This was the first year when Spring Break not only crept up on me, but also went by far too quickly. I am pretty sure that I did not even know we had Spring Break until a few days before it started. There are pros and cons to having the break so early in the semester…I got in some necessary dentist appointments, and worked with a couple choirs from my home town, but overall my break was quite relaxing.

I was in Cincinnati the weekend before the break for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Central Division Conference. Six of us students were selected to sing with the Repertoire Choir, and then we also were able to attend some great presentations and lectures from high school and college directors around our division.

So now on the agenda is my Senior Recital. I have less than a month to prepare A LOT of music. My friend, Sean, and I are doing this as a combined recital. We are attempting to cover every era of music from Baroque to modern. Our slogan is, “Because one genre is never enough!” We had a fun photo shoot where we dressed in all “punk” clothing and took the photos in an alley in downtown Kalamazoo. The other part of the shoot was us in tuxedos, being formal. I think it captured the duality of the lives we lived as classical musicians who also love a good rock concert (on stage or in the audience).

We are also preparing some more music in Chorale. Eventually we will be getting to the Monteverdi Vespers, and I CAN NOT wait to start singing that music again. I actually still have my score from last year sitting in my filing cabinet. It will be amazing to sing that music again, especially in Florida and Mexico when we go on tour in May with the professional Miami-based chamber choir, Seraphic Fire

Hey Everyone,

It has been FAR too long since I updated. There is a valid excuse for this, I promise!

Currently I am editing a video that I am going to post on here. The video is of one of WMU Chorale’s rehearsals last week as we prepare for our performance of Purcell’s opera, “Dido and Aeneas”. There is some really good stuff in the video and I want to make sure that it is worthy of posting on this blog in terms of my editing! So you can all look forward to that either this week or next.

As far as the title of this blog goes, this week is very busy. Tonight I am conducting and singing at a recital on campus. It is called “American Musicale” and my fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, puts it on every year in honor of President’s Day. There is some really cool music on the program, all composed by American musicians. I even brought in the Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus being that Barbershop is a uniquely American musical style.

Also this week is WMU’s production of “Dido and Aeneas”. Performances will be this weekend in the Dalton Recital Hall. You can visit www.wmich.edu/music for specific information on tickets. The WMU Chorale is singing all of the chorus parts of the opera so I have a lot of rehearsals this week before we open on Saturday.

That is it for now. Hopefully you can swing by one of the three performances I am participating in this week! Have a good one.

Zechariah

Hello and welcome to 2010, everyone. This semester looks like it is going to be a good one. I am busy with everything from Claudio Monteverdi to Jason Robert Brown this semester. And not to mention a busy academic semester…

I am in the second out of three Music Education Methods courses here at WMU. The second one is all about General Music, so grades Kindergarten through sixth. I am really enjoying this class because we get to sit in a group and just talk about teaching and music, and how to interpret the combination of them. It creates a lot of meaningful dialogue.

I am trying to put together a senior recital. It is quite difficult reserving spaces, getting music together, hiring instrumentalists, and making sure you don’t schedule it during an important event. I am doing this recital in conjunction with a singer in WMU’s elite vocal jazz ensemble, Sean Carney. This recital promises to be something different being that we will be performing everything from J.S. Bach arias to modern vocal jazz quintets. There really be something for everyone.

Overall I am excited to get this semester really rolling. Getting done with this semester puts me closer to a tour through southern Florida and Mexico in May with Chorale, performing Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers with the professional chamber choir from Miami, Seraphic Fire (www.seraphicfire.org). That will be a life-changing experience!

Alright, that is it for now. I will from now on keep updating this weekly so be sure to check back!

This seems to be a shared sentiment around campus: No one can believe that next week is the last week of classes. It is funny to hear students asking people sitting next to them the date and seeing the inquisitive/confused expressions on their faces. It really does feel like the semester just started, though. I finally feel comfortable in my Fall 2009 routine and it is basically done already. Just like in high school, things drag along during your first years, but then once you become an “Upperclassmen” everything flies by.

I can hardly believe all the things I have done in the last few years; sang in A LOT of concerts, put on solo recitals, been in recording sessions with a professional chamber choir from Miami, worked with a Grammy Award winning record producer and engineer, and made a debut in Europe. I owe a lot of these experiences to WMU and the School of Music. Were I not at Western I would not have not been lead down this incredible path.

Speaking of paths, the walkways around WMU’s campus are covered in snow as of this evening. We started getting our first real snow today around 4:30PM. We had some flurries earlier in the week but I think some of this snow will actually stick. Some people around here hate snow but I love it. I love the quiet atmosphere of campus, and of Michigan in general, during the winter. It brings a welcomed calm after a busy fall semester.

Overall the outlook is good for the rest of the semester. I am finished with my Pracitcum at a local Middle School, and things in the rest of my classes are winding down. I still have to do a jury for my voice lessons. If you did not know, a jury is when you perform in front of faculty members and they rate you on your progress over the semester. I am a senior and this is my last jury for my undergraduate degree so I am more excited than nervous about it. I still have a few more performances before the semester is over as well…

Sunday 6.December at Miller Auditorium, 3:00PM: Messiah and More! The annual WMU Holiday concert featuring the WMU Grand Chorus, Cantus Femina, Collegiate Singers, University Chorale, and the University Symphony Orchestra. We will be performing famous holiday works, including select choruses from Handel’s “Messiah”. The Messiah choruses will be performed with the original Baroque stylings and techniques. If you think you have heard the “Hallejuah Chorus” then you are in for a different experience.

Thursday 10.December at Dalton Recital Hall, 7:30PM: A Holiday Concert presented by Sigma Alpha Iota, featuring Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. This Tri-Greek Holiday concert will feature student groups and soloists, including performances of original WMU student works and arrangements.

That is it for now, everyone. Take it easy.

Zechariah

I titled this entry with a quote from Confucius for two reasons…

-The first is that I live strongly by this idea of doing what you love. I honestly could not see myself doing anything else in the world other than music. I have never been without music, nor do I think at this point could I be outside of a musical field. A fraternity brother and myself did an experiment one afternoon while out to lunch: We attempted to not sing any melodies, tap any rhythms, or discuss music in a more advanced manner than the average person would have knowledge of. We found that it is incredibly hard for us to discuss things, especially with one another, that are not in the world of music. Even as I was walking up to get more falafel and hummus (we were at an all-you-can-eat Middle Eastern “Schwarma King”, one of my personal favorites), I started quietly singing away. It wasn’t until I was almost back to the table that I realized I was even singing.

-The second reason is because Confucius has been on my mind a lot in the past week or so. This year WMU is being awarded Confucius Institute Accreditation. This is an amazing opportunity for the university on so many levels. It puts WMU in a category that only includes about 3% of all colleges and universities in the United States. It also furthers education and development of international relations with China. The ceremony will be on Monday, 23.November, and I have been asked to run the music for the ceremony! I am currently the Fraternal Choral Director for WMU’s chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (a men’s music fraternity), and we have been asked to perform the U.S. National Anthem, the WMU Alma Mater, and the Chinese National Anthem. This is an amazing opportunity and I am so glad that we were asked to sing for such an occasion. Plus I get to learn how to sing the Chinese National Anthem, “March of the Volunteers”, in Chinese and then teach it to 30+ other people. This will be a musically educational experience.

Other than that I am looking forward to Thanksgiving break. If I had not mentioned it before, my sister and I are both vegans. We hang out every year the night before Thanksgiving and cook up vegan-friendly food for the holiday. It is always a fun occasion making a Tofu Loaf, a non-dairy green bean casserole, and whatever other recipes we found during the year.

Have a great rest of the week!

Zechariah

A very busy lifestyle is not the norm for most people. For us music majors, it is a way of life. I am amazed at how many things we are able to juggle at one time. Myself included. I recently overheard a conversation a percussionist was having with a recent WMU School of Music graduate. He was saying that he is currently performing with five major ensembles. Compared to my two ensembles this percussionist wins that award.

During my second year at Lansing Community College Bill Bastian, the director of the vocal jazz group The Lanswingers that I sang in, said something interesting. He was talking about how different our lives are from when he was in music school. He talked about how he went to school full-time and his only job was playing gigs on the weekends. He commented on how the majority of us were working multiple part-time, even full-time, jobs while being a full-time student.

A funny story…
Last night I was running (literally) into the Dalton Center around 7:00PM carrying my Music Education Methods books, some notebooks, a folder full of music, a Slurpee, a bowl of rice and curried garbanzo beans, and a tie in my teeth. Julie Evans, professor of Music Theory, saw me and laughed, asking me what all I had going on that evening. After I took the tie out of my mouth I told her about the study group, meetings, and rehearsals that I had that evening. The only thing she could reply with was, “The life of a musician…”

I would not be doing this if I did not love it. I think that the majority of upperclassmen music majors will say that. If they were not positive that this is what they want to do for the rest of their lives they would not have gotten this far in this field.

Fun Upcoming Musical Endeavors:
-City of Portage Veteran’s Day Memorial Service: I am singing at the City of Portage’s Veteran’s Day Service tomorrow. So many of my friends and family members are currently serving, or have served, in the military. I look forward to honoring their service.
-WMU’s Department of Theatre and the School of Music are presenting Roger and Hammerstein’s musical “Carousel”. The show opens this weekend and runs through next weekend. I am not in this production but I am really looking forward to seeing it on Friday.
-WMU Annual Christmas Concert: The show is entitled “Messiah and More!” It will feature the WMU Symphony Orchestra, Grand Chorus, as well as faculty and student soloists. The performance is Sunday, 6.December at 3:00PM in Miller Auditorium. It is only every few years that this concert is held in Miller so this is a very special performance. I will most likely talk more about this later because I am so excited to perform pieces from Handel’s “Messiah” with the original Baroque stylings…I’m a nerd.

Zechariah

I have really noticed this year how certain activities that I always affiliate with fall are really such midwestern icons; hay rides, going to cider mills, corn mazes, etc.  In movies you always see people carving pumpkins in their kitchen but you never see the group of students heading out to a cider mill/haunted corn maze.  At least I never have.  And I have seen a lot of movies.

Around here there are a ton of Midwestern Aumtun activities to participate in.  Kalamazoo and Portage were originally farming areas (celery farms, acutally…) so there is a still a good amount of rural space around us if you drive a few miles away from downtown.  These activities seem to be really popular among WMU students this year. Most likely because they are inexpensive, and because most of these places can cater to large groups like Registered Student Organizations, Fraternities, Sororities, etc.  The fraternity that I am a part of, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, go to a corn maze every year and it is always a blast.  We also always sing for the people working at the front desk, attempting to get a reduced admission price.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Aside from those activites everyone is talking about Halloween.  It seems every organization and business is offering something for students to do this weekend.  WMU even puts on it’s own “Haunted Hall” every year.  This year the Haunted Hall is in Eldridge-Fox, and for $5, or two canned goods (going towards the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and Big Brothers Big Sisters), students can go through the Hall.

As for my Halloween activities, I am hanging out with the family.  My family is having a party for my grandpa, who just turned 80. So I decided to go back to Lansing to be with them.  My grandpa is a pretty amazing person.  This week I called him to wish him a happy birthday and he gave me an inspirational speech about how I should never give up in my musical studies.  It is always good to hear that.

Alright, everyone. Have a nice, safe Halloween! By the time I post my next entry it will already be November…I can not believe how quickly this year has gone by!

Zechariah

Homecoming week is always exciting around campus.  There are so many events to attend, speakers to hear, and alumni around campus to chat with.

Starting on Monday we had Qdoba Mexican Grill on campus handing out free food (I love Qdoba, so this was amazing).  Throughout the week we had other events like a special Miller Movie showing of “Ferris Bueler’s Day Off”, a Soapbox Derby, and of course voting for our Homecoming King and Queen.  We actually have two students in the Ambassador Office that are on Homecoming Court:  Amanda and Eric.  If you are a current WMU student who reads this blog, vote for them now!  Voting ends tomorrow at noon!  www.wmich.edu/homecoming

For those of you who are not YET Broncos, you can visit that site and check out what else is going on with Homecoing.  The King and Queen will be announced during halftime this Saturday at our football game verses Buffalo.

To jump subjects a little bit, I learned a really cool Alumni fact about WMU.  The individual who founded The Food Network, Jack Clifford, is a Western alum!  I am a huge Alton Brown fan so that was an amazing fact to me.  People sometimes laugh when I tell them how much I adore the Food Network because I am a vegan…And not too many of the programs feature vegan-friendly recipes, but I still find them entertaining.  Plus I just love cooking.

That is all for now.  I can not wait for the football game on Saturday, and the hopeful crowing of my friends Amanda and Eric for Homecoming King and Queen!

Zechariah

The concert on Sunday went incredibly well.  The combination of the WMU Symphonic Band, Collegiate Singers, and the University Chorale created an amazing musical event.  We were lucky to have a large audience at Miller Auditorium.  The lower main seating level holds about 1,300 people total, and it was close to full.  I personally feel that the a capella (meaning “without accompaniment” or “from the choir”) selections performed by Chorale went incredibly well.  We performed “A Hymn to the Virgin” by Benjamin Britten, and “Hymn to the Mother of God” and “Song for Athene”, both by John Tavener.  The two Tavener pieces were performed without a pause in between, creating a very unique musical experience.

The next big project is the Holiday concert.  WMU Choirs normally do our own holiday performance with a small brass ensemble, but this year is special.  We are joining forces with the University Symphony Orchestra to put on a show called “Messiah and More!”  It will feature the orchestra, a large chorus, student soloists, and faculty artists.  I will post more about this concert when we get closer to the date.  The reason I mention it now is because we in the University Chorale started working on the music for it on Monday.  Our concert was Sunday.  No rest for us!

This shows me that not only are we an amazing School of Music that puts on many performances for the university and community, but also that we as students are dedicated to our artistry.  Most of us will be going off in a few years to work as professional musicians, and this type of atmosphere gets you in the mindset of a professional.  I should mention that we did take about a half hour on Monday to discuss, as a group, our feelings about the concert.  That type of reflection is key to performing.

Other than the musical world of WMU, things are going great here on campus.  I love autumn weather and we are right in the thick of it now.  This weekend is also the big WMU vs. Central Michigan University football game.  This game usually comes close to selling out, and I can not wait to be in the stands.  I love getting together with friends and marching to the stadium with the Bronco Marching Band.  It really unites us all as WMU students in support of our university.

That is all for now.  I hope things are going well for you all!

Go Broncos!
Zechariah

This semester I am beginning my Music Education Methods courses to complete my degree in Vocal Music Education.  I have the opportunity this semester to spend one hour a week with a 7th grade choir from a local middle school.  This week will be my third week working with them and I am really excited because that means I get to start taking on more responsibility inside the classroom.

The first few sessions of Practicum involve getting to know the teacher you are studying under, the students, and the overall schedule of the class that the instructor has created.  Once you become comfortable with those things the teacher begins delegating different tasks in order to get you more acquainted with teaching.  This week for me involves leading vocal warm-ups and running a small portion of the rehearsal time.  I am paired up with another Vocal Music Education student for this so we will be co-leading these rehearsals.

This week is also big in terms of performances.  We are in a concert week so things in the Choral Rehearsal room are getting exciting.  This is a unique concert because the University Chorale and the Collegiate Singers are performing with the University Symphonic Band.  The combined music for this performance is Mack Wilberg’s “Tres Cantus Laudendi” or “Three Songs of Praise”.  The University Chorale will also be performing a few pieces on their own.  The concert is this Sunday, October 11th at 3:00PM in Miller Auditorium.  Another amazing thing about this performance is that admission is FREE!  We have our first combined rehearsal with the Symphonic Band tomorrow evening.  I am very excited to finally work on this music with the instrumentalists!

So the rest of my week is going to consist of getting ready for Practicum and preparing for the concert on Sunday.  If you can make it out, please do.  We are all working very hard on this concert!

Zechariah