FY16 December Artistic Council & Education Outreach Reports
Communications – Matthew Goinz
Cantus Activities Week by Week
• 11/23 Fish Creek WI; Common Bond Access event
• 11/30 Common Bond Access events; regular meetings (AC, Company, Programming)
• 12/7 Flex time, rehearsal, open rehearsal (host – Jim Dorsey); programming and company meetings; Christmas With Cantus (CWC) MPR broadcast with host Brian Newhouse; first weekend CWC home concert run
• 12/14 Second weekend CWC home concert run; St. Cloud MN
• 12/21 BREAK
Communication Highlights
• Communication with MPR/APM producer, host, and engineer regarding CWC broadcast
• Communication with MPR/APM producer Brad Althoff confirming APM/Cantus Valentine’s Day recording session and broadcast
• Communication with RDPR about upcoming media opportunities during out next stretch of tour
Press, Media, and other Comments
Brian Newhouse
Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media
What a joy to share that stage again with your guys. A few times I just leaned my head back in the chair, closed my eyes, and breathed it in – struck again by my good fortune to be in that place at that time with that sound. I really am humbled at what your organization does to make beauty and to make a difference. Thank you for the opportunity yet again.
==========
Dale Warland
Thanks Mary, for again making Ruth and me feel so welcome whenever we are able to attend a Cantus performance. Today was another example of one of those uplifting, welcoming moments.
We thoroughly enjoyed today’s concert and were especially inspired by the warm, caring spirit, all generated by the singers, that filled the room.
Thanks, so much, for the tickets. We had a perfect spot……
Hugs too……
…… dale
==========
Paul Wilson
Former member of Cantus
Gentlemen: I thoroughly enjoyed your concert yesterday. Not solely due to a well-crafted and well-executed program, but also because the "Cantus Sound" has changed yet again, and that's a good thing. Don't get me wrong, the Cantus of last year, the year before, and a decade before that were all exceptional, but they have all been different - in a good way.
Each year, the 9 men of Cantus (or 13 as it was one year...sheesh) come together to figure out how the hell to sing together in an honest and authentic way that serves the music. The grand experiment that we started in the 90s continues to work despite the turnover and despite the many people who through the years told us it wouldn't - or couldn't - work for the long-term. You are proof-of-concept in a most profound way.
Thank you for carrying on the legacy and for making Cantus your own.
Kindest regards from a fellow Cantusian,
Paul
==========
Rob Hubbard
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/entertainment/music/ci_29232413/cantus-mixes-up-a-fine-choral-cocktail
Production – Matthew Tintes
As I write this report, we have completed half of our “Christmas with Cantus” concerts. I believe that we have been performing the shows very well. However, the consensus remains amongst the singers that we did not budget enough rehearsal time to properly prepare the show, or at least not to our usual standards (i.e. well rehearsed and memorized). The Artistic Council is currently considering how much time we actually need, and we will implement that for next year's concert preparation. That said, all the singers put in extra time to make sure that the music was well prepared, and our concerts have been going very well.
We decided not to hire a Stage Manager for the run of Christmas concerts. Jeff Bina has been filling in where needed, and has been a great help to us! While we’ve been able to make this run of shows work without a stage manager, I really do believe that going forward (especially with a more audio/video intensive show like we are going to have in the Spring) having a stage manager really is a necessity of modern-day Cantus.
So far, all of the venues for Christmas concerts have been prepared and ready to go when we arrive. The second weekend of Christmas concerts, we will be performing at two new venues (one self-booked in Apple valley, and one where we are presented in St. Cloud), so hopefully they go off without a hitch.
Programming – Chris Foss
After some great committee work, the ensemble officially approved the final program for Would You Harbor Me. As it turns out, our call for scores was very successful, with lots of great submissions (and not-so-great ones as well). We actually were able to include four pieces from the call, with two of the composers agreeing to re-arrange their submissions for a cappella TTBB. We’re all looking forward to actually putting our voices on these great pieces!
In regards to WHYM (and possibly the upcoming recording project), I’ve also written Sarah Kirkland Snider to let her know we’ll be singing her piece again. Last we spoke, she was interested in making a few changes to the piece, to make it more singable and come across more to the audience.
We collected submissions for our covers concerts this summer (including possible albums!), and we will begin the voting/selection process Dec. 19, to be completed in January.
Updates of visions and sample pieces for two upcoming programs have been completed and will be delivered to AAM. Those are: The Discovery of Sight (Touring 17-18) and Three Tales of Christmas (Xmas 2017).
I’ve communicated to both Jeff Beal and Libby Larsen about (possibly) including their upcoming pieces on the recording project this summer, so schedules have been adjusted to have pieces finished hopefully in time to make those calls for recording purposes.
We also approved the final programs for both our special collaboration in Tucson with True Concord, and at the Greene Space in NYC (mostly material from The Four Loves).
Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
We received 7 applications for HSR candidates for 16-17. Chris Foss and I evaluated the applications, and presented the following recommendations to the rest of the company:
Johnson Senior High, St. Paul - Theresa J. Westcott, director
Washburn High School, Minneapolis - Nancy Lee, director
St. Michael-Albertville High School, St. Michael - Joseph Osowski, director
We are extremely excited about these schools! In addition to strong application materials including letters of support from administration, community, and students, and recordings of their choirs, Johnson Senior High and Washburn have distinctly diverse student bodies (72% Asian JSH, 40% African-American WHS), and St. Michael-Albertville has an amazing number of students involved, and a pristine sounding ensemble! We will meet with the directors in January to begin scheduling our school year together.
Meanwhile, we are looking forward to our next visits to Robbinsdale-Cooper, Osseo, and Champlain Park on January 12 and 13, and beginning preparation for our HSR Festival Day on February 27!
National Outreach
None until January. Update in January board report
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.
Cantus Activities Week by Week
• 11/23 Fish Creek WI; Common Bond Access event
• 11/30 Common Bond Access events; regular meetings (AC, Company, Programming)
• 12/7 Flex time, rehearsal, open rehearsal (host – Jim Dorsey); programming and company meetings; Christmas With Cantus (CWC) MPR broadcast with host Brian Newhouse; first weekend CWC home concert run
• 12/14 Second weekend CWC home concert run; St. Cloud MN
• 12/21 BREAK
Communication Highlights
• Communication with MPR/APM producer, host, and engineer regarding CWC broadcast
• Communication with MPR/APM producer Brad Althoff confirming APM/Cantus Valentine’s Day recording session and broadcast
• Communication with RDPR about upcoming media opportunities during out next stretch of tour
Press, Media, and other Comments
Brian Newhouse
Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media
What a joy to share that stage again with your guys. A few times I just leaned my head back in the chair, closed my eyes, and breathed it in – struck again by my good fortune to be in that place at that time with that sound. I really am humbled at what your organization does to make beauty and to make a difference. Thank you for the opportunity yet again.
==========
Dale Warland
Thanks Mary, for again making Ruth and me feel so welcome whenever we are able to attend a Cantus performance. Today was another example of one of those uplifting, welcoming moments.
We thoroughly enjoyed today’s concert and were especially inspired by the warm, caring spirit, all generated by the singers, that filled the room.
Thanks, so much, for the tickets. We had a perfect spot……
Hugs too……
…… dale
==========
Paul Wilson
Former member of Cantus
Gentlemen: I thoroughly enjoyed your concert yesterday. Not solely due to a well-crafted and well-executed program, but also because the "Cantus Sound" has changed yet again, and that's a good thing. Don't get me wrong, the Cantus of last year, the year before, and a decade before that were all exceptional, but they have all been different - in a good way.
Each year, the 9 men of Cantus (or 13 as it was one year...sheesh) come together to figure out how the hell to sing together in an honest and authentic way that serves the music. The grand experiment that we started in the 90s continues to work despite the turnover and despite the many people who through the years told us it wouldn't - or couldn't - work for the long-term. You are proof-of-concept in a most profound way.
Thank you for carrying on the legacy and for making Cantus your own.
Kindest regards from a fellow Cantusian,
Paul
==========
Rob Hubbard
Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/entertainment/music/ci_29232413/cantus-mixes-up-a-fine-choral-cocktail
Production – Matthew Tintes
As I write this report, we have completed half of our “Christmas with Cantus” concerts. I believe that we have been performing the shows very well. However, the consensus remains amongst the singers that we did not budget enough rehearsal time to properly prepare the show, or at least not to our usual standards (i.e. well rehearsed and memorized). The Artistic Council is currently considering how much time we actually need, and we will implement that for next year's concert preparation. That said, all the singers put in extra time to make sure that the music was well prepared, and our concerts have been going very well.
We decided not to hire a Stage Manager for the run of Christmas concerts. Jeff Bina has been filling in where needed, and has been a great help to us! While we’ve been able to make this run of shows work without a stage manager, I really do believe that going forward (especially with a more audio/video intensive show like we are going to have in the Spring) having a stage manager really is a necessity of modern-day Cantus.
So far, all of the venues for Christmas concerts have been prepared and ready to go when we arrive. The second weekend of Christmas concerts, we will be performing at two new venues (one self-booked in Apple valley, and one where we are presented in St. Cloud), so hopefully they go off without a hitch.
Programming – Chris Foss
After some great committee work, the ensemble officially approved the final program for Would You Harbor Me. As it turns out, our call for scores was very successful, with lots of great submissions (and not-so-great ones as well). We actually were able to include four pieces from the call, with two of the composers agreeing to re-arrange their submissions for a cappella TTBB. We’re all looking forward to actually putting our voices on these great pieces!
In regards to WHYM (and possibly the upcoming recording project), I’ve also written Sarah Kirkland Snider to let her know we’ll be singing her piece again. Last we spoke, she was interested in making a few changes to the piece, to make it more singable and come across more to the audience.
We collected submissions for our covers concerts this summer (including possible albums!), and we will begin the voting/selection process Dec. 19, to be completed in January.
Updates of visions and sample pieces for two upcoming programs have been completed and will be delivered to AAM. Those are: The Discovery of Sight (Touring 17-18) and Three Tales of Christmas (Xmas 2017).
I’ve communicated to both Jeff Beal and Libby Larsen about (possibly) including their upcoming pieces on the recording project this summer, so schedules have been adjusted to have pieces finished hopefully in time to make those calls for recording purposes.
We also approved the final programs for both our special collaboration in Tucson with True Concord, and at the Greene Space in NYC (mostly material from The Four Loves).
Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
We received 7 applications for HSR candidates for 16-17. Chris Foss and I evaluated the applications, and presented the following recommendations to the rest of the company:
Johnson Senior High, St. Paul - Theresa J. Westcott, director
Washburn High School, Minneapolis - Nancy Lee, director
St. Michael-Albertville High School, St. Michael - Joseph Osowski, director
We are extremely excited about these schools! In addition to strong application materials including letters of support from administration, community, and students, and recordings of their choirs, Johnson Senior High and Washburn have distinctly diverse student bodies (72% Asian JSH, 40% African-American WHS), and St. Michael-Albertville has an amazing number of students involved, and a pristine sounding ensemble! We will meet with the directors in January to begin scheduling our school year together.
Meanwhile, we are looking forward to our next visits to Robbinsdale-Cooper, Osseo, and Champlain Park on January 12 and 13, and beginning preparation for our HSR Festival Day on February 27!
National Outreach
None until January. Update in January board report
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.