Last week, Kevin Kriegel headed to New York to attend the Tonys. He saw seven shows in just five days including: The Addams Family (Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane), A Little Night Music (Angela Lansbury, Catherine Zeta-Jones), American Idiot, Promises, Promises (Sean Hayes, Kristen Chenoweth), Everyday Rapture, Next Fall, and La Cage (Kelsey Grammer). Kevin’s favorite shows were GreenDay’s American Idiot and La Cage. He got to go backstage after A Little Night Music because his friend and former Kansas City Chorale singer Tony Bernall used to give voice lessons to Katherine McNamara (Fredrica in the musical).

To cap off the trip, he attended the Tony Awards and Gala (which he says was amazing – no kidding?!) and met Paula Abdul from American Idol, Catherine Zuber (won a Tony for Best Costumes) and Matthew Morrison from Glee.

Check out more photos here.

Soprano Alison Chaney named “Teacher of the Year”

In May, Alison Chaney was named “Teacher of the Year” at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy. Alison was selected through a nomination process involving parents and students and the final selection was made by the school’s administration. She has been teaching at Scottsdale Prep for two years and currently teaches music to all of the 8th, 9th and 10th grade students. Music is a mandatory part of the curriculum at Scottsdale Prep for all 7th – 10th grade students. Each students learns very advanced concepts in music theory, history, analysis, and are also required to fulfill a performance element on recorder or in choir. Congratulations Alison!

Tenor Andrew DeValk welcomes a new member to his
- and the Phoenix Chorale’s – family

On Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010, Phoenix Chorale tenor Andrew DeValk welcomed a new member to the family, Ryne Andrew DeValk. Andrew actually had to miss the last concert of the season as his wife, Jenna DeValk – aka our Box Office Manager – was in labor! Welcome baby DeValk.

First Gallery Show
for Alto Holly Meyer Sheppard

Holly Sheppard had her first gallery showing and opening last Friday night, June 18. The show is a fairly experimental set of images, using a technique Holly has coined as ‘light painting’ which involves using a tripod and a long exposure (about 20-30 seconds) and then ‘painting’ the subject(s) with a flashlight. This ‘painting’ creates a soft, painted look to each image. Some post-editing adjustments to color and exposure and cropping finishes each piece.

In her words: “These images started with the intent to capture shape and form – figure studies through a camera rather than a pencil.  I have done a fair amount of figure drawing, love working with the human form, and thought my past experiences would translate well into this project.  These images went beyond simply capturing form to something more personal and almost candid, despite each pose being chosen and then held through the lengthy exposure.”

Check out more photos here.

Check out Holly’s show:
Trunk Space (1506 Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ) map
July 2 - First Friday Reception from 6pm-10pm

More details on the internship here.

Interested persons should send a cover letter and resume by email to:

Jen Rogers
Director of Marketing & Communications
jen@phoenixchorale.org

I’m happy to report that not only did we meet our goal of “$3Ok in 3ODays” but we surpassed it, raising $42,000!

On top of this, earlier this week, I had the privilege of accompanying our Executive Director Joel Rinsema and Board President Loral Deatherage in accepting a sizeable grant from the Sundome Performing Arts Association (SPAA) in the amount of $100,000!

This SPAA grant is one of 25 awards totaling $2 million presented to arts organizations primarily located in the northwest valley as part of SPAA’s “Grants for the Arts” program.

“Grants for the Arts” was purposed with building a lasting legacy for the northwest valley’s fine arts community and to fill the void left by the closing of the Sundome Center for the Performing Arts.

This is the largest grant we’ve ever received (I hope this becomes a trend!).

Only a few organizations outside of the northwest valley received grants including the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix, Phoenix Opera, The Phoenix Symphony, Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Chorale.

Read the article in the Arizona Republic here.

Makeup Artist Touching-Up Chorale Soprano Carol Proudfoot

Danielle Chavez, the Chorale’s public relations and marketing intern, said the shoot would make the classical singing group become more accessible. The new photos would appear in the upcoming programs and on the chorale’s website.

“It’s more urban and kind of hip, so people won’t be afraid of classical music,” she added jokingly.

The photo shoot was quite a production with various rooms set up for hair and makeup artists, wardrobe styling, food and more. The clothes were donated from Buffalo Exchange, a vintage thrift store based in Tucson, Arizona.

Head shots of the singers were taken by Arizona State University students Lanly Le, Evie Carpenter and Andie Flores. The girls arrived hours early to set up equipment and prepare for snapping the pictures in an organized fashion. It was a little tricky keeping the various lights from affecting the shadow and color on the other cameras, but after some clever experimentation, everything turned out fine. The mood was light and relaxed as Madonna tunes accompanied the picture taking.

“This is the most gorgeous looking group of singers, so it makes my job easier,” Le said, during the session.

Carpenter seconded that.

“It only took about two shots of each of them. I felt bad because I think they thought we weren’t doing a good job but I got perfect shots in about two takes. It was tons of fun and way easier than I thought it was going to be.”

Flores enjoyed the practice she got, as the photo shoot was a different setting from the work she has done as a journalism student.

ASU Student Lanly Le Photographing Chorale Singers

“It was also a chance to get in touch with what’s going on in the Phoenix community. I never knew about this hotel and the story behind it,” she said.

Next on the tight schedule, professional photographer Derek Welte of HalfManHalfMachine took section shots of the sopranos, altos, tenors and basses in one of the hotel suites. The photos were close group shots, showing the warmth and genuine bond between the fellow singers.

After a couple breaks and all the sections had been photographed, the entire chorale gathered around 5:30 pm to the rooftop bar for an elegant sunset shot. To celebrate, the crew and singers-turned-brief-models shared some drinks in a informal wrap party.

The Phoenix Chorale now has creative, beautiful new pictures to show off along with their talented and equally beautiful voices.

-Nesima Aberra, Guest Writer

This photo shoot was made possible with help and contributions from several local Valley businesses including the Clarendon Hotel, Atmosphere Salon, Buffalo Exchange, Stinkweeds, Tempe Camera, and HalfManHalfMachine.

I think before we answer that, we should stop to reflect on what the word ‘tap’ means in everyday 21st century vernacular. I’ll leave the word choir to those more musically educated then myself. As such, I’ll concentrate on tap.

For me, the word tap is polarized in a major way by its use in the movie Happy Gilmore when Happy was being schooled on how to putt. “Just tap it in. Tap it in. Tap tap tappy….tapperooo.” I am trying to remember if that scene was before or after Happy received a golden hockey stick to use as a putter. Also, later in the film, Happy and Bob Barker tap each other with great affection.

TAP is also the ticker symbol on the NYSE for the brewing conglomerate Molson-Coors, which is applicable to the drinking fraternity I was a member of in college called TKP—Tappa Kegga Pilsner. Of course, it was easy to do in Cincinnati since it had a huge German population.  Hence, there were many keg bars throughout the metropolitan area, and many brain cells were sacrificed.

Along the same thread, a tap is what is inserted into the bunghole of a wooden barrel holding beer, wine, or other distilled spirit (insert Beavis and Butthead laugh track here).

T.A.P. is “Threat Assessment Process,” which is taught to military strategists and leaders.

When wanting to get someone’s attention, we sometimes tap him or her on the shoulder.

Tap can also refer to a percussive sound, which may be represented from time to time in some of the more modernistic music performed by the Phoenix Chorale.

On a personal note, my typing skills are limited to two digits and make a very loud tapping or percussive sound when I am working on the computer, which is why I have had a solid core door and soundboard installed in my office at work.

On the other side of the world, TAP is short for an environmental group called “Tasmanians Against the Pulpmill.” I have visions of the cartoon version of the Tasmanian Devil spinning through the mill in defiance of some unknown faceless giant corporate entity.

Tap is the metal piece inserted into a maple tree to produce the liquid used in the process of refining maple syrup. How many of you knew that this was one of the major sources of sugar for many generations in rural America?

Tappy the Turtle

To continue on with the international flavor of the word tap, Tap is also a village in the Goranboy Rayon region of Azerbaijan and the name of a village in Hungary.

Fisher Price makes a toy called Tappy the Turtle that retails for $24.95.

I remember deer hunting (bow and arrow) years ago in northwest Pennsylvania.  I was in a very secluded tree blind when a small herd of does wandered right below me and was close enough that I was able to reach down and ‘tap’ one on the shoulder with my bow.  It leapt up in the air at eye level with me, while doing its best imitation of spinning cartoon legs. Its next stop was Buffalo, NY…or Pittsburgh.

During World War II, T.A.P. stood for “Tajna Armia Polska,” which means “secret polish army”—a resistance movement fighting against the Nazis during their occupation.

On a more musical note, TAP was also short for “The Amazing Pudding,” which was a magazine about Pink Floyd. (Just another brick in the wall…all in all.)

Closer to home, TAP stands for Trans-Alaska Pipeline—also home to the dreaded barracuda ex-governor.

In manufacturing, the tapping process is part of the tool & die process in which screw heads are cut into a solid material. If I had it all to do over again, I’d have learned that trade; a skilled tool & die maker can earn easily in excess of $100K a year in a virtually recession-proof job.

Tap dance. I cannot believe that I am admitting that I took tap lessons as a kid. Tap is also a movie starring Gregory Hines.

Tap is something that is done when someone wants to listen in on a phone conversation. Sometimes you can hear a slight beep, which signals you are being recorded or listened. Other times, tap is a slight crackle of static or short periods when no sound is audible. How Orwellian.

Back to the international instances of tap. TAP stands for Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which I recall was being built when I was sunbathing along the Adriatic in 1972. I was the only American there at the time and was amazed at just how much armpit hair those crazy Yugoslavian women really had.

Tap is also a device that dispenses liquids in a variety of ways from your standard sink to your keg of beer. The Tap is embedded deeply into our lives. Nothing better then heading to a place that has the sign: “Cold draft beer on tap here.”

Then there is the nervous tick sort of tap. You know the ones; they are constantly tapping their writing devices or have a “Nervous Nelly” sort of leg movement like they have to go to the bathroom.

There is the “improved spirit tap” from a priest on Level 11 in the game ‘World of Warcraft‘.

Tap is also used in conjunction with upcoming events (i.e.: What’s on tap?).

In Tempe, there is a bar called Yucca Tap Room.

Phoenix TAP is a local pool & billiards association.

Other words that include tap are tapioca, tapeworm, tapas, tapestry, tape, and tappan—to name a few.

Then there is the more sinister Mafioso execution style called a “double tap to the head,” which more often then not calls for a .22 caliber pistol to complete the unholy deed. The small caliber was used for entry, but it was too small to exit, so it would just bounce around.

On the computer, we can tap into vast networks of information.

We can tap dance around topics we don’t like.

We can have a spinal tap.

We can tap into the genius (AKA: our Composer-In-Residence).

I have yet to have an absolute opinion one way or the other on the name Choirtap. Part of me thinks it sounds like the name of a show choir. Really really really great show choirs are tolerable, however they are the exception—not the rule. But then that same belief is equalized by the thought of another musical tap—AKA: Spinal Tap.

So, there it is. With all sides being weighed, I stand right in the middle.

However, to be fair, we will need to do a feasibility study and an environmental-impact study on the use of the word tap. Will any woodland creatures or barnyard animals be hurt by using the term tap? In addition, we would need to look at many other variables surrounding the word tap. How might other cultures be impacted by our use of the word? Will any sub-cultures within the United States be upset or feel violated by the use of the word? How will we be judged by future generations if we do not adequately prepare for all possible scenarios in the use of the word tap? What sort of reparations should we plan for when the inevitable lawsuit or counter-suit is levied against the use of the word?

Then of course, we need to think about the carbon footprint that will be the legacy of the word tap. It might be prudent to begin stockpiling both capital and carbon credits for the inevitable legal fight that will happen.

While on this topic, can any of you tell me who invented liquid soap and why? This is a conundrum I have contemplated at length, especially when pressing down on the tap on the top of a liquid soap dispenser. How frustrating it can be at times…

So without further adieu, I welcome you, one and all, to Choirtap.

-Phil Yutzy, Singer in the Phoenix Chorale

But there I sat in my pew at Brophy Chapel on Sunday, totally unprepared.   You cannot be prepared for the experience of “Darkness and Light.”  One compelling piece of music after another reaches somewhere deep inside you and both pokes and caresses your soul with the amazing artistry that is the hallmark of the Phoenix Chorale, with an OMG! gorgeous new composition as the highlight of this stunning program of choral music.

“Darkness and Light” was a fitting title for a program full of juxtapositions  that stretched you in every emotional and spiritual direction.  It was fire and water.  Love and heartache.  Joy and sorrow.  Tenderness and brutality.  Conflict and peace.  Fear and comfort.  Death and survival.  East and West.  Tradition and mysticism.  Sensuality and solitude.  Dissonance and harmony.  Huge swells of luscious chords and haunting bass drone or repetitive chant.  Sound that filled every inch of the room and notes rendered with an almost imperceptible whisper.  Tears running down my face and an almost irrepressible urge to jump up from my seat and burst into joyful applause.   Exhaustion and exhilaration.  It was an experience best summed up by a phrase  my significant other used years ago to describe a Chorale concert:  ”I am as a jellied mass…”

There are no words to convey this experience, but those found in the program notes and text offer a glimpse that might allow you to imagine the beauty of the music they inspired.  There is music set to poetry of Rumi in honor of a wedding anniversary:  “May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.”  There is music set to poetry based on the Orthodox wedding service:  “Let her now tenderly spread her bridal veil…And he listens.”  There is music honoring MLK:  “Sleep, sleep tonight, and may your dreams be realized.”  A child’s prayer honoring schoolchildren slain by a gunman:  ”Welcome, Jesu — Deep in my soul forever stay.”  A song for a young woman killed in an accident:  “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”  A lullaby in which a father comforts his child frightened by the sounds of gunfire: ”It’s just the drums of a new music.”

And then there was new music — literally.  Sunday’s concert featured the world premiere of  “Dark Night of the Soul,”  the Chorale’s composer-in-residence Ola Gjeilo‘s new piece for choir, piano and strings.  The text of St. John of the Cross is powerful juxtaposition itself — of  his experience of heavenly visions while enduring barbaric conditions in prison, and his poetry of the spiritual journey from earthly constraints to communion with God — “Ah, the sheer grace!”   The music compounds the power of his words by contrasting percussive piano accompaniment with melodic strings and a broad band of choral sound, all surging and retreating with cinematic drama.  It was music that had my friends and I sharing glances and muttering “Oh my God…”  I have a feeling this piece will gain familiarity way beyond the world of choral music;  I look forward to seeing the cinematography that can do it justice.

Fortunately, this weekend offers second and third chances for this once-in-a-lifetime experience:  Trinity Cathedral on Saturday night, American Lutheran Church in Sun City on Sunday afternoon.  Don’t miss it.  You know it will be good.   Be prepared.  Read the program notes and texts.   Bring a hankie.

by Loral Deatherage, Phoenix Chorale Board Chair

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DARKNESS & LIGHT

February 27, 2010 – Saturday evening at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix – map
*KBAQ 89.5 FM Pre-Concert Talk starts at 6:30 pm

February 28, 2010 – Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm
American Lutheran Church
17200 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City – map

Here’s the repertoire for these concerts:

With A Lily in Your Hand - Eric Whitacre

This Marriage – Eric Whitacre

Village Wedding – Sir John Tavener

Lullaby from “The Garden of Paradise” - Shawn Crouch

A Child’s Prayer – James MacMillan (Cassandra Ewer, soprano / Danya Tiller, soprano)

MLK – words and music by U2, arr. Bob Chilcott (Andrew De Valk, tenor)

Song for Athene – Sir John Tavener

Dark Night of the Soul - Ola Gjeilo (World premiere; Ola Gjeilo, piano / Alison Chaney, soprano / Michelle Mitchell, violin / Laura Speck, violin / Allyson Wuenschel, viola / Clara Lee, cello)

Noche oscura del alma – Carlos Surinach

Nocturnes – Morten Lauridsen (Joshua Hillmann, piano)

And don’t forget!  Check out the KBAQ 89.5 FM Pre-Concert Talk — only at Trinity Cathedral on February 27 — which starts at 6:30 p.m. and takes place in Atwood Hall.

Buy tickets here.

• 2 volunteers needed for Sunday, February 21, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm
  at Brophy Chapel (4701 N. Central Ave., Phoenix) more concert info here

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• 4 volunteers needed for Friday, February 26, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
  at Trinity Cathedral (100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix) more concert info here

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• 3 volunteers needed for Saturday, February 27, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
  at Trinity Cathedral (100 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix) more concert info here

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• 2 volunteers needed for Sunday, February 28, from 1:30 pm to 3 pm
  at American Lutheran Church (17200 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City) more concert info here

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