The Phoenix Chorale is seeking an Intern for the Fall Semester to provide administrative support, with a focus on public relations and marketing, and gaining experience in the areas of media relations, concert promotion, social network and email marketing, publicity, event planning and concert operations.
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
My stop on the Light Rail.
I am a Communications major at ASU West – so learning about public relations and marketing has given me a better understanding of how to apply my classroom knowledge to the real world… because ultimately that’s what an internship is supposed to teach you.
So, what is the typical day of a Public Relations Intern anyway? Well, it consists of responding to an overwhelming amount of emails, managing databases, editing press releases and email newsletters, writing blogs, calling patrons and subscribers and inviting them to open rehearsals, putting together donation packets for fundraisers, and any other task that has to be done by the end of the day.
When it came to doing a new task, I made sure to remember how to do it for next time. For example, when cold-calling, Jen explained to me that if I had a “script” to read from once, I would be more comfortable the next time. I enjoyed talking with our patrons on the phone−every person I spoke with was friendly and made my job easier! I also responded to media inquires and pitched story ideas to Yes Style in the Arizona Republic.
At Roosevelt Station for Metro Light Rail's Opening Day.
I worked in the Box Office at our concerts, and worked the WILL CALL table, sold tickets, sold CDs, and helped set up and tear down. In addition to the concerts, I also played a part in special events this season including the METRO Light Rail Opening Day at Roosevelt Station, the Phoenix Chorale’s 50th Anniversary Gala, and the free Open Rehearsals during the First Friday ArtWalk.
50 years of the Phoenix Chorale on display.
I liked that my internship kept me busy and always gave me a fresh and creative assignment. Before the “Amazing Grace” concert series, Jen came to me with the idea of having the Phoenix Chorale archives on display for the final concerts and since it was the Chorale’s 50th Anniversary, I knew it would be a significant way for the audience to remember the past fifty years through photographs, posters, programs, and other cool memorabilia.
There I was, flipping through the many pages of over 300 alumni singers, calling and leaving messages, until I had finally found the answer to the Chorale’s archive-prayers. I had the opportunity to speak with alumni singer David Brokaw who agreed to meet me in the office and make his contribution to the Chorale’s history. I could tell the old documents and concert programs that he had brought were from the 1960s because of the cool “psychedelic” fonts!
My internship has also been an excellent way for me to find new hot spots and events in Downtown Phoenix to share with my friends in the West Valley−who have all said they now have a new view of Phoenix culture.
First Friday Art Walk (l to r) Tiffany Vo, Cathy Reyes, Erika Eve Gonzalez, Amanda Carmony
Being in a new environment, working on exciting projects, and meeting new people who are excellent at their job, has given me something to look forward after graduation from ASU (in 2011!) and begin my career. My internship has developed my knowledge of what to expect in a real world job and is far better than any job I have had. Ever.
After working here for eight months, now I understand after a stressful day how helpful it can be to watch funny videos to break up the day. So, as I sip on the best lime-flavored Italian soda from Fair Trade Café, here is one of our favorite ways to beat a stressful day (then resume our work of course):
Thanks again Phoenix Chorale for giving me this opportunity! And if you are interested in becoming an intern with the Phoenix Chorale, visit this page for details on how to apply.
Cheers!
- Erika Eve Gonzalez, Public Relations Intern
Chandos 30th Anniversary cake
Last month, Charles, Jen and I traveled to London to celebrate Chandos‘ 30th Anniversary (our record label). Originally, we didn’t think we could make the trip, but due to some very generous board members and patrons, we were able to go on the cheap. I wanted to share highlights of our trip and here you can see some of the sites we visited.
TUESDAY – Jen and I traveled separately from Charles who was flying in from Kansas City, MO. Our flight left late, and we arrived in London four hours after Charles’ flight. Jen and I made our way to baggage claim, where we were supposed to meet up with him, and while waiting for our luggage, searched high and low for Charles, but didn’t find him. After getting our bags, we looked for Charles again but after a while figured he’d made his way through the main exit. We arrived at the main concourse and by then it had been nearly five hours since his flight arrived. We paged him several times, and after waiting another hour, figured he must have headed to the apartment.
We bought our Tube tickets and made our way to MinC City Reach Apartments. These wonderful “self-catering” apartments were perfect for our needs with a spacious full kitchen and very close proximity to the Tube and all of London. (Special thanks to John and Millie Wesley for the great digs!!!)
MinC City Reach apartment
About an hour after our arrival at the apartment, there was a knock at the door. We knew that room service was not offered, so it could only mean one thing… Charles. He had indeed waited for us at baggage claim but because our flight was late, he curled up in a corner of the baggage claim area and caught up on some sleep. He must have needed it, as he slept through the pages! Needless to say, we were thrilled to be reunited.
Becky Lees, Katie Hackett and Jen Rogers
After freshening up, we made our way to our first meeting of the trip. This meeting was set to discuss the recent success of our Spotless Rose disc and to talk about continued and new marketing efforts. We met at Kings Place with Becky Lees, Chandos’ Sales and Marketing Manager, Paul Westcott, Chandos’ Public Relations Manager, and Katie Hackett, our Account Marketing Manager at Naxos North America.
Our Chandos friends had planned to take the 8:30 p.m. train back to Colchester, Chandos’ home about 45 minutes away, but instead took a later train as we were having such productive (and fun) talks. We moved the meeting to Dirty Dicks, an old English pub and spent the rest of the evening catching up over a few pints of ale.
Houses of Parliament from the Thames
WEDNESDAY – We boarded the barge at Temple Pier for the official Chandos 30th Anniversary party. For the next three or so hours we floated along the Thames River surrounded by Chandos artists, representatives, managers, distributors and other VIPs in the classical music industry across Europe. It was a great way to meet Chandos’ treasured friends and family and see some of the sites of London.
Charles Bruffy with the Couzens family, Ralph, Bella and Brian
Special guests included the family of the late conductor, Richard Hickox, who passed away recently. Mr. Hickox recorded more than 280 discs over the last 20 years for Chandos. It was an honor to share in the celebrations with them and to meet Chandos founder Brian Couzens. We met Simon Perry, the head of record label Hyperion, whose recording of the Frank Martin Double Choir Mass (performed by the Westminster Cathedral Choir and led by James O’Donnell), won a Gramophone Award some years ago. I had heard from Ralph Couzens, Managing Director of Chandos that Simon really liked our recording of the same work (on our Eternal Rest disc) and had personally contacted Ralph to get a copy upon its release. Simon took the opportunity to congratulate us in person and raved about the recording!
Aquarelle Guitar Quartet
We continued the celebration at another pub, The Coal Hole. It seemed everyone at the party got the word, as many were at the pub including the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet who recently released an album on Chandos, The Spirit of Brazil. I had long conversations with an on-air personality from ClassicFM in London (the largest commercial radio station in the UK) who raved about our Spotless Rose disc and mentioned his love of American orchestras. Charles, Jen, Katie and I finished off the night with a late dinner at Café Spice Namaste, a wonderful Indian restaurant near the Tower of London.
London policeman directs traffic
THURSDAY – We caught up on a little sleep before beginning to explore the city. Charles has been to London a number of times and I had gone a few years back to meet with Chandos, but this was Jen’s first trip out of North America. Regardless of how frequently or recently one has been there, it is such a great city to explore via the Tube and on foot. We had seen a number of tourist sights from the Thames at the party, and we set out to see them up close. We took the Tube to Westminster and after “minding the gap,” walked up the steps to be met with one of the best sights in all of London – Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.
The last time Charles and I were in London, we met James O’Donnell, Choirmaster for the Abbey, and decided to leave a note asking Mr. O’Donnell if he would please reserve seats for us in the Choir for Evensong the next evening. After spending time admiring the Abbey, we made our way up to Westminster Cathedral but could not go in as they were installing the new Archbishop of Westminster (the Catholic Archdiocese), so we continued on to Buckingham Palace, to Trafalgar Square, and to the historic St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church.
BBC4 recording session
Inside the church, we stumbled upon a recording session by the BBC Daily Service Singers and St. Martin’s Choir, accompanied by the Will Todd Ensemble, directed by Stephen Jackson. They were recording Will Todd’s Mass in Blue for Chamber choir and jazz orchestra, to air later that evening for the church’s Ascension Day service.
As we left the church, we noticed the Holst Singers were performing there the next night. Led by popular British conductor Stephen Layton, they were performing a concert of all–Russian repertoire. Mr. Layton also conducts Polyphony, his professional choir. Naturally, we bought our tickets to return the next evening.
Charles Bruffy, Cecilia McDowell and Joel Rinsema
We made our way back to the apartment to freshen up. Our plan for the evening was to dine at the home of composer Cecilia McDowall. She lives west of the City near Chiswick Park, so we boarded the Tube for a 45 minute trip. Since first performing and then recording her “Three Latin Motets” in 2005, we have become friends with Cecilia, and it was great to have the opportunity to catch up with her, her husband Andrew (a judge) and her Mum Elizabeth who just celebrated her 80th birthday.
We were treated to a delightful multi-course dinner prepared by Cecilia and enjoyed wonderful conversation in her lovely home. We learned that Cecilia has had a very successful year. In addition to being included on our Grammy-winning Spotless Rose album, she was commissioned by the Musicians Benevolent Fund to compose a piece for its annual Festival of St. Cecilia. This is quite an honor, and Cecilia is only the third female composer commissioned for this festival – and the first named Cecilia. Her new piece will be performed in St Paul’s Cathedral later in November. On a side note: we are planning to perform some of Cecilia’s works in December, and hope to introduce her to our local audiences in the near future. She is truly a delightful person and a very talented composer. We are glad to call her friend.
Joel & Charles at Royal Stables
FRIDAY – We revisited some of the sites near Buckingham Palace including the Royal Stables. Charles especially enjoyed this – as you may know, one of Charles’ favorite hobbies when not conducting is riding horses. Much of the day was spent enjoying the city and the beautiful weather. Friday marked the hottest day of the year, topping off at a balmy 72 degrees.
Westminster Abbey
Having heard back from Mr. O’Donnell’s office, we headed to Westminster Abbey for Evensong, where we were treated to the voices of the Lay Vicars (the Abbey Choir led the Ascension Day services the day before). Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous burial sights in London and composers Handel, Vaughan Williams and Purcell are buried there. We were escorted to our seats in the Choir, directly behind the singers. Jen had never heard male sopranos before, and fought off a giggle as the service began. They performed William Byrd’s Psallite Domino and O Rex gloriae. We agreed the Abbey has to be one of the most visually and acoustically beautiful spaces on earth.
Later, we headed to St. Martin-in-the-Fields for the Holst Singers’ concert of Russian Choral music. The Holst Singers are a 50-voice amateur choir based in London, led by Stephen Layton. They have made a number of quality recordings for Hyperion, and renowned countertenor James Bowman is the choir’s president. It turned out our seats had an obstructed view and we requested to be seated elsewhere. The only other unobstructed seats on the floor were in the very front row, and so we took them.
Holst Singers led by Stephen Layton
During intermission, we passed by the stage door just as Mr. Layton was walking through and I took the opportunity to introduce myself and Charles. Mr. Layton had not met Charles but knew of him and had many glowing things to say about the Phoenix Chorale, our recent successes and told us he was honored we were there. Although considered an amateur choir, the Holst Singers would be considered an elite choir if they were on this side of the pond, and their program was a fine presentation. We enjoyed the rest of the concert from the balcony, and finished off the night with a jaunt through Piccadilly Circus.
White Tower at the Tower of London
SATURDAY – We tried to fit as much as possible in our final day and started with a trip to the historic Tower of London and checked out an exhibit featuring King Henry XIII’s armor. We strolled along the south bank of the Thames, saw the Old Globe Theatre, ate lunch at the Old Thameside Inn, walked by the Tate Modern gallery, and strolled across the Millennium Bridge that ends at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
St. Pauls Cathedral
Charles wanted to do a little shopping on Portobello Road, so Jen and I proceeded to the Cathedral. There was a fee to see the Cathedral but we decided to wait and attend Evensong (and see it for free). Less than an hour later, we were treated to our second Evensong in as many days and again were seated in the Choir. The St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir of men and boys led the service in this incredible space (the sound carries for at least six seconds!).
Charles with the gavel at Silk
We met up with Charles and for dinner, we headed to Silk, a restaurant housed in the Courthouse Hotel, an old Grade II Listed Magistrates Court near Oxford Circus. The restaurant was converted from the old Number One court and is covered by a vaulted glass ceiling framed by original English Oak paneling. The judges bench, dock and witness stand have been kept in their original setting. The menu is derived from the historical “Silk Road,” creating a unique pan-Asian/fusion style. After dinner, we headed back to the start of our adventure to Dirty Dicks for a going away toast with a pint of ale.
A side note: the Taste London card is a good way to save a few pounds – on the price at least! The exchange rate was favorable to us, but with the Taste London card, we saved a significant amount on dining.
Choral music has played such a tremendous role in the community of the U.K. and it’s a tradition that has shaped choral music around the world. Although we are surrounded by choral music in our business, it was refreshing and enlightening to hear four different choirs perform in our five days there. While gratifying to hear congratulations, accolades and to see firsthand the reputation we have achieved across the pond, it was humbling to realize we have added to that tradition, and we are being recognized for our artistry.
Looking back on it all, it was great to see the wonders of London, see old friends and make many new ones.
- Joel Rinsema, Executive Director
*All photos by Jen Rogers.
For the first time ever, donations can be made to the Phoenix Chorale online! With ‘Click & Pledge,’ not only is online giving secure and simple, it saves the Chorale almost $5,000 by reducing the significant costs of printing and postage. And, it helps us in our ongoing efforts to become more “green.”
We recognize the sacrifices some of you have made in making a gift to the Chorale already this year and we thank you for making that choice. We hope you will consider helping us with a gift before the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2009.
Phoenix Chorale's 50th Anniversary Gala
Remembering the night of the Phoenix Chorale’s 50th Anniversary Gala, makes me think how wonderful it was to be a part of their history and creating my own memorable experience.
Jen and I arrived at the newly renovated Memorial Hall (inside Steele Indian School Park) and quickly set up our table where guests would check in. I peeked inside the hall and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. As guests started to arrive, I was very impressed by the turnout and luckily met some of them, which was exciting for me because I always look forward to meeting new and exciting people—especially friends of the Chorale.
The Ted Belledin Quartet
After the guests checked in, it was time for cocktail hour, which was a lovely spread of hors d’oeuvres. The hot topic of the reception was how delicious the brie was (I bet that was the cheese I kept going back for). Everyone enjoyed a fine selection of beers from New Belgium Brewing Co., wine donated by Quail Distributors and jazzy tunes performed by the Ted Belledin Quartet. It was a romantic setting, with guests mingling and catching up with old friends.
The Phoenix Chorale
A scrumptious dinner by Seasons Gourmet Catering was laid out for everyone and during dinner, Sterling Beeaff, Music Director for KBAQ (which is the station I am listening to as I type this up) introduced Charles Bruffy and a performance by the Chorale. The Chorale performed…
Cassandra Ewer, Laura Inman, Stephanie Stickford, Sean Carter Campbell and Josh Hillmann
I especially enjoyed hearing “Chili Con Carne,” by a quintet of Chorale singers Cassandra, Josh, Laura, Sean, and Stephanie. They dazzled the audience and it was a perfect transition for the awards portion of the night. Claudia Kennedy, the 50th Anniversary Gala Chair, oversaw the presentation of awards.
The Philanthropy Award was presented to Mr. & Mrs. John Ford and Mr. & Mrs. Paul Perez for their support of the Phoenix Chorale over the years.
Mr. & Mrs. John Ford
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Perez with Charles Bruffy
The Chorale Masters Award was presented to former Phoenix Chorale conductor, Dan Durand and to the founder of the Phoenix Boys Choir, Dr. Harvey K. Smith.
Former Phoenix Chorale conductor Dan Durand
Charles Bruffy, Dr. Harvey K. Smith and Claudia Kennedy
Additional awards included:
The Founders Award was presented to Millicent Wesley, the Phoenix Chorale's first conductor in 1958.
A special surprise Alumni Award was presented to Beth Livingston-Hakes, a former Phoenix Chorale singer who sang with the Chorale for over 30 years.
Phoenix City Councilman Claude Mattox
The awards concluded with Councilman Claude Mattox presenting the City of Phoenix’s award to the Phoenix Chorale as a “Friend of Phoenix.”
The evening’s raffle consisted of a variety of prizes including a sculpture by Barbara Andress. For the silent auction, and on display in the hall was one of two sculptures donated by the Herberger Foundation, by artist
"Earth and Space" by John Henry Waddell
John Henry Waddell, known for his bronze sculptures in motion. Now, I am a sucker for fine art, so I when I saw the sculpture displayed in the hall, it was nice to know there was a variety of the arts featured at the event—both visual and performing.
The evening came to a close with a special piano performance by the Chorale’s Josh Hillmann who performed Capriccio No. 1 from Brahms’ 7 Fantasies Op. 11 along with more cabaret-style singing by members of the Chorale.
All in all, the evening came together beautifully. And as everyone was enjoying the last moments of the event, it appeared to make a lasting impression on the guests, honorees, friends and newcomers to the Phoenix Chorale. Cheers to the next 50 years!
Claudia and Alan Kennedy with family and friends
–Erika Eve Gonzalez, Public Relations Intern
See more photos from the Phoenix Chorale’s 50th Anniversary Gala here.
*All photos by Ryan Delgado.
2008 Grammy for Best Small Ensemble Performance
With singers, board members, staff, friends and family all gathered around, we opened the box last night.
See more photos of the reveal here.
(r to l) Ola Gjeilo, Beth Livingston-Hakes, David Lubeck and Joy Lubeck.
In late April I had the great pleasure of having a new work of mine, called Phoenix, premiered by the Phoenix Chorale in downtown Phoenix and Paradise Valley. The piece was commissioned by Mrs. Joy Lubeck on behalf of the Chorale; she was the winner of a silent auction last year, in which she submitted the highest bid for the work, which I donated to the choir. The performance was wonderful, as it always is with the Chorale. I wasn’t able to attend any rehearsals before the performances, but I felt completely relaxed and confident that they would do a great job with it. That’s what’s so great about working with these guys; you know they will always meet or exceed your expectations.
Desert landscape of Arizona
The work was inspired by my first trip to Phoenix the year before, when I drove from LA with a friend of mine and saw the desert for the first time. It had a strong impact on me, and I was so touched by the friendliness of everyone in Phoenix. So the piece was really more about Phoenix and the desert than about the text, which was a simple Agnus Dei text in Latin, chosen for it’s many open vowels more than perhaps the actual meaning of the words; it was a perfect vehicle for the symphonic sounding music I wanted to express through the choir. Using the Agnus Dei text for such a purpose is of course nothing new; Barber used it for his choral arrangement of the timeless Adagio for Strings, and someone also mashed Elgar’s wonderful Nimrod from the Enigma Variations up with the same words.
The Phoenix Chorale performing at Trinity Cathedral
Happy with the way everything worked out, we decided to auction off another piece of mine not yet written, for next year. The winner of the 2nd auction was Ms. Donna Corcoran, and her commission on behalf of the Chorale will be performed during Spring of 2010.
This blog entry is really about the Phoenix Chorale, but let me continue for a bit with one of my main passions outside of music; the art of Pixar.
A photo I took of my favorite visual artist Dale Chihuly's installation at the Desert Botanical Garden.
I am probably one of the biggest non-animator Pixar fans on the planet. The animation studio that has released an unbroken string of commercial and artistic triumphs, starting with Toy Story and continuing, hopefully, with Up this summer, has an uncanny ability to connect with massive audiences every time they release a new movie. This is a complete anomaly in Hollywood, and no other studios have come close to replicating this. DreamWorks have tried, by attempting to give people what they ‘want’, but more through formulaic stories and pop culture references instead of stories with heart and originality. But Brad Bird, Pixar’s perhaps foremost director (The Incredibles, Ratatouille) insists that there’s no great secret behind Pixar’s unprecedented success. He says, ‘It’s really pretty simple; everyone here loves films, and they just want to make something that they themselves want to see’.
I think he’s absolutely right, and that this applies just as much to music as it does to film making; To me, it’s essential that, given that most people in the music business love music in the first place, we compose and perform music that we really want to hear ourselves. It sounds like a given, but it turns out more often than not, it isn’t. That this is music I would put on my iPod and enjoy listening to over and over again. Can we say that about all the music that we write and perform, or do we let other factors determine too much what music we end up focusing on? I do think so, and I believe that’s part of the reason the classical music business is in some trouble at the moment. For instance, quite often, musicians and ensembles will perform pieces by composers they think should be performed, simply because few others know or play their music, or because it is historically significant, no matter whether this music actually is something they really love and that will give the audience an amazing, transporting experience.
Phoenix Chorale singer Ryan Garrison and Ola Gjeilo
I believe Phoenix Chorale’s success is related to all of this. The choir, with their conductor Charles Bruffy, has released a number of CDs (often in collaboration with the Kansas City Chorale) of strong music that they believe in, and that seems to connect with audiences. Which is also why the Chorale has enjoyed back-to-back Grammy wins and nominations recently, and cemented its position as one of the premier ensembles of any kind in the world. They are very discerning about what they choose to perform, and I think that also contributes to the wonderful energy of the group.
Bluegrass band Fire Ridge
In the most recent Phoenix Chorale concert I had the pleasure to attend, they performed mainly spirituals and bluegrass music, accompanied by a bluegrass band called Fire Ridge. The audience was clearly enjoying themselves, as did the choir, who seemed to have the time of their life. And I think the key wasn’t that they were doing cross-over music or trying to be more commercial by performing something non-classical. It was that they performed something that they loved and were thrilled to communicate with their audience.
Add this to the Phoenix Chorale’s vocal artistry and inimitable conductor, it’s no surprise that they’re the only American choir to release albums with a major British label or that they are adored by the Grammy juries.
– Ola Gjeilo (Manhattan, NY)
**You can read more about Ola Gjeilo on his website: www.olagjeilo.com
**See photos from the “Amazing Grace” concerts at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral here and at Camelback Bible Church here.
We had just arrived backstage for the Saturday evening performance and I asked my co-star Jenn Raithel-Newman how her day was going. Her reply was great, “…any day that you are doing what you love to do is a good day!” Absolutely true–and what a good three days we had this past weekend.
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus sounded fantastic, and were absolute professionals the entire time. In addition to the weekend’s R&H concert they were also performing in their own 25th anniversary celebration–a LOT of music to handle! The symphony was of course wonderful, such a rich and colorful range of sound. I enjoyed the Carousel Waltz and Overtures because they were able to really soar.
My two and a half year old son Noah, who was enamored by the acoustic bass and “yellow guitar” at the Amazing Grace concert series, was completely blown away by a the Symphony’s stage full of every kind of instrument. He woke up Monday morning chirping like a bird, naming every instrument he could remember and singing “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” over and over and using his drum stick as a conductor’s baton.
I have memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
– Sean Carter Campbell
I was at Friday night’s “Salute to Rodgers & Hammerstein” concert and was treated to Sean Carter Campbell’s debut with The Phoenix Symphony. It was a fun concert! The audience was humming along and tapping their feet with these wonderful age-defining tunes. I wonder what kind of Pops shows of the future they’ll have for my generation? Radiohead overtures? Or maybe grunge/alternative medleys and DJ concertos? Time will tell.
Sean with co-star Jenn Raithel Newman.
I met up with Sean at intermission and took some photos of him with his co-star, Jenn Raithel Newman. She looked beautiful in her gown and she is just a sweetheart. Not to mention she has a fantastic voice! I really enjoyed her in “Shall We Dance.”
The Phoenix Children’s Chorus were adorable and the members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus also did a great job. I loved the Men of the Chorus in “There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame” – hilarious delivery.
Sean gave a wonderful performance. I especially enjoyed “Edelweiss” and “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’.” You could really see how much he was enjoying himself and loves singing these tunes (he was beaming).
I headed backstage at the end of the concert to congratulate Sean. Carol Platt Proudfoot, a soprano in the Chorale was there, also congratulating Sean. While leaving Symphony Hall, she mentioned she overheard a patron say about Sean, “I could listen to him all day. His voice is like velvet.” Word.
– Jen Rogers, Director of Marketing & Communications
There are still a few tickets available for Sunday’s concert at 2 p.m. at Symphony Hall. More details here: www.phoenixsymphony.org. See more photos from Friday night’s concert here.
Last night was pure magic. And the realization of one of my life goals – since I started singing in grade school, it’s been a dream of mine to sing with a symphony orchestra. And last night I was standing on stage, in Symphony Hall, with The Phoenix Symphony playing behind me looking out into the empty chairs and singing my guts out.
Sean and soprano Jenn Raithel Newman.
It was great to finally meet the symphony staff whose names I’ve gotten to know these past few months through a multitude of e-mails, and to meet my co-star, amazing soprano Jenn Raithel Newman.
Jenny Sanford, the operations coordinator, showed me around, then we had a conductor meeting with Lawrence Golan and Larry Loeber, the principal pianist for the Symphony. Jenn, Lawrence and Larry have worked together a number of times so they were very comfortable together. They didn’t waste any time making me feel completely welcome as well.
Sean on stage at Symphony Hall.
When it was time I had no idea how nervous I would be on the first few notes, but gradually I began to get used to the feeling of singing with the orchestra and things started to click into place. After awhile I was able to totally relax and enjoy the program which includes a hilarious and well-sung number by the men of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus, and some soulful belting by the women. It’s obvious that Dr. Gregory Gentry and fellow Phoenix Chorale singer Laura Inman have done a fantastic job with the Chorus.
Sean with The Phoenix Symphony's Resident Conductor Lawrence Golan.
I’m really looking forward to this morning’s rehearsal, and especially the first performance tonight!
– Sean Carter Campbell, singer with the Phoenix Chorale
**There are still a few tickets available for this weekend’s concerts, “A Salute to Rodgers & Hammerstein.” Get yours at www.phoenixsymphony.org and show your support for Sean! See more photos from Thursday’s rehearsal here.
