Hopewell for Middle School Band

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Level: Advanced
Duration: 4 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $25.00

Program Notes:
"Hopewell" was commissioned by Hopewell Middle School's Concert Band directed by Audrey Murphy located in Milton, Georgia. The connotations of the school's namesake gave an opportunity to convey a realization that a generation of young people is growing up in an age of uncertainty and that hope is often a seed that is rarely planted. Like most developing minds of today’s era, a situation where the possible positive ending to a seemingly dramatic and life changing problem is all but possible to them. Most do not see that hope is a ray of brilliant light that often breaks the most foreboding thundering clouds of life even at the last moments of a crossroads. The movements of rhythm and volume weaved within this piece reflect that the very mindset of those who only see the darkness of a situation can often find the glimmer of hope to hold onto at the very end for to have the hope of peace, the hope of cures, and the hope of a better life is something that all children deserve the right to have.

Score (11x17) and parts (8.5 x 11) will be delivered by email in PDF format.

Instrumentation:
Flutes
Oboe
Bassoon
2 Bb Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Bari Sax
2 Horns
Bb Trumpets
Trombones
Euphonium Tuba
1 Timpani
3 Percussion (snare, marimba, cymbals, suspended cymbals, chimes, and glockenspiel)

Venue Change for Tuesday

There is a correction for the venue for Tuesday night's premiere of my work
"Hopewell". The band will be performing at Alpharetta United Methodist Church on
Main St (Highway 9) in Alpharetta, GA on Tuesday.

If anyone should need me I'll practicing my tail off on the Rachmaninov and
Shostakovich. I got the music yesterday for next weekend's concert, and I am
feeling the burn!

Premieres, Performing, & Flute Duets

Again, next week (not to mention the rest of the month and April) is looking like a jammed packed month and I welcome it!

On March 8 at 7pm at Hopewell Middle School in Milton, Georgia, the Hopewell Middle School Symphonic Band under the direction of Audrey Murphy (http://www.hopewellbands.com) will premiere a work they commissioned from me called "Hopewell". This concert is a preview concert of what they will perform at the National Music for All Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN from March 17-19. I've been to a couple rehearsal and they sound great!

On March 12 at 8pm and March 13 at 3pm at Kennesaw State University's Bailey Performing Arts Center I will be performing with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. We will be performing Shoshtakovich's Symphony No. 1 and Rachmoninoff's Symphony No.2 You can buy your tickets here:http://www.cobbsymphony.org/cso_10-11_season.htm

In other new the Dahlia Flute Duo (http://www.dahliafluteduo.com) has agreed to premiere my flute duet "Chatter" this season. They are champions of contemporary music and are also featured recitalists at this years National Flute Convention. I will let you know more as we nail down dates!

FLUTISTS! Lent starts next week and Easter is around the corner. I arranged some duets appropriate for those services here: http://www.nikkinotes.com/EasterLentDuets.html

Hope everyone has a good week. There are more exciting news by the end of the month! *fingers crossed*

Franz Schubert's Ave Maria for Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 3 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 3 minutes long. Great for weddings and church services! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Home from 'Bama

Ok, so I didn't keep my end of the bargain and actually blog while on the trip. Everyday ended up being long and I was pretty exhausted by the time I got back to the hotel room. I was like a kid at the end of a long day at Disney World. All tuckered out from the fun.

I never know anyone when I go to these things. It's like I am from a completely different planet. I thought since this was actually in the south I might run into someone I knew, at least someone that went or taught at UGA. No dice. But even better, right? I can expand my circle of people and bust out of my tiny Atlanta world. I did know one person, Dr. Nick Demos, and one of his pieces was being performed by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

I attended the HSO's rehearsal of Nick's piece and it was a good experience for me to watch a professional orchestra perform a piece by an experienced composer. I sat next to him during the rehearsal and listened to his comments and his past experience with working with ensembles. Probably not an opportunities many people get to have, and it was purely by accident. Story of my life!

The rest of the festival was standard as new music festivals go. This music festival, however, had a wide variety of styles and aesthetics. It really kept things fresh to hear in one mini concert microtonality, a-tonality, tonality, electronics, experimental, and even some serialism. Every style of music was embraced, nothing as excluded.

I enjoyed my experience working with the flute choir under the direction of Betty Stone. They were really working out of their comfort zone with the extended beat boxing techniques, and they seemed to be having fun with it once they each had that "ah-ha" moment. They were great sports about everything and made me feel at home.

I hadn't planned on performing with the flute choir. I had mixed feelings about not performing on one of my compositions. If a piece had flute in it I was performing it. One of the alto flutist, however, got sick so I got to play some alto flute. Oh what fun to play alto! I have a special place in my heart for that instrument. So if anyone would like to fund my purchase of an alto I'd be game!

I'm glad to be home, and I look forward to the festival at University of Central Missouri in April. This time performing "Smorgasbord" myself. It will be good to make it back to the "homeland". I'm not sure about a trip to the band conference in Indianapolis. The band is premiering the piece here in Atlanta, so I might not go on the trip to Indiana. More news on that as well as other projects in another post!

Smorgasbord for Kindle

My publisher emailed me last night to let me know my composition "Smorgasbord" for solo flute and piccolo was just released for Kindle. Now you don't have to worry about all that pesky paper.

http://www.amazon.com/Smorgasbord-solo-flute-piccolo-ebook/dp/B004MPRXJA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1297258218&sr=1-2

It's really a new avenue my publisher (http://www.clearnote.net) has been exploring. How do you feel about paperless music?

On the road to 'Bama

So another road trip to a New Music Festival. This time to the University of Alabama at Huntsville to hear the world premiere of my work "Tamar". Looking forward to meeting all the fantastic flutists who agreed to premiere the work as well as composers from all over the country.

I will be sure to tweet (http://www.twitter.com/nikkinotes) and possible blog while I am at the festival, and hopefully take in some Huntsville sites and cuisine while I am there. What's really special about this concert is that it will be streamed online. So you can catch the premiere of "Tamar" on Friday (2/11) at 1pm CT http://www.uah.edu/music/live-internet-streaming even if you can't travel to Huntsville. I love technology!

Chatter for Flute Duet

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Level: Advanced
Duration: 3 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $4.00

"Chatter" is a flute duet which uses percussive extended technique available to the flutist using beatboxing to mimic chatter and conversation. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Nautica for solo Piano

I. A-Hull
II. Hardtack
III. Oxeye
IV. Overwhelmed

Level: Advanced
Duration: 9 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $7.00

Program Notes:
“Nautica” is four movement work based on the adventures and tragedies of sailing on the open water. Ahull is the downing of the sails and battening down the hatches during a storm. Hardtack is a type of biscuit made of flour, water, and salt commonly found on ships. Ox-eye is a cloud indicating bad weather. Overwhelmed is exactly what is sounds like, being overtaken by the sea.

Score and parts will be delivered by email in PDF format.

Brian Boru's March for Flute, Clarinet, and Cello

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 4 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $8.00

This is an arrangement of the traditional Irish tune "Brian Boru's March". Perfect for intermediate to Advanced players. Piece is approximately 4 minutes long with repeats. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.Includes Flute, Bb Clarinet and cello part as well as score.

Tamar World Premiere and Wedding Flute Duets

I got the date, time, and place of the world premiere of my flute choir piece, "Tamar" (http://www.clearnote.net/Tamar.html). It will be on Feb. 11 at 1pm at UAH Roberts Recital Hall at the University of Alabama of Huntsville in Huntsville, AL. It will be performed by the UAH Flute Choir under the direction of Betty Stone. I will be in attendance. The New Music Festival has a lot of music scheduled including a performance of my husband's composition professor, Dr. Nickitas Demos. Here's the full schedule: http://www.uah.edu/music/nmf-rep

I've also continued with the arrangements, and with wedding season around the corner I thought some wedding duets would be a good idea to get started: http://www.nikkinotes.com/WeddingDuets.html

Maraschino for flute and clarinet duet

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Level: Advanced
Duration: 3 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $5.00

Program Notes:
"Maraschino" refers to the happy and harmless cherry we put in Shirley Temple drinks and banana splits today, not the more menacing indigestible preserved liqueur cherries of ancient times. The light-hearted and cheerful cherry is captured in this duet in which the flute and clarinet exchange teasing banter in a loose fugue interpretation.

Score and parts will be delivered by email in PDF format.

Valentine for flute and guitar

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 3 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $4.00

This piece is dedicated to my husband, Brian Chamberlain, who is a classical guitarist and composer. After years of asking me to write a piece for both of us to play, this is my Valentine's gift to him. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

2010? Wow! That's gonna be a hard act to follow!

First of all I just noticed that I have been blogging since June 2006. How crazy is that? The goals are the same, and I have come a long ways on the journey. I just gotta keep on keeping on and find ways to keep things fresh.

2010 was a very good year. I thought 2009 was incredible, but 2010 certainly did me right as well. It's been exciting to have all the new experiences and find more confidence in myself, thanks to a slew of friends and colleagues who certainly have a lot of confidence in me (not to mention the hubby who seems to believe I could walk on water if I wanted to take on that task). Sure I get a ton of rejections like any other composer, but I learn from those and keep on truckin'.

So what were the highlights of 2010? I got a taste of being a touring musician. Music + travel = happy me. I got to go on a mini tour the the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, go to a Women Composers Convention to perform my own work, travel to Boston to play some concerts with my hubby and a friend (as well as make new ones) and set wheels in motion to travel more in 2011. And of course my all time favorite concert was playing on my husband's graduate recital here in Atlanta. He got the most incredible performances, which wasn't hard to do with the great music he had written. I can't wait to see what he writes next, he's taken a much needed hiatus ever since. I am starting to hear him tinker around in his studio, the bug is biting him.

I also wrote the most music in 2010 then I ever have. I probably doubled my list of compositions, thanks to the motivation of competitions and requests from friends. The two highlights being the 24 Hour Opera Project put on by Atlanta Opera and a commission from Hopewell Middle School Band which will perform the piece in the Music for All Festival in Indianopolis, IN this March. Without the urging of a few friends, family, and a failed negotiation of another commission I probably would not have found the gumption to take matters in my own hands and find my own opportunities. "No one is going to promote me better than myself" has turned into "No one is going to work harder for me than myself". Its just not enough to put my name out there. I have to make opportunities out of any situation, even if they are ideas I use to poo-poo before. "Ugh, band music and flute choirs just don't interest me" - They do now! Those are the people yearning for new music, and by golly I know those ensembles best! What was I thinking not doing this earlier? Yes mom you are right "Never say never".

So what is the plan of attack for 2011? How can I ride the momentum that got rolling for 2010? Well I need to find another commission. I am hoping the premiere of my band piece at Music for All will spark interest for other commissions but I can't bank on that. I also can't bank on competitions since there are so many people submitting to each competition. I will still submit by I got to rustle up new opportunities. There are a few colleagues I might investigate, but I know its time for the Chamberlains to take things more seriously. Maybe we need to put a recording out there? If we can get a recording project started with concerts lined up for 2012 and I can get another commission, I think 2011 will be spectacular!

Of course there are performances of pieces I wrote in 2010 for 2011, and its nice that I am not the one performing them. Its been a long time since I have had a piece performed that I wasn't performing it and both pieces include flute! My flute quartet "Tamar" will be performed at UAHuntsville New Music festival with prospects of other ensembles performing it in Georgia. My band piece will get a couple of performances in and out of Georgia. I just got to keep on writing more original music with a set ensemble in mind to sell it to.

Everything else will keep on track. Keep up with the students, keep up with the music engraving, keep up with the CraftHope projects and keep up with the hubby. I will also try not to obsess too much with the music career and try to have some non music related fun, don't want to burn out like I did with web design. Well, that's enough for the blog's longest ever post. Stay warm everyone!

Wedding March - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the traditional wedding tune by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, "Prince of Denmark's March" (Trumpet Voluntary). Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd Bb above the staff. Lowest note is F on the first space of the staff. Piece is approximately 2 1/2 minutes long. Great for Wedding Ceremonies! Could be used for wedding party processional, bride's processional, prelude music, or recessional. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary) Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the traditional wedding tune by Jeremiah Clarke, "Prince of Denmark's March" (Trumpet Voluntary). Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 1/2 minutes long. Great for Wedding Ceremonies! Could be used for wedding party processional, bride's processional, prelude music, or recessional. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Trumpet Tune and Air - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the traditional wedding tune by Henry Purcell, "Trumpet Tune and Air". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd B above the staff. Lowest note is C# below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Great for Wedding Ceremonies! Could be used for wedding party processional, bride's processional, prelude music, or recessional. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Alleluia, Sing to Jesus - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Traditional Easter Hymn, "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece begins in 3/4, transitions to 3/8, then back to 3/4. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Great for Easter church services! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Jesus Christ Is Risen Today! Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Traditional Easter Hymn, "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today!". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd A above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece begins in 4/4, transitions to 6/8, then back to 4/4. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Great for Easter church services! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the African American Spritual, "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is C# below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 1/2 minutes long. Great for Lent and Good Friday church services! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Haste to the Wedding Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 1 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Traditional Irish Melody, "Haste to the Wedding". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd B above the staff. Lowest note is C# below the staff. Piece is approximately 1 1/2 minutes long. Great for Wedding Ceremonies! Could be used for wedding party processional, bride's processional, prelude music, or recessional. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

What Wonderous Love Is This? Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 1/2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Amercian Folk Song, "What Wonderous Love Is This?". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is E above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 1/2 minutes long. Great for Lent, Good Friday, and Easter church services! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Auld Lang Syne Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Scottish Folk Song, "Auld Lang Syne". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 4/4, transitions to 6/8, then back to 4/4. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Great for those New Year's Eve Gigs! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2:30 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 4/4, transitions to 6/8, then ends in 3/4 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is E above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Coventry Carol - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Coventry Carol". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 3/4, transitions to 3/8, then back to 3/4 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

What Child Is This - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 3 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "What Child Is This". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece remains in 6/8. Highest note is 2nd A above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece is approximately 3 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Christmas Flute Duets

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Silent Night
Coventry Carol
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Pat-A-Pan
What Child Is This?

Arrangements of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", "Coventry Carol", "What Child Is This?", "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", and "Pat-a-Pan". Buy all 6 in one click! Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd A above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Each piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email. $12.00

Or Buy Them Seperately!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Silent Night
Coventry Carol
What Child Is This?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Pat-A-Pan

Pat-A-Pan - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 1 Minute 30 Seconds
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Pat-A-Pan". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in Cut Time, transitions to 3/4 then 2/4, then back to Cut Time. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately one minute and thirty seconds long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Smorgasbord Published

Smorgasbord
by Nicole Chamberlain
for solo flute and solo piccolo

Learn more about Smorgasbord here

Smorgasbord explores the different styles and textures a flutist can convey through the manipulation of the air stream. Through punching, clicks, bending, popping, fluttering, and even singing while playing, the flute can take on a metamorphosis of sound. The titles of the movements are analogous to a variety of textures found in food as well as the sounds of the flute. Through punches and aggressive attacks, the sound can be crunchy; though bending, it can be gelatinous; through pops, clicks and different embouchure shapes, it can be carbonated; with our friend the piccolo, singing while playing, and fluttering, it can sound fluffy. Certainly the flute has a "smorgasbord" of ingredients in the pantry that can be whipped up a delicious audio-culinary work.

Silent Night - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Silent Night". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece remains in 3/4. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 6/8, transitions to 2/4, then back to 6/8 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Confession Cam!

Here is the Atlanta Opera's "Confession Cam" for the 24 Hour Opera Project. I am the second interview on the camera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yexVeRN06f8

Video of the 24-Hour Opera!

Here is is! Scrub a Dub Raw!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1686970619254

Audience Choice Award!

We did it! We finished the opera and it won Audience Choice Award! I hope to have some photos and maybe even some video soon. The opera was called "Scrub a Dub Raw" and we had to use two props: a washboard and a rubber chicken. The theme had to be family reunion. I was then paired up at random with Vynnie Meli (http://www.vynniemeli.com) who was the librettist/lyricists. She was amazing to work with!

All three operas were incredible and I was glad to meet some nice, talented people (the bulk of whom were from Atlanta). I have to give alot of gratitude to the directors and cast who really sold the opera to the crowd and who I didn't get a chance to meet or hear until the performance: Beth Suryan (Stage Director), Catherine Schaefer (Music Director/Pianist), Vivian Clifton (Wife/Daughter-in-law), Andrea Green (Mother), Stephen McCool (Cop/Brother, Neighbor), Dennis Shumann (Brother).

Thanks to my cheerleading section which included my hubby, my parents, Brian Luckett, Julie Moxley, Gail Goodman, Curtis Bryant, and Clair and Margaret Hayes. Nice to have some support in the audience!

They did post the operning and you can see all of us picking our props and getting our partners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6lUin2igc&feature=youtu.be

World Premiere of Opera I haven't written yet!

I am announcing the premiere of an opera I have not even written yet!

November 7 at 7:30pm - FREE and open to the public
Georgia State University, Kopleff Recital Hall
Corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Avenue.
Atlanta, GA

This Saturday I begin writing an opera while sequestered at the Atlanta Opera offices. I have 12 hours to work with a librettist before I have to hand off my work to a stage director, singers, and pianist. None of whom I have met as of yet. All I know is the work will be 7-10 minutes and that I will have to include certain items that will be dictated to me by the Atlanta Opera. Should be a fun time! The concert is free and open to the public! Read more here: http://www.atlantaopera.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=43245957

Hope to see the cheerleading section there!