Choral Arts Initiative
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Choral Arts Initiative | |
|---|---|
 Choral Arts Initiative, 2022 (credit: Allan Helmick) | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Orange County, California, United States |
| Genres | Chorus |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | Navona Records, CAI Records |
| Website | www |
Choral Arts Initiative is a professional choral ensemble and nonprofit organization founded in 2012 based in Orange County, California. It focuses exclusively on the works of living emerging composers. As of 2022, they have premiered 95 works and commissioned 18 works by living composers.[1]
History[edit]
Form by Brandon Elliott and a group of friends in 2011 for a benefit concert, the group later formed in 2012 and incorporated in 2013.[2] The ensemble won The American Prize in Choral Performance in 2014.[3] In 2017, the ensemble released its first studio album under their CAI Records label imprint, How to Go On: The Choral Works of Dale Trumbore.[4] At release, the album placed on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical genre).[5] Later that year, the ensemble received the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, recognizing a commitment to fostering and promoting new music.[6] Known for its "gracefully lyrical" sound[7], the ensemble expanded its season offerings and introduced community engagement programs in 2018.
Artistic Leadership[edit]
Brandon Elliott has continuously served as the Artistic Director since its founding. He received the Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal from Chorus America in 2021 in recognition of his firm commitment to the fair payment of professional choral ensemble singers.[8] In addition to his work with Choral Arts Initiative, Brandon is also the Director of Choral & Vocal Activities at Moorpark College. His work at the college was recognized by the GRAMMY® Foundation as a semifinalist for the Music Educator Award in 2022.[9]
In 2019, the ensemble hired its first Assistant Conductor, Daniel Gee. He was later named Associate Conductor in 2020 until his appointment as the Director of Choral Activities at Westmont College in Santa Barbara.[10] In 2021, the ensemble hired its second Assistant Conductor, Connor Scott.[11]
PREMIERE | Project Festival[edit]
In 2019, Brandon Elliott launched the PREMIERE | Project Festival. Offered especially for composers who are recent college graduates, in career change, or people who are early- to mid-career composers, the festival quickly garnered attention as an incubator and accelerator program for emerging composers.[12] As of 2022, over 45 composers have participated in the festival.[13]
From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail[edit]
In 2019, the ensemble commissioned composer Jeffrey Derus for a concert-length work. The resulting piece was From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail scored for chorus, an octave set of crystal singing bowls, and cello. Days before the world premiere, the state of California issued stay at home orders[14] due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The premiere was indefinitely postponed. As isolation orders subsided in California, the ensemble recorded the piece at EastWest Studios Studio 1 in July 2021.[15] GRAMMY® nominated engineer, Jorge Vivo, served as the sound engineer and Brandon Elliott and Jeffrey Derus served as producers.[16] The album was released through Navona Records, the label imprint of PARMA Recordings on Earth Day. The album was a commercial success, placing on the Billboard Charts (Traditional Classical genre) for three weeks, a rare occasion for choral albums.[17] The album was also the #1 Hot New Release in the Opera & Vocal category on Amazon.com.[18] Review outlets indicated positive reception, with James Manheim writing, "Anyone with the slightest acquaintance with the beauties of the American West will love this."[19] Two days after the album release, the piece received its live world premiere on April 24, 2022.[20]
Commissioned New Works[edit]
- 2020: From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail by Jeffrey Derus
- 2019: Cantata: What Color is the Dawn? by Jordan Kuspa
- 2018: I Shall Not Live in Vain by Matthew Swartz
- 2018: Remember the Children by Kyle Pederson
- 2018: O Captain! My Captain! by Christian Guebert
- 2018: Oração da Viajante by Deanna Witkowski
- 2018: What Color is the Dawn? by Jordan Kuspa
- 2018: Into the Twilight by Jamie Kunselman
- 2018: you (i do not think) by Rachel Whelan
- 2017: Light of Mary by David V. Montoya
- 2017: Perhaps by Dale Trumbore
- 2017: My Heart is a Compass by Jeffrey Derus
- 2017: White Moon by Luke Flynn
- 2017: I Follow the Sparrow by Saunder Choi
- 2016: How to Go On: A Secular Requiem by Dale Trumbore
- 2015: Were the World Mine by Jeffrey Derus
- 2014: I am Music by Dale Trumbore
- 2013: Afternoon on a Hill by Jiaying Gan
World Premieres[edit]
- Voyaging for 107 Handbells and Harp by Christian Guebert
- Almost but not quite spring by Dale Trumbore
- a beautiful boy by hunter t. johnson
- The Danger by Patricia Wallinga
- Dulce et decorum est by Ethan Soledad
- Flowers Faded and Gone by Duncan Tuomi
- George Gray by Sammy Strent
- Hold Fast by Andrew Sanchez
- I Know You by Jeffrey Derus
- In Dreams by James Keller
- Libera Me (as embers singe the tide) by Cooper Baldwin
- Lilacs Blossom Just as Sweet by Helena Michelson
- Paradise by David Walters
- Solomon and His Bride by Stuart Beatch
- Call it Grace by Paul Ayres
- Song of Hope by Benjamin Yee-Paulson
- Spring Rain by Laura Nevitt
- Staves, Calends, Legends by Craig Carnahan
- It Singeth Low in Every Heart by Jeffrey Derus
- Tomorrow by Frank Duarte
- What Remains by Arturo Tapia-Minchez
- When I am Gone Away by Mickey McGroarty
United States and West Coast Premieres[edit]
- A Dream Within a Dream by Debra Scroggins
- all I have by Lauren Bydalek
- A Lover's Journey by Libby Larsen
- And that night by Kristian Rodriguez
- A Song of Joys by Nicholas Omiccioli
- Absence by Dominick DiOrio
- All Is by Dominick DiOrio
- All We Need by Dale Trumbore
- April and the Sun by Jocelyn Hagen
- Armistice 1918: Everyone Sang by Craig Carnahan
- As Is The Sea Marvelous by Matthew Hazzard
- As there are Flowers by Colin Britt
- Be not afeard by Cecilia McDowall
- Birdsong by Eric Nelson
- Bur Oaks by Craig Carnahan
- Come to the Woods by Jake Runestad
- Cradle My Heart by Clint Needham
- Dear World by Lansing McLoskey
- Down Deep by Dominick DiOrio
- Everyone Sang by Matthew Nielsen
- Exsultate by Anthony Iannaccone
- How do I love thee? by Gabriel Jackson
- How do you keep the music playing? by Alexander L'Estrange
- I Have Loved the Stars by Anne Guzzo
- I Hunger and Thirst arr. Kevin Siegfried
- i love you much (most beautiful darling) by Matthew Harris
- I Saw Two Clouds at Morning by Jocelyn Hagen
- I Will Lift Mine Eyes by Jake Runestad
- Invitation to Love by Jennifer Higdon
- Let Nothing Trouble You by Roderick Williams
- Light Shines by Juhi Bansal
- Like Barley Bending by Daniel Brinsmead
- The Long Willows be Matthew Hazzard
- Neither Angels, Nor Demons, Nor Powers by Timothy Takach
- O Vos Omnes by Linda Kachelmeier
- O Vos Omnes by Matthew Hazzard
- Oculi Omnium by David Briggs
- Returning by Dale Trumbore
- Said a Blade of Grass by Corey Rubin
- Someone Like You by arr. Jamie Ray
- The Sometimes Joy of Reminiscing by Zachary James Ritter
- Sunset by Daniel Knaggs
- The Unknown Region by Connor Koppin
- To Touch the Sky by Kevin Puts
- Together by Melissa Dunphy
- Twilight Cities by Kristopher Fulton
- Where Flames a Word by Kile Smith
- Why the Caged Bird Sings by Jake Runestad
References[edit]
- ↑ "Repertoire Archive | Choral Arts Initiative". CAI. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "Choral Arts Initiative - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
- ↑ "CHORUS WINNER, RUNNERS-UP: community". Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Choral Arts Initiative, Brandon Elliott - How to Go On: The Choral Works of Dale Trumbore Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-11-09
- ↑ devops (2013-01-02). "Traditional Classical Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming | Chorus America". chorusamerica.org. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Janssen, Heide (2018-11-13). "Living Composers Reign During Choral Arts Initiative Concert". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal | Chorus America". chorusamerica.org. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Patel, Shivani. "Moorpark College professor named semifinalist for Grammy music educator award". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Bowman, Megan. "Dr. Daniel Gee: the new choir professor". The Horizon. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Initiative, Choral Arts (2021-07-22). "Choral Arts Initiative Appoints New Assistant Conductor". CAI. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ Janssen, Heide (2019-06-12). "Choral Arts Initiative Takes Chances to Present New Composers". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "PREMIERE|Project Festival | Choral Arts Initiative". CAI. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "Governor Gavin Newsom Issues Stay at Home Order". California Governor. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "From Wilderness". Navona Records. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "From Wilderness". Navona Records. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ devops (2013-01-02). "Traditional Classical Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ↑ "Choral Arts Initiative on Instagram: "#1 NEW RELEASE on Amazon! Physical pre-orders went live on Amazon yesterday, and we are now the #1 New Release under the Opera & Vocal category! Pre-order your physical copy (Prime shipping eligible) today! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09V5L9N8K/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9JKZ0KEHE9RZCJDNBVVA"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-11-09. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ Choral Arts Initiative, Brandon Elliott - Jeffrey Derus: From Wilderness - A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-11-09
- ↑ Initiative, Choral Arts (2022-03-30). "Press Release: From Wilderness Album Release". CAI. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
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