Home Purpose Biography MUSIC CATALOGUE Publishers Orders   (GMP Order Form) Mechanical License to Musings Commissions Contact Me Choral Links   The Road Home to California . . . . and Choral Gold! Vol.11 - May 30, 2010 by Bradley Nelson I was born and bred in California.  In fact, I am a San Diego native (quite rare) who has returned to "America's Finest City" (so the San Diego Union-Tribune keeps reminding us).  I was first introduced to choral singing in church, then high school, and finally college - - all in California.  Today, my impression is that many choral directors in California are "immigrants" from other states.  California has imported Choral Gold!   After 3 years in New York and almost 8 years in Indianapolis (my sons are Hoosiers), I had an opportunity to return to the Golden State where I have witnessed an influx of this Choral Gold from all over America.  It has been enriching to meet many of these "migrating" conductors and to experience the rich and explosive growth of their choral influence - - particularly within the 500,000 student California State University system!  It is clear that the CSU schools have made a strong commitment to the choral arts!   This past weekend, my wife and I had the privilege of introducing some new friends to our every-week tradition of "Friday Nights at the Cove" - our regular routine of walking at La Jolla Cove, then sitting in our beach chairs for hours as we feast at our portable table and watch magnificent sunsets - even the occasional "green spot" - as the sun dips into the ocean.  Our guests:  Dr. Christopher Peterson is a music professor entering his fourth year at California State University, Fullerton.  In addition to his leadership of the Men's Chorus and teaching music education courses, he is the newly-appointed conductor of the CSUF Concert Choir.  His wife Tina, will begin next Fall as the newly-hired choral director at Irvine High School.  They are prime examples of the Choral Gold which has enriched our State.  In fact Chris hails from Maine (how far away can you get!), moved to Wisconsin, then escorted his "always-lived-in-the-Midwest" bride to California where they live at the beach!   I am fortunate to know many California choral conductors as friends and acquaintances. Thank you so much for performing my music in our Golden State!       CSU Chico - Jeffrey Gemmell, Director (Currently at the University of Colorado at Boulder)    For Whom The Bell Tolls CSU Fresno - Anna Hamre, Director    She Walks In Beauty    Gladde Things    For Whom The Bell Tolls This Central Garden CSU Long Beach - Jonathan Talberg, Director    Good King Wenceslas    In Flanders Fields CSU Sacramento - Donald Kendrick, Director    Sweet Are The Lips Of All That Sing San Francisco State University (CSU) - Joshua Habermann, Director (Currently at University of Miami and Santa Fe Desert Chorale)    She Walks In Beauty    Gladde Things San Jose State University (CSU) - Charlene Archibeque, Director    Gladde Things CSU Stanislaus - Daniel Afonso, Director    She Walks In Beauty    In Flanders Fields    There Will Come Soft Rains   "ALSO, THANKS TO CHORAL DIRECTORS IN THESE CALIFORNIA LOCATIONS": Colleges & Universities: Azusa Pacific University Oratorio Choir, Azusa - John Sutton, Director Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo - John Knutson, Director Fresno Pacific University - Roy Klassen, Director University of Redlands - Erwin Ruff and Jeffrey Rickard, Directors MACCC State Conference Choir, San Francisco - Joshua Habermann, Director (Music Association of California Community Colleges) Consumnes River College, Sacramento - Cassie Hill, Driector El Camino College, Torrance - Joanna Nachef, Director Las Positas College, Livermore - Jim Heiner, Director Long Beach City College - Skye Angelo, Director Los Angeles Valley College - Jennifer Kelly, Director Los Angeles City College - Irene Kim, Director Mira Costa College, Oceanside - Jim Shepherd, Director Solano Community College, Fairfield - Helen Intintoli, Director West Valley College, Saratoga - Lou De La Rosa, Director California ACDA Reading Sessions California CMEA Reading Sessions Community Choirs: Fresno Community Chorus - Anna Hamre, Director Lompoc Valley Master Chorale - Kathleen Hacker, Director Paradise Community Choir - Sam Gronseth, Director San Diego Master Chorale - Martin Wright, Director Torrance Civic Chorale - David Burks, Director Vocal Arts Ensemble, San Luis Obispo - Gary Lamprecht, Director Yuba City Master Chorale - Joaquina Johnson, Director High Schools: Bishop HS - Diane Lanane, Director Davis HS - Karen Gardias, Director Del Oro HS, Loomis - Marlene Astle, Director El Diamante HS, Visalia - John Sorber, Director Enterprise HS, Redding - Deborah Divine, Director Etiwanda HS, Ontario Fountain Valley HS - Ted Reid, Director Granite Hills HS, El Cajon - Merryl Nelson, Director Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood - Rodger Guerrero, Director Hemet HS - Bonnie Pumphrey, Director La Canada HS - Lori Marie Rios, Director Los Altos HS - Mark Shaull, Director Los Banos HS - Tom Faria, Director Poway HS - Barbara Fletcher, Director Redlands HS - Ken Tuttle, Director Sacramento HS - Bill Zinn, Director San Ramon Valley HS - Ken Abrams, Director San Francisco HS Santa Ynez HS - Cameron Clarno, Director High School Regional Honor Choir, Chico - Jeffrey Gemmell, Director High School Regional Honor Choir, Stockton - Anna Hamre, Director Northern California Honor Choir - Anna Hamre, Director California Coastal Region Honor Choir, Stanford University - Daniel Afonso, Director CMEA All-State Middle School Honor Choir, Ontario - Anne Hamre, Director CMEA State Convention, Pasadena - Anna Hamre, Director CMEA State Convention, Ontario - John Sorber, Director Churches: College Avenue Baptist Church, San Diego - Bradley Nelson, Director First United Methodist Church, Santa Rosa - Doug Albertson, Director First Congregational Church of Los Angeles - Jonathan Talberg, Director La Jolla Methodist Church, La Jolla - Rebecca Basilio, Director Lake Avenue Congregational Church, Pasadena - John Sutton, Director Los Altos United Methodist Church, Los Altos - Bill Golden, Director Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church, San Diego - Lyle Stone, Director San Carlos United Methodist Church, San Diego - Jim Tompkins-McClain, Director South Shores Church, Monarch Beach - Bob Perry, Director St. James By-The-Sea, La Jolla - Steven Townsend, Director     Winner of the 2004 Choral Composition Competition sponsored by the California American Choral Directors Association Gladde Things Please send us an email if your choir should be added to this list - musings@gladdemusic.com Copyright 2010 by Gladde Music Publications All Rights Reserved