MICHAEL T ROBERTS
  • Audio
  • About
    • Highlights from the Musical Life of Mike
    • Press Kit
  • Works
  • Commission
    • Previous Commissions
    • Commission Ideas and Process
  • News/Blog
    • Upcoming Concerts
  • More
    • Lessons
    • Duo Symphonious
    • Guitar Jukebox
    • Store
  • Contact

News/Blog

Kindergarteners Rule!!!

5/26/2017

 
This school year, I've had the good fortune of serving as the kindergarten music teacher at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, where my son attends (and my daughter will attend this fall). It would be difficult to overstate how much fun it is to play music with these kids. I always leave class with a smile that lasts for days. 

Yesterday, May 25, we had our end-of-year show for the parents. We performed our very own original tune, "Things We Love," with lyrics supplied by the kids, and the French song "Le petit chaperon rouge et le chasseur" ("Little Red Riding Hood and the Hunter"). Learning French alongside the kids has been a delightful perk of the job. 

The kids rocked it. See for yourself! 

Judging the ASTA competition

5/22/2017

 
All I can say is that the future of classical music is in excellent hands. 

On Sunday, May 21, I served as one of three judges for the American String Teachers Association SF Chapter's competition finals, here in Berkeley at the Crowden School. Students of violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, or harp compete in two divisions: Youth (age 14 and under) and Junior (age 15-18). (There is also a Senior division that did not hold a competition this year.) This was my second time judging the ASTA finals, in addition to helping select finalists from a preliminary round of video auditions.

Read More

"Stars" premiered in VT and NH

5/1/2017

 
When I decided to dedicate the lion's share of my composing time to choral music back in fall 2014, I knew it was likely to be an exercise in delayed gratification. It takes time to build a body of work, establish relationships with choirs and directors, and shepherd a piece all the way from the sketchpad to the concert stage.

I'm happy to report that the first of my recent choral crop has been sung publicly for the first time. The choral ensemble Full Circle, under the direction of Jennifer Yocom, premiered my setting of Robert Frost's "Stars" at concerts in Bradford, VT and Lyme, NH on April 28 and 29. 

"Stars" is one of four pieces in my cycle of SATB a cappella settings of Frost poems, from his collection A Boy's Will. I call this cycle Hymns from a Meadow: four seasons in a secluded, sacred spot in northern New England. So I am beyond delighted to have this first Hymns premiere take place in the Upper Valley of VT and NH: Frost's stomping grounds, and my favorite place in the world.  

My heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Yocom and Full Circle for taking a chance on this new work, and for their hard work in bringing it to life!

Coming up later this year—here in my current Bay Area home—my frequent collaborators Pacific Edge Voices will premiere the entire Hymns from a Meadow, performing "In Hardwood Groves" and "Stars" (Fall/Winter) this fall, and "A Prayer In Spring" and "Rose Pogonias" (Spring/Summer) in spring 2018.  

    Author

    Composer Michael T Roberts shares his thoughts on writing, playing, and teaching music. Comments? Please e-mail Mike. 

    Archives

    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    A Cappella
    Choral
    Classical Guitar
    Commissions
    Composition
    Teaching

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
mike@hotmike.com   •   415 260 2091
Subscribe to Mike's e-Newsletter
  • Audio
  • About
    • Highlights from the Musical Life of Mike
    • Press Kit
  • Works
  • Commission
    • Previous Commissions
    • Commission Ideas and Process
  • News/Blog
    • Upcoming Concerts
  • More
    • Lessons
    • Duo Symphonious
    • Guitar Jukebox
    • Store
  • Contact