Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

A choral conversation with past choral interns, Christine Freeman, MME, Megan Moore, Niccole Williams, MME, Emily Fish and Dr. Jamea Sale. Hosted by Dr. William O. Baker & Dr. Jamea J. Sale.

Choral Conversations

A Conversation with Past Interns of the William Baker Choral Foundation

The Beauty of Discontent

Infected with the beauty of discontent,
Sprouting flora of falsehood amid green envy lawns, Pollen grains pregnant with promise -
Blooming, wilting under the shadow sundial.

The violence of screens carves digital tattoos on soft minds,
Etherspace–the grand illusionist’s masterpiece born from code-words and pixel prayers;
Social media: fostering famine in a feast of connectivity,
Strangers until algorithms declare us friends... yet indifference binds stronger than a thousand likes. 

Between naked lines navigated the possibility for freedom -
A cartography mapping detours around expectation's traps.
Unsystem-owned eyes hollowed to see beyond neon façades fashioned by profit-prophets.
Peer undiluted at existence fermented! Seize moments like unharnessed embers escaping night-folk fire vignetted hills!

The Beauty Of Discontent

In Episode 6 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William O. Baker explores the Language of Spirituals in the African American tradition, shedding light on the cultural and musical significance of these powerful works. This week’s listener question addresses the perennial debate: Should choral directors use a baton? Finally, today’s inspiration is Alice Parker’s beautiful arrangement of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” performed by The William Baker Festival Singers of Atlanta from their 2015 album Voice of Singing. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion and a moving celebration of choral artistry!

The Choral Director's Toolbox: Ep 6-On the Language of Spirituals

In Episode 17 of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker addresses one of the toughest realities in church music leadership: I’ve Been Fired from My Church Position—Now What? Learn how to respond with professionalism, protect your future, and move forward after an unexpected termination. This week’s listener question discusses strategies for dealing with negativity in a choral ensemble. Today’s inspiration features Samuel Barber’s powerful Agnus Dei, performed by The William Baker Festival Singers. Tune in for an honest, practical, and encouraging conversation about resilience in the choral profession.

The Choral Director's Toolbox: Ep 17-I’ve Been Fired from My Church Position—Now What?

123 Stella By Starlight

toad demo 1.m4a

I. Scisma

Spaces Filled - in process

Come to me in the silence of the night; 
Come in the speaking silence of a dream; 
Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright 
As sunlight on a stream; 
Come back in tears, 
O memory, hope, love of finished years.
  O dream how sweet, too sweet, too bitter sweet, 
Whose wakening should have been in Paradise, 
Where souls brimful of love abide and meet; 
Where thirsting longing eyes 
Watch the slow door 
That opening, letting in, lets out no more.  
Yet come to me in dreams, that I may live
 My very life again though cold in death:
 Come back to me in dreams, that I may give 
Pulse for pulse, breath for breath: 
Speak low, lean low 
As long ago, my love, how long ago. 
					—Christina Rossetti

Come to Me In Dreams

Lilting, mystical arrangement of the classic Advent plainchant melody, with text in the original Latin. Commissioned by the Te Deum Chamber Choir of Kansas City, completed in July 2019, and premiered by the ensemble on December 8, 2019.

Spaces Filled - in process

jim_soundartist

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JUDITH MARKOVICH • COMPOSER

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