I recently stumbled across Choral arranger/composer Eric Whitacre and his outstanding work, including tunes like Cloudburst, I Thank You God For Most this Amazing Day and others.

I really like to conduct a Choral ensemble. Conducting is an amalgam of leadership, creativity, spontaneity, detail and execution. By execution, by the way, I am speaking of “execution of a plan”, not the other kind of execution. That word has two meanings that are quite different. Hmm. Strange. Anyway, we just had our annual Thanks & Praise Service @ Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church, featuring a joint effort of choirs from SAFMC, Spring Arbor University, and instrumentalists from both places. It was delightful, and, if I can figure out how, I’d like to be able to post pieces of this concert on YouTube. It turns out I need the actual video for this to work, so it may take a few weeks.

I’m really excited to be able to direct SAFMC’s Sanctuary Choir & Orchestra. For the last four years, it had been under the excellent direction of a member of our congregation. He wasn’t just any member — he also conducted major orchestras, taught a large High School Band program, etc. He knew what he was doing like I know how to walk. And I’m pretty good at walking. Now I’m trying to get better at conducting. It goes to show you that those classes you take in college that seem kind of irrelevant may sometimes end up being the most valuable 2 credits in your entire program.

While we’re waiting for a YouTube video of Thanks & Praise, here’s Whitacre conducting Cloudburst: