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Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra and Artist-In-Residence at the USF School of Music
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From the Risers: A Tale of Three Friends

9/28/2016

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by Brian Hathaway
​This is a tale of three friends named Mike, Brian and Ludwig.  It is a tale that transcends time and space, a tale of mortality and immortality.  It is a tale of things that last and things that don’t, of joy and sorrow, but mostly it is about friendship through music.  Let me start at the beginning.
 
I had just graduated from high school and as a boy from upstate New York was faced with changes my life.  For the first time in my life, I was going to be away from home for an extended period of time as I began my freshman year at the SUNY at Buffalo.  At the same time, my friend, Mike Debatt was facing a similar situation.  The boy from Brooklyn was away from home too as a part of that same freshman class.  We met each other when we joined the AFROTC Program.  As classmates, we got to know each other well and discovered that our interests intersected in many ways.  We both ended up as Political Science majors, and we both loved classical music.  Within two years we were roommates in an apartment near school.
 
As we shared that apartment, we also shared our interest in music.  Even with our meager resources as college students, we grew our collection of classical albums.  The real cherished albums were produced by either Angel Records or Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, or DGG.  They usually had the finest orchestras and the greatest selection of repertoire.  Among the many composers we listened to, one of our favorites was Ludwig van Beethoven.  There were times when the three of us would gather in that apartment, Ludwig, Mike and me, sharing in some of the greatest music of the last two centuries.
 
In 1970, the focus on Ludwig van Beethoven became quite intense, as Beethoven’s 200th birthday would fall on December 16th, 1970.  I was always able to remember Ludwig’s birthday, as mine was one day earlier on December 15th.  On that day, we all gathered in the apartment and I was given several gifts to open.  I will never forget Mike’s gift.  It was a DGG boxed set of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic.  I was ecstatic! Beethoven’s birthday was going to be very special that year.
 
We spent many hours listening to that wonderful set.  Beethoven’s famous symphonies like the “Eroica”, the “Pastoral” and his monumental 5th were a joy to hear, articulated by one of the great Beethoven interpreters of that age, Herbert von Karajan.  Of all these symphonies, one stood out above all others, Beethoven’s 9th.  In a stroke of genius, Beethoven included a choral finale in the fourth movement based upon Schiller’s poem “An die Freude” or “Ode to Joy”.  The joining of orchestral and choral voices during the finale was a revolutionary step, but the product is simply amazing and unforgettable.  Ludwig, Mike and I became fast friends, cemented in a common love of Ludwig’s amazing 9th.
 
In less than two years, our friendship entered a new phase.  We graduated from college, accepted our USAF commissions and went to different parts of the country.  Mike went to Navigator Training in California.  I went off to Illinois to Aircraft Maintenance Officer Training.  In a way our lives intersected again, as we both ended up in the Strategic Air Command, Mike as a B-52 crew member in Georgia, and I as a Maintenance Officer in New Hampshire.  We still got together on a few occasions.  He was in my wedding party and I was in his.  We maintained contact with letters and phone calls as time went on.  We both ended up separating from the USAF and moved into civilian jobs.  Mike moved to Rhode Island and went into the investment community.  I moved to Saratoga Springs, New York and went into manufacturing.
 
Living in Saratoga had a neat benefit.  The Saratoga Performing Arts Center was only four miles from my home and was the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra.  While there I had the chance to visit our friend Ludwig.  The Philadelphia Orchestra was performing Beethoven’s 9th!  I had never seen Beethoven’s 9th performed live and couldn’t wait to go to the concert.  What an experience!  As I sat on the lawn on a gorgeous summer night, I looked at the heavens above me while I was transcended by Schiller’s words and Beethoven’s music; “Ahnest du den Schopfer, Welt?  Such ihn uber’m Sternenzelt.  Uber Sternen muss ehr wohnen.”  Yes, I felt the creator, knowing that He dwelt beyond the stars.  O Freude, what joy!
 
As the years went by, our respective lives changed yet again.  I moved to Florida many years ago and began feeding my love of music by joining our church choir and singing.  Mike moved into management with his company and accepted a position as Branch Manager in Albany, New York, my hometown.  We had an opportunity to visit while we were on vacation in New York about fifteen years ago and had a chance to reminisce and share our friendship.
 
In 2005, I had yet another opportunity to visit with Ludwig.  The Florida Orchestra and The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay were performing Beethoven’s 9th.  Lynn and I went to the concert and savored that wonderful music yet again, but with a slightly different feeling as we knew several of the orchestra members and had friends who sang in the Master Chorale.  During that concert, I told myself that, should my schedule permit, I would love to be a part of the Chorale.
 
In late 2005, the lives of Mike and I intersected again.  Mike had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  As he and his wife Jan sought treatment from doctors throughout the northeast, they were given the news that the tumor was inoperable.  They came to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, where surgeons felt that they may be able to excise the tumor and offer Mike a chance to recover.  The surgery was scheduled for November.  Mike and I made tentative plans to meet for dinner once the surgery was complete.  Unfortunately, the surgery did not go as planned and complications set in.  The next time I saw Mike at Moffitt, he was in a coma from which he would not recover.  I did my best to support Jan and her family as she faced difficult decisions.  Mike was placed in a hospice facility in Dade City.  I made several trips to the Hospice to see Mike.  My last trip was the night before he passed away in January, 2006.
 
A year later in April, 2007, we all returned to the Dade City Hospice for a reunion.  Mike’s family had made a donation to the facility and was awarded a plaque to honor their contribution.  Lynn and I went to the reunion, where we met Mike’s former B-52 crew.  I decided to honor Mike by singing a song called “Eternal Father Strong to Save”, which asks help from God in caring for those in the military.  We all shared our memories of Mike, and I recounted the story of the Beethoven boxed set he gave to me which I still own and treasure.
 
In August of 2007, I learned that The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay was holding auditions for new singers.  Since my work schedule had changed and would permit me to attend rehearsals, I signed up to audition.  We were told to bring a favorite song to sing as part of the audition.  I selected “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear from the Master Chorale that I passed the audition and was now a member of the ensemble. 
 
At the end of my third year in the Chorale, I learned that we were scheduled to perform Beethoven’s 9th in 2011.  Once again, I was ecstatic.  I would now have the opportunity to become even more intimate with Ludwig’s beloved 9th.  Since then I have had the honor of performing Beethoven’s 9th two more times, once with The Florida orchestra and once with the Cleveland Orchestra in Miami.
 
Oh, by the way, the last building I see before I turn into the USF School of Music parking lot on the way to Master Chorale rehearsal each week is the Moffitt Cancer Center.  Having spent so many hours there visiting Mike, I think of him every time I see it.
 
This week, we are in final rehearsal for the opening concert of The Florida Orchestra’s 2016-2017 season, featuring Poulenc’s “Gloria” and Beethoven’s beloved 9th Symphony.  150 voices are prepared to join with the Florida Orchestra and soloists as we put life into the notes printed on a page.  Under Maestro Michael Francis’ direction, we will combine our preparation with Dr. James K. Bass and Brett Karlin to create a memorable event for all in attendance to hear. 
 
I know it will be both memorable and emotional for me.  As I stand on the risers, my mind will go back to that apartment in Buffalo, the DGG boxed set, and a pair of friendships going back more than forty years.  Ludwig went on to be with the Creator centuries ago.  Ten years ago, Mike joined him.  I know that they are both watching and will be at that performance with all of us on that stage.
 
As for me, I will sing for Mike:  “Einem Freund gepruft im Tod”
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From the Risers: Friendly, Flexible, Fast (and Fun!): Part Deux (or is it Zwei?)

9/15/2016

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by Brian Hathaway
I wrote in a blog a couple of years ago about our motto, “Friendly, Flexible, Fast, and Fun.”  In my humble opinion, this motto is an excellent characterization of what makes the Master Chorale a unique and valued contributor to the Tampa Bay music scene.  This year we will be challenged to put that motto to work!  Allow me to explain.
At the end of the 2015-2016 season our Music and Artistic Director, Dr. James K. Bass, announced that he accepted a position as Director of Choral Studies at UCLA.  Speaking personally, I had the honor of working with Dr. Bass for his entire tenure with The Master Chorale.  I learned volumes from him, and I will miss his steady hand guiding us as we prepare each concert program.  It has been an enriching experience for all of us in the Chorale.
Our hard working Master Chorale staff and board lined up a series of guest conductors to take us through our preparations at our rehearsal and administrative home at the USF School of Music.  Up first is the opening concert of the Florida Orchestra 2016-2017 season on September 30th, October 1st and 2nd featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Poulenc’s Gloria conducted by Michael Francis.  Here is where the “fast” part of our motto comes in…we have only seven weeks to prepare this program.  Although we have many veteran singers who have performed the Beethoven, there only a few singers who have performed the Poulenc Gloria.
Fortunately, we have two seasoned Directors to lead us in our preparation.  First Dr. Bass returned to us for three rehearsals.  It was like “old home week” having him at the podium.  Brett Karlin, who was our Assistant Conductor for three years is now the Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of South Florida, and he offered to lead us in the other rehearsals.  Brett helped Dr. Bass prepare us for a concert in Miami with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Master Chorale of South Florida featuring Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in March of 2013.  Talk about a slam-dunk.
Now for the “flexible” part.  Getting used to a conductors’ style and teaching methods is something every choir singer is familiar with.  Now try doing that with eight different conductors in one season.
Dr. Joseph Holt will be leading the Chorale in preparation for our three “Making Spirits Bright” holiday concerts on December 2, 3, and 4, 2016. Our performance on December 2 at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Petersburg will be recorded and then broadcast on WSMR later in December, the performance on December 3 will be hosted by the historic Tampa Theatre, and the performance on December 4 will be at a new venue for the Chorale in Clearwater, the Northbay Community Church on McMullin Booth Road. The concert will also feature our Ensemble Singers conducted by Deah McReynolds and the premiere of a new and unpublished Christmas Carol from our National Christmas Carol Composition Contest conducted by our Assistant Conductor, Kevin Trapasso.

​Back in 2010, Dr. Holt was Interim Director of The Master Chorale, preparing us for Mendelssohn’s Elijah with The Florida Orchestra and directing us in a “Salute to Broadway” concert series in 2010.  Both concert series were resounding successes.  Dr. Holt is also Music Director of Gloria Musicae in Sarasota.  Formerly the principal accompanist for the U.S. Army Chorus, he has performed for presidents and dignitaries from all over the world.
While the full Chorale is preparing for Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Poulenc's Gloria, and "Making Spirits Bright," the Master Chorale Ensemble Singers, led by Deah McReynolds (Artistic Director of Lumina Youth Choirs) will also be busy outside of the Chorale's usual schedule rehearsing and planning for the Chorale's new in-school Education/Outreach program in Hillsborough Pinellas Counties set to reach over 1,000 students. The Ensemble Singers will also perform on the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert with The Florida Orchestra on December 16, 2016. 
For Durufle’s Requiem, Dr. Holt will be helping us with early preparation for the concert series scheduled for February 17, 18, and 19, 2017 with The Florida Orchestra conducted by Michael Francis.  He will be joined in this effort by Dr. Timothy Peter.  Dr. Peter is Director of Choral Activities at Stetson University. He is a native of Minnesota, received his undergraduate degree from Luther College and completed his doctorate of musical arts degree at the University of Arizona. Before coming to Stetson University, he was professor of music at Luther College and served as the head of the music department.   He has prepared choirs and orchestras for performances at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Orchestra Hall and Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and many other locations.  He has conducted in Germany, Namibia, Oman, South Africa and South Korea.
Following the Durufle concert series in February, we will move quickly into preparing for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection Symphony" only one month later on March 17, 18, and 19, 2017 (remember “fast”?).  To me the "Resurrection Symphony" is like Beethoven’s 9th on steroids.  The Master Chorale last sang this on the spring of 2009.  The emotional impact of the lyrics coupled with the music is unforgettable and I remember struggling with parts that just brought me to tears as I sang it.
For this concert series, Dr. Doreen Rao will be preparing us.  She brings a wealth of experience preparing symphonic choirs for the Chicago Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Buffalo Philharmonic. She was recently the Music Director of the Chicago Chamber Choir and currently directs the Buffalo Master Chorale. Dr. Rao worked with The Master Chorale during our 2016 Summer Sing.  Recognized as one of the world's leading experts on young choirs, Doreen Rao founded the American Choral Directors Association's National Committee on Children's Choirs and inspired the children's choir movement in America.
On April 23, 2017, we will “take it on the road” for a performance of Verdi’s Requiem with Gloria Musicae and the Sarasota Orchestra in the Sarasota Opera House. Dr. Joseph Holt will lead us through preparation and conduct the performance.  The Verdi Requiem is just a blast to sing!  The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay last performed this work with The Florida Orchestra in the spring of 2009.  There is nothing like a road trip to add a sense of “fun” to our musical offering.
TiCKETS & INFO
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The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay with The Florida Orchestra
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Michael Francis, Music Director of The Florida Orchestra
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Principal Chorus
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Brett Karlin, guest conductor
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James K. Bass, guest conductor
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Joseph Holt, guest conductor
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Tim Peter, guest conductor
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Doreen Rao, guest conductor
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Deah McReynolds, Master Chorale Ensemble Singers conductor
TICKETS & INFO
Yes, our flexibility will be tested as we transition between directors, but the real opportunity is to be prepared by extremely talented and experienced musicians who will maintain the high standards that Dr. Bass led us to achieve.
One of the joys that I have experienced with the Master Chorale is how “friendly” and welcoming we are to all those who come through our doors.  I have heard numerous comments from guest artists, clinicians and directors that we have a warm, welcoming and friendly demeanor that makes the work they need to accomplish with us so much more “fun” to do.
​That is the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay….Friendly, Flexible, Fast and Fun!  We will live our motto to the fullest during the 2016-2017 season.
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Principal Chorus
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Artist-in-Residence at the School of Music
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Light of the Midnight Sun - Top 10 on iTunes!

9/15/2016

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We are delighted to share that our Light of the Midnight Sun CD is a Top 10 selling self-produced classical album on iTunes!  The disc reached #6.

This new recording features music of Kim André Arnesen, Jake Runestad and Ola Gjeilo. So many wonderful texts including Euan Tait and many others. We had such a wonderful time preparing and exploring this music. This incredible group of singers is comprised only of volunteers. Thank you to everyone involved in the making of this recording for all of your support and contributions to this project.

Let us know what you think and enjoy!
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CD Release Singer Reception

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2016 Christmas Carol Composition Competition

9/6/2016

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The 2016 Christmas Carol Competition is coming up!

2016 Contest Details - Submission Deadline: October 14, 2016
Download Application and Submission Instructions pdf

Instrumentation for 2016 Competition: Choir & Piano.

Voicing: SATB, 150-voice auditioned chorus, medium to difficult level (may voice up to SSAATTBB divisi) & Piano.

Text: English or Latin text only, sacred or secular, medieval to present, appropriate for concert setting; proof of public domain or author’sText: English or Latin text only, sacred or secular, medieval to present, appropriate for concert setting; proof of public domain or author’s written permission for use of text is required. (Please note: most modern translations of the Bible are protected by copyright). The music for this Carol should be original - not an arrangement of an existing carol.

Duration: no longer than 5 minutes.

Prize: $750 will be awarded to the composer of the winning composition

Performance: The winning composition will premiere in Tampa Bay early December 2 - 4, 2016. If possible, the winner of the contest shall arrange to be present at the premiere. Additionally, The Master Chorale reserves the right to the premiere commercial recording of the winner.  
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Originality: The work must be an original unpublished composition with no prior public performances. Arrangements of compositions that have received a public performance will not be accepted. Any public performance before December 2, 2016, whether it is by students, faculty, amateurs, professionals (paid or unpaid), and whether it was in a private, public, or academic venue, disqualifies the composition from the competition. A ‘public performance’ also includes formally attended public reading sessions, broadcast, or any recording that has been commercially released.

Deadline: Score and application materials must be received on or before October 14, 2016. Results will be announced on October 28, 2016. The winner of the Christmas Carol Competition shall provide final performance score on or before November 1, 2016.

Age restriction: The competition is open to any United States resident, age 18 and above.

How to apply: All scores & recordings must be anonymous and marked only with a pseudonym of the composer’s choice. Materials that have not had all identifiable markings removed will not be accepted. The composer’s pseudonym and the title of the composition must be marked on each score and recording.

Submit:
  1. Four copies of full score
  2. Recordings are not required, but are highly appreciated. If a recording is included, please send only ONE COPY of either a MIDI or rehearsal recording in the format of audio CD – no cassettes, mp3s, or data discs
  3. A copy of driver’s license or passport
  4. The application form (download application form)
  5. Document giving permission or status for use of text

Mail materials to this address:
Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
Attn: Christmas Carol Competition
30382 USF Holly Drive
Tampa, FL 33620-3038
2016 Christmas Carol Competition Application Form.pdf
File Size: 224 kb
File Type: pdf
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"Singing in the Master Chorale allows me to experience the profoundly human and spiritual longings that can be expressed in no other way."  - Dr. M. L. Moore