FY16 June Artistic Council & Education Outreach Reports
Communication – Matt Goinz
Cantus Activities Week by Week
Communication Highlights
Press, Media, and other Comments
Production – Matt Tintes
Covers 2016 was a great success, both artistically and financially! From a production standpoint, the staff at The Cowles is always great to work with, and usually the only “fly in the ointment” is our sound engineer. However, this year we were very lucky to work with a wonderful engineer, Maury Jensen. Not only did he create a superior sound design for us, he also kept his end of the production clean and organized, which many of us really appreciated.
The past couple of years, we have had our initial rehearsals with “the band” off-sight, at The Capri Theater, so that we could set up the stage and use amplification. This year due to scheduling issues, we had to do rehearsal at Westminster Presbyterian. Now, while our setup may not have been as ideal as when we got to use The Capri, we were able to set up in one of their large classrooms, and leave all the instruments and sound equipment set up for the three days of rehearsal. In the future, if we aren’t able to rehearse at a true theater location, we were able to make Westminster work out well for us.
We are now transitioning into our Summer schedule, which has a handful of smaller concerts and private events, but will mostly be taken up with learning music for the Entertainment One album project, which will be happening in late July. As of my writing this, we have received a preliminary contract. Now, for my job, we just need to create a schedule for the week of the recording. Chris Foss and/or Jeff Bina as communicated our ideal schedule to E-One, and we’re waiting to hear back.
As I near the end of my time with Cantus, you should be aware that my position on the Artistic Council will be taken over by Zac Colby. Zac will be fantastic at this job! He, and the other new AC member, Paul Scholtz, will begin to start attending AC meetings to facilitate the transition.
Programming – Chris Foss
Our rep list for the upcoming recording sessions for the Eone album have been updated for time. We are still waiting for final approval from Susan of Eone, but most likely the rep won’t change from our current list. We hope to have a finalized schedule for the sessions at the end of July soon.
Jeff Beal has decided on a text and is now seeking permission from the author. Unfortunately, the text doesn’t fit with the theme of our recording project (love and connection), but fits perfectly with our touring show No Greater Love Than This (sacrifices of soldiers). He will hopefully have a draft soon after he receives permission.
The company has been hard at work identifying themes and directions for our 18-19 season, including the fall and Christmas touring shows, and what we hope will be a spring touring show as well. For Fall and Spring, we are currently debating the 3 finalist options: For the Beauty of the Earth (a show about connection to the Earth and environmentalism), Stranger (focusing on connection and communication in the modern era), and Working Title TBD (focusing on the relationship between parents, children, and the connection of family and heritage through generations). For our Christmas show, we have decided to use the concept of Lessons and Carols for Our Time, a show that was very well received a few years ago featuring poetry and prose readings (the new version would feature different music and text than the previous version).
Based on the success of this year’s Covers concerts featuring The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, the company has also made the decision that this coming year we will feature another album on Covers. By overwhelming consensus, the group chose The Beatles album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band. We plan to include this information on our upcoming season brochure in late summer/early fall.
Based on the early sales success of the Chanticleer collaborative concert, we’ve also reached out to the administration of the King’s Singers for the possibility of a similar project. Scheduling with them will prove to be a bit more challenging, but their initial response was quite positive, and the concert could turn out to be another financial landfall for our company. More thoughts have been circulating about other groups that might fit the bill for a home-run collaborative concert, and we are currently brainstorming and researching possibilities.
As stated in the previous board meeting, the company has put forth the replacement for Romeo and Juliet next spring. America Will Be! will focus on defenders of civil rights and liberties here in our own country, including the anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, and gay right’s movements and their heroes.
We recently accepted the award (both trophy and check) for the Dale Warland Commission through Chorus America. The award will fund our commission from Gabriel Kahane on the Discovery of Sight touring program for the 2017-2018 season.
Cantus will also premiere a work commissioned by Normandale Lutheran from composer Cary John Franklin in January 2017. Cantus will present an hour long concert/lecture featuring the work alongside our other repertoire.
The group continues to discuss and plan for the inclusion of chamber music concerts in the summer time. We are still working out the details and answering questions, but we are excited to find more ways to add revenue opportunities to less dense areas of our calendar.
Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
The culminating HSR concert is included as an add-on for our season ticket packages! Thanks so much, Carly, Jeff and Joey for making this inspiring concert a part of our 2016-17 season announcement!
High School Residency Concert
Friday, April 28th, 2017, 7:30pm
Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina
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 for students and professionals 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.
Cantus Activities Week by Week
- 5/23 – Rehearsal; rehearsal w/Covers instrumentalists; programming, AC, and company meetings; Dept of Labor small group meeting
- 5/30 – Rehearsal at Cowles for Covers; Covers performances
- 6/6 – AC, company, DOL meetings; AC and singer board members chosen; Covers performances
- 6/13 – Singer break; special board meeting; Lake Harriet performance
- 6/20 – AC, company, programming meetings; Flex, tutti rehearsal; Ty Estlick & Rachel Jarosch house concerts (Idol auction items); 16/17 photo shoot at Orchestra Hall – 6/27
Communication Highlights
- Confirmed album production this summer through Entertainment One
Press, Media, and other Comments
- WCCO Radio Covers Interview – MAG with Jearlyn Steele
- MPR Covers Interview – CF with Steve Staruch
- Rift Covers Review – Online Magazine for Local Music and Art - http://riftmagazine.com/2016/06/06/live-review-cantus-2016-covers-a-pop-concert/
- Pioneer Press Covers Review - http://www.twincities.com/2016/06/05/cantus-covers-a-pop-concert-offers-a-twist-on-your-top-40-favs/
- Star Tribune Covers Review - http://www.startribune.com/cantus-performs-famed-beach-boy-s-album-in-its-entirety/381907331/
- MPR Covers Review - http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2016/06/06/cantus-pet-sounds-review
Production – Matt Tintes
Covers 2016 was a great success, both artistically and financially! From a production standpoint, the staff at The Cowles is always great to work with, and usually the only “fly in the ointment” is our sound engineer. However, this year we were very lucky to work with a wonderful engineer, Maury Jensen. Not only did he create a superior sound design for us, he also kept his end of the production clean and organized, which many of us really appreciated.
The past couple of years, we have had our initial rehearsals with “the band” off-sight, at The Capri Theater, so that we could set up the stage and use amplification. This year due to scheduling issues, we had to do rehearsal at Westminster Presbyterian. Now, while our setup may not have been as ideal as when we got to use The Capri, we were able to set up in one of their large classrooms, and leave all the instruments and sound equipment set up for the three days of rehearsal. In the future, if we aren’t able to rehearse at a true theater location, we were able to make Westminster work out well for us.
We are now transitioning into our Summer schedule, which has a handful of smaller concerts and private events, but will mostly be taken up with learning music for the Entertainment One album project, which will be happening in late July. As of my writing this, we have received a preliminary contract. Now, for my job, we just need to create a schedule for the week of the recording. Chris Foss and/or Jeff Bina as communicated our ideal schedule to E-One, and we’re waiting to hear back.
As I near the end of my time with Cantus, you should be aware that my position on the Artistic Council will be taken over by Zac Colby. Zac will be fantastic at this job! He, and the other new AC member, Paul Scholtz, will begin to start attending AC meetings to facilitate the transition.
Programming – Chris Foss
Our rep list for the upcoming recording sessions for the Eone album have been updated for time. We are still waiting for final approval from Susan of Eone, but most likely the rep won’t change from our current list. We hope to have a finalized schedule for the sessions at the end of July soon.
Jeff Beal has decided on a text and is now seeking permission from the author. Unfortunately, the text doesn’t fit with the theme of our recording project (love and connection), but fits perfectly with our touring show No Greater Love Than This (sacrifices of soldiers). He will hopefully have a draft soon after he receives permission.
The company has been hard at work identifying themes and directions for our 18-19 season, including the fall and Christmas touring shows, and what we hope will be a spring touring show as well. For Fall and Spring, we are currently debating the 3 finalist options: For the Beauty of the Earth (a show about connection to the Earth and environmentalism), Stranger (focusing on connection and communication in the modern era), and Working Title TBD (focusing on the relationship between parents, children, and the connection of family and heritage through generations). For our Christmas show, we have decided to use the concept of Lessons and Carols for Our Time, a show that was very well received a few years ago featuring poetry and prose readings (the new version would feature different music and text than the previous version).
Based on the success of this year’s Covers concerts featuring The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds, the company has also made the decision that this coming year we will feature another album on Covers. By overwhelming consensus, the group chose The Beatles album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band. We plan to include this information on our upcoming season brochure in late summer/early fall.
Based on the early sales success of the Chanticleer collaborative concert, we’ve also reached out to the administration of the King’s Singers for the possibility of a similar project. Scheduling with them will prove to be a bit more challenging, but their initial response was quite positive, and the concert could turn out to be another financial landfall for our company. More thoughts have been circulating about other groups that might fit the bill for a home-run collaborative concert, and we are currently brainstorming and researching possibilities.
As stated in the previous board meeting, the company has put forth the replacement for Romeo and Juliet next spring. America Will Be! will focus on defenders of civil rights and liberties here in our own country, including the anti-slavery, women’s suffrage, and gay right’s movements and their heroes.
We recently accepted the award (both trophy and check) for the Dale Warland Commission through Chorus America. The award will fund our commission from Gabriel Kahane on the Discovery of Sight touring program for the 2017-2018 season.
Cantus will also premiere a work commissioned by Normandale Lutheran from composer Cary John Franklin in January 2017. Cantus will present an hour long concert/lecture featuring the work alongside our other repertoire.
The group continues to discuss and plan for the inclusion of chamber music concerts in the summer time. We are still working out the details and answering questions, but we are excited to find more ways to add revenue opportunities to less dense areas of our calendar.
Education Outreach – Sam Green
High School Residency
The culminating HSR concert is included as an add-on for our season ticket packages! Thanks so much, Carly, Jeff and Joey for making this inspiring concert a part of our 2016-17 season announcement!
High School Residency Concert
Friday, April 28th, 2017, 7:30pm
Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina
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 for students and professionals 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.