Artistic Council Reports
Communications – Paul Scholtz
Cantus Activities Week by Week
Communication highlights
Production – Zac Colby
After working hard to have a great Covers run, the singers also enjoyed a beautifully temperate day (for once) at Lake Harriet Bandshell with the largest crowd in recent memory. We’re dong some touring in New York this week and then will be back at it to begin rehearsing for our exciting new concert series at the American Swedish Institute and The Museum of Russian Art, Songs of Travel! You can expect some great solo songs by all the singers in the classical art song genre with Matt Goinz at the piano. There will also of course be some exciting arrangements of some pop/country tunes and the usual Cantus ensemble singing you love! These venues are incredibly sexy and exciting to have included us and we are looking forward to interacting with some new audience members. Simultaneously, we are rehearsing for next Fall’s touring show/Asian tour and rep for our collaboration with Sweet Honey because no one is leaving for next season ! Hold onto your seats as we get ready for a really exciting season!
Programming – Chris Foss
After good feedback on our working title “Stranger” for the touring show in 18-19, the ensemble is currently discussing different options that will encapsulate the theme of connection and isolation in the modern world. The goal is to have a final title before the filming of the EPK materials in early July.
The ensemble has collected repertoire for the spring show "For the Beauty of the Earth”, and a committee is now working on an order/first draft of the program. We have decided (due to budget concerns) to cancel a line item that traditionally reserves funds for media/technological elements for a spring concert in next season.
Over the next few months, the ensemble will be working towards several goals with a completion date at the end of July. Among them will be:
Next summer, the ensemble has decided to continue the chamber music concert series. Ideally with the same time frame (mid July), and expanded concert dates (more than two dates/venues), the theme of the show will be an offering of the great American songbook, possibly with the angle of exploring work by immigrant composers. Our goal is to complete the vision for this show by the end of the summer (late July) for inclusion in our season brochure.
The album we recorded last summer is still available for sale, but we are in a holding pattern as we finalize next year’s budget. Hopefully we can move soon towards a plan to get the album released.
Cantus Activities Week by Week
- April 23 - NGLTT Tour (New Britain, CT); HSR visit #3; rehearsal; HSR final concert; concert with Great Northern Union Barbershop Chorus
- April 30 - NGLTT performance at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Lyndale; Covers rehearsal (open rehearsal with Brock Metzger)
- May 7 - Cantus Idol; Covers rehearsal
- May 14 - Covers rehearsal (open rehearsal for Big Brothers, Big Sisters); Covers preview at Summit Beer Hall
- May 21 - Covers rehearsal; private concert at Meadowbrook Elementary - auction item fulfillment
- May 28 - Covers rehearsal; Covers Performances 1&2
- June 4 - Covers Performances 3,4&5
- June 11 - Break
- June 18 - Lake Harriet Performance; Tour (New York City, Carnegie Hall Neighborhood Series)
Communication highlights
- Sweet Honey has signed their contract.
- AC and Joe have worked to identify administrative needs as we reevaluate specific admin roles for artists in ’17-‘18
Production – Zac Colby
After working hard to have a great Covers run, the singers also enjoyed a beautifully temperate day (for once) at Lake Harriet Bandshell with the largest crowd in recent memory. We’re dong some touring in New York this week and then will be back at it to begin rehearsing for our exciting new concert series at the American Swedish Institute and The Museum of Russian Art, Songs of Travel! You can expect some great solo songs by all the singers in the classical art song genre with Matt Goinz at the piano. There will also of course be some exciting arrangements of some pop/country tunes and the usual Cantus ensemble singing you love! These venues are incredibly sexy and exciting to have included us and we are looking forward to interacting with some new audience members. Simultaneously, we are rehearsing for next Fall’s touring show/Asian tour and rep for our collaboration with Sweet Honey because no one is leaving for next season ! Hold onto your seats as we get ready for a really exciting season!
Programming – Chris Foss
After good feedback on our working title “Stranger” for the touring show in 18-19, the ensemble is currently discussing different options that will encapsulate the theme of connection and isolation in the modern world. The goal is to have a final title before the filming of the EPK materials in early July.
The ensemble has collected repertoire for the spring show "For the Beauty of the Earth”, and a committee is now working on an order/first draft of the program. We have decided (due to budget concerns) to cancel a line item that traditionally reserves funds for media/technological elements for a spring concert in next season.
Over the next few months, the ensemble will be working towards several goals with a completion date at the end of July. Among them will be:
- Finalize rep lists for Fall, Christmas, and Spring concert shows next season
- provide updated materials (80% final) for the 18-19 concert season for Fall, Christmas, and Spring
- provide a concept and sample repertoire for the 19-20 concert season for all three shows
- complete the vision for next year’s summer chamber series
Next summer, the ensemble has decided to continue the chamber music concert series. Ideally with the same time frame (mid July), and expanded concert dates (more than two dates/venues), the theme of the show will be an offering of the great American songbook, possibly with the angle of exploring work by immigrant composers. Our goal is to complete the vision for this show by the end of the summer (late July) for inclusion in our season brochure.
The album we recorded last summer is still available for sale, but we are in a holding pattern as we finalize next year’s budget. Hopefully we can move soon towards a plan to get the album released.