition to our masterclasses and lecture demonstrations, we are fleshing out presentations on how to become a professional musician after college, and how to tell a story through song, which will include audience participation, and share with attendees our unique programming model.
 
Spread the word that Cantus offers a variety of educational outreach opportunities locally and around the country each year. If you know educators/organizations interested in working with us, refer them to education@cantussings.org, or contact Sam at sgreen@cantussings.org.