Aerial view of the Charles River

I was fortunate to go to Boston for the editing sessions of our upcoming album featuring the Ola Gjeilo‘s choral music. Having raised the most funds during our spring fundraising campaign, this was my reward!

My trip to Boston started July 5 with a stop at the Chorale’s administrative office to pick up my music. Then we hopped on a red-eye flight to Boston and arrived the next morning. We drove straight to the Soundmirror studios and started listening. And by listening, I mean heavy duty listening.

In the studio at Soundmirror.

This is my first recording with the Chorale. We had already spent the better part of three days over Memorial Day Weekend creating this album and going into the editing sessions, I really didn’t know what to expect.

I sat there in awe. It was emotionally overwhelming to listen to such lush, gorgeous sounds. There was a moment during the editing process that will stay with me forever. We were listening to the playback of “Northern Lights” and the music, the artistic interpretation and singing were so subtle and moving it brought tears to my eyes.

Serious listening in the studio...

As I looked around the room, I realized that I was surrounded by the people that made this piece a reality: Joseph Ohrt commissioned this piece (he teaches at Central Bucks High School West in Pennsylvania); Ola Gjeilo, the composer of the piece; Blanton Alspaugh, our producer who was there when we recorded the piece; Joel Rinsema and myself, who actually sang on the piece; and of course, Charles Bruffy – who interpreted and breathed life into the piece with the Chorale.

At a RedSox game with the group.

We were all in the same room listening to this beautiful new creation – a wonderful and significant creation – something so subtly beautiful in this crazy mixed-up world… I can’t wait for everyone to hear “Northern Lights.” I hope you will be moved, like me, to curl up on the floor and weep with beautiful sorrow and hopefulness.

It was such a pleasure to be there and to get to be a part of the editing process. I learned so much just from listening to conversations and comments during the sessions.

Me and Charles (it was his first baseball game ever!)

I love being a part of the Phoenix Chorale family. We’re all just regular everyday folks, getting together for a July 4 barbecue or pedicures… We all have jobs and families and struggles and oh, yeah, we can sing like that! I really think you will feel you’ve died and gone to heaven when you hear these pieces.

- Stephanie Stickford, Phoenix Chorale Alto

The Phoenix Chorale is seeking an Intern for the Fall 2011 Semester.

As Marketing & Communications Intern, you will gain a broad range of experience in a variety of areas including (but not limited to) patron services, concert operations, volunteer coordination, media relations, social media, fundraising, box office, event planning, concert promotion, administrative support, and special projects as assigned. Previous experience in any of these areas is a plus – but not required – as you will receive on-the-job training. More details on the internship here.

Interested? Please submit a cover letter and resume by email to: Jen Rogers at jen@phoenixchorale.org

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Nearly two weeks ago we closed our season and ended our spring fund drive to raise “$6Ok in 3O Days.” We are thrilled to report that and not only did we reach our goal, we surpassed it… raising $69,000!

Thanks goes to our wonderful Phoenix Chorale singers who led the charge, raising xx% of the total!

Through the generous support of our friends like you, we are happy to announce we are officially moving forward with our new recording project featuring the music of composer Ola Gjeilo. The recording sessions are scheduled for this coming Memorial Day weekend – and be sure to keep an eye out for the new album this fall!

Read more about the campaign in the news release here.

See the GRAND TOTAL for yourself here.

And, here’s a fun video of thanks:

Thank you again for your support!

The secret has been out for a few weeks now, and if you haven’t heard about it yet, the Phoenix Chorale will be recording a NEW album this spring featuring music by composer Ola Gjeilo! Pause for applause. Our “$60k in 30 Days” campaign to raise money for the recording kicked off on March 19th and ends this Sunday at MIDNIGHT on April 17th. Our goal is to raise $60,000 in 30 days, which is twice the amount we aimed to earn in last year’s “$30k in 30 Days” campaign. Thanks to the help of our friends, fans and families, we are ¾ of the way there!

One of the fun parts about my job as an intern is being able to help out with all different kinds of projects for the Phoenix Chorale. I especially enjoy helping out with our video shoots. However, on the morning of the video shoot, I was in such a hurry to get to work I had skipped my usual egg sandwich and OJ for breakfast. Word to the wise – always eat breakfast! We were only about fifteen minutes into the interview before I began feeling a bit dizzy. After a quick refuel from the office kitchen, I was up and ready to go.

The video shoot took up most of the morning, which was nice because I had a chance to break away from my computer. KBAQ 89.5 FM’s Katrina Becker was also here to do an interview with Artistic Director, Charles Bruffy and Ola Gjeilo. Talk about a busy day! I am quite excited about this new recording and was lucky to be on the scene of the interview with Ola and Charles. From what I can tell, this is going to be a very special album.

Check out the finished project here:

ALSO – It’s not too late to donate to your favorite Phoenix Chorale singer, staff, or board member, or of course your favorite Intern, Tori B! Click the link below to donate now.

Stay tuned for more updates on our highly anticipated new recording coming this summer!

-Tori Bartolozzi, Marketing & PR Intern

Program notes are now available for THE RHYTHM OF LIFE concerts on April 9-10 & 17, 2011. Read the program notes here.

Here’s the repertoire for these concerts:

Me-Na-Ri - Hyowon Woo

Ye-Jaliya-O - Joan Szymko

Psalm 150 - Jaakko Mäntyjärvi

This Wonderful Feeling – Joan Szymko

Saboo
In My Quite Place
Purple Night

Curse Upon Iron (Raua needmine) - Veljo Tormis

Clapping Music - Steve Reich

French Choruses from “The Lark” - Leonard Bernstein

Spring Song
Court Song
Soldier’s Song

Percussion Selections featuring Dr. Sonja Branch

Cloudburst - Eric Whitacre

Arirang – Hyowon Woo

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Here’s the video preview: