Artistic Council and Education Outreach Reports
| 5._artistic_council___education_outreach_reports.pdf |
Operations/Production – Zac Colby
The Ensemble wraps up their run of For The Beauty of the Earth this weekend. Special thanks goes to Nancy Geschott who braved the SCARY conditions to give her curtain speech to all 34 people in attendance on Saturday night at the Ordway. Also a special shout out goes to Kelsey, who handled a ton of ticket requests to move tickets from show to show due to the storm. The decision was made to go ahead and perform in an epic game of chicken with the Ordway on who would cancel the concert. Joe and I got an email from their director of operations at intermission saying that we wouldn't have to pay rental for that night and that we would only pay direct expenses for the staff that was present (which was few, as we had cut any extra backstage staff, and agreed to do open seating cutting most ushers). We also got a successful recording with American Public Media that evening, and we will be putting that disk together once we get the tracks approved.
Cantus is partnering with StreetSong-MN to deliver three concerts for those experiencing homelessness. This is a collaborative concert so StreetSong and Cantus will have separate sets and a few things together as well as a sing-a-long at the end. The MSAB Access Grant we received this year generously supported this project. If you know of a high-level donor who would like to bring to one of these concerts to see us in action, feel MORE than welcome. The purpose of the grant is aimed bringing music to those experiencing homelessness, so we don't want to overcrowd the place, but again- feel free to come/bring a friend. Here are the upcoming dates/times:
We look forward to the excitement of Cantus Idol, Covers, and the summer series and are looking forward to more time in town, as we really only have one more quick run out tour to Colorado. Our contracts for next seasons are 90% complete and we will be looking forward to an on-time season announcement for next year's 2018–2019 season.
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Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
Students from Fridley High School will join us at Cantus Idol next month. Their teacher, Nikki Jo Zeleny, will say a few words during the evening. We have also asked Bryan Fisher from Southwest (MPLS) High School (participating school 18-19) to include some of his students in our combined performance.
National Outreach
I confirmed our Educational Outreach menu with Alliance this week, noting that the expanded menu they asked of us a couple seasons ago has been successful overall. Two menu items (Performing Without a Conductor, and Making Music in the Real World) have never been requested. I also reiterated that Guided Performances (school shows) should come with a higher price tag, since 60 minutes worth of performing is equivalent to more than half of a concert, and is more vocally taxing than other menu items, especially on a concert day.
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.
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Communications – Paul Scholtz
Cantus Activities Week by Week
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Programming – Chris Foss
Due to lots of off time (Holy Week), preparing for the impending For the Beauty concert run, the lack of a scheduled programming meeting between the last board meeting and now, and the birth of our child, there is not much new to report in the programming world. Very likely, most of this will change and be finalized with our programming meeting on May 1. However, in light of the fact that's still to come, below you'll find the items from my last report, as they still reflect the current state of our programming process:
We have just recently collected the last round of pieces for Xmas 2018 (Lessons and Carols for Our Time). In the next month, we will draft and finalize the program with order, and work to incorporate readings of poetry and prose.
Due to the success and positive feedback from audiences both on the road and at home, we are exploring continuing the storytelling format for Xmas 2019. We are currently looking for new tales to (possibly) use, and we’ll make the ultimate decision of title and concept in early summer. We’ll then deliver new sales materials to AAM later in the summer.
Songs My Mother Taught Me (summer chamber series) is 85% programmed, and will be finalized by our next meeting (May 1). We’ll then distribute music for learning and rehearsal beginning in mid June.
After recent discussion, we’ve moved to expand our search for next year’s covers album (2019). As our last three featured artists have been white and almost entirely male, we will be focusing on bringing more diversity to our album choices moving forward. We look to choose an album for 2019 and announce with the season announcement schedule for June 1.
I’ve continued the conversation with Libby Larsen about the text for the upcoming commission for next year’s fall touring show (Alone Together). Libby has asked the poet Rupi Kaur for permission to set some of her poems to music for the work. Libby is currently awaiting a response.
Covers arrangements have been assigned and are due after the Easter break. Vocal charts will be edited and distributed for rehearsals starting in late April.
We also have a contract with Lorelei, so we will begin the process of programming the show. I’ll be reaching out to their artistic director Beth Willer shortly to start the ball rolling.
And new business - Our Sunday morning show at Wayzata community church was a great success, including some great alumni participation! We are also in the programming process for our appearance at Westminster on April 29th.
The Ensemble wraps up their run of For The Beauty of the Earth this weekend. Special thanks goes to Nancy Geschott who braved the SCARY conditions to give her curtain speech to all 34 people in attendance on Saturday night at the Ordway. Also a special shout out goes to Kelsey, who handled a ton of ticket requests to move tickets from show to show due to the storm. The decision was made to go ahead and perform in an epic game of chicken with the Ordway on who would cancel the concert. Joe and I got an email from their director of operations at intermission saying that we wouldn't have to pay rental for that night and that we would only pay direct expenses for the staff that was present (which was few, as we had cut any extra backstage staff, and agreed to do open seating cutting most ushers). We also got a successful recording with American Public Media that evening, and we will be putting that disk together once we get the tracks approved.
Cantus is partnering with StreetSong-MN to deliver three concerts for those experiencing homelessness. This is a collaborative concert so StreetSong and Cantus will have separate sets and a few things together as well as a sing-a-long at the end. The MSAB Access Grant we received this year generously supported this project. If you know of a high-level donor who would like to bring to one of these concerts to see us in action, feel MORE than welcome. The purpose of the grant is aimed bringing music to those experiencing homelessness, so we don't want to overcrowd the place, but again- feel free to come/bring a friend. Here are the upcoming dates/times:
- Monday, May 7 at 2:30pm – Downtown Minneapolis Central Library – Pohlad Hall
- Thursday, May 10 at 9:00am – Westminster Presbyterian Church – Chapel
- Wednesday, May 16 at 2:30pm – St. Paul George Latimer Central Library – Magazine Room
We look forward to the excitement of Cantus Idol, Covers, and the summer series and are looking forward to more time in town, as we really only have one more quick run out tour to Colorado. Our contracts for next seasons are 90% complete and we will be looking forward to an on-time season announcement for next year's 2018–2019 season.
--
Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
Students from Fridley High School will join us at Cantus Idol next month. Their teacher, Nikki Jo Zeleny, will say a few words during the evening. We have also asked Bryan Fisher from Southwest (MPLS) High School (participating school 18-19) to include some of his students in our combined performance.
National Outreach
I confirmed our Educational Outreach menu with Alliance this week, noting that the expanded menu they asked of us a couple seasons ago has been successful overall. Two menu items (Performing Without a Conductor, and Making Music in the Real World) have never been requested. I also reiterated that Guided Performances (school shows) should come with a higher price tag, since 60 minutes worth of performing is equivalent to more than half of a concert, and is more vocally taxing than other menu items, especially on a concert day.
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.
--
Communications – Paul Scholtz
Cantus Activities Week by Week
- March 25 - Cantus Break
- April 1 - For the Beauty of the Earth Rehearsal
- April 8 - FTB Rehearsal; FTB Performances (MacPhail, Minneapolis; Ordway, St. Paul)
- April 15 - FTB Performances (Colonial Church, Edina; Trinity Church, Stillwater; Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata)
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Programming – Chris Foss
Due to lots of off time (Holy Week), preparing for the impending For the Beauty concert run, the lack of a scheduled programming meeting between the last board meeting and now, and the birth of our child, there is not much new to report in the programming world. Very likely, most of this will change and be finalized with our programming meeting on May 1. However, in light of the fact that's still to come, below you'll find the items from my last report, as they still reflect the current state of our programming process:
We have just recently collected the last round of pieces for Xmas 2018 (Lessons and Carols for Our Time). In the next month, we will draft and finalize the program with order, and work to incorporate readings of poetry and prose.
Due to the success and positive feedback from audiences both on the road and at home, we are exploring continuing the storytelling format for Xmas 2019. We are currently looking for new tales to (possibly) use, and we’ll make the ultimate decision of title and concept in early summer. We’ll then deliver new sales materials to AAM later in the summer.
Songs My Mother Taught Me (summer chamber series) is 85% programmed, and will be finalized by our next meeting (May 1). We’ll then distribute music for learning and rehearsal beginning in mid June.
After recent discussion, we’ve moved to expand our search for next year’s covers album (2019). As our last three featured artists have been white and almost entirely male, we will be focusing on bringing more diversity to our album choices moving forward. We look to choose an album for 2019 and announce with the season announcement schedule for June 1.
I’ve continued the conversation with Libby Larsen about the text for the upcoming commission for next year’s fall touring show (Alone Together). Libby has asked the poet Rupi Kaur for permission to set some of her poems to music for the work. Libby is currently awaiting a response.
Covers arrangements have been assigned and are due after the Easter break. Vocal charts will be edited and distributed for rehearsals starting in late April.
We also have a contract with Lorelei, so we will begin the process of programming the show. I’ll be reaching out to their artistic director Beth Willer shortly to start the ball rolling.
And new business - Our Sunday morning show at Wayzata community church was a great success, including some great alumni participation! We are also in the programming process for our appearance at Westminster on April 29th.