Dear Conspirare Friends,

We are sending the June monthly note a second time to correct to location Craig Hella Johnson's upcoming guest appearance with the Oregon Bach Festival. The concert will be in Eugene, OR (Not Portland) and is updated below. The original link is still included and has the correct information.

With thanks,

All of Us at Conspirare

PS If you are not in range of Oregon, we invite you to revisit Conspirare's Path of Miracles recording.

Conspirare Gives Back to the Choral Community

Conspirare and Craig Hella Johnson had the chance to contribute to key conversations among choral leaders at Chorus America's recent annual meeting. Craig led a roundtable of choral leaders in a conversation about collaborations. He also helped raise funds to grow and support choral professionals, leading Chorus America's annual Gala and Celebration. Craig performed "Song of Gratitude" and "I Love You/What a Wonderful World," and bass-baritone Dashon Burton joined him for "Simple Gifts."

Robert Kyr, composer of Conspirare-commissioned Earth Ritual, was part of a discussion led by Dr. Kirsten Hedegaard, founder of the EcoVoice Project, on how choral music provides a unique opportunity to meet anxiety and loss due to climate crisis. Kyr shared an excerpt from Conspirare's performance of Earth Ritual. Watch the world premiere below.

Conspirare Seeks Hosts for Traveling Artists

Each season, Conspirare artists come together in Austin, Conspirare's home base, for a week or more to rehearse, perform, and record. Conspirare depends on music lovers who can provide appropriate accommodations for our traveling artists. While hosts gain friendships, artists enjoy a home environment during their stay. Longtime empty nester DeeAnne Paulson (shown here with Drayton Eggleson, Anna Christofaro, and Lara Alami) and her husband enjoy hosting artists in their home. “Being a host has drawn us closer to Conspirare,” DeeAnne says. “And we always receive more from these talented artists than we give!”

Learn more.

Ambassador Spotlight: Rebecca Miller

Rebecca Miller has been volunteering as a Conspirare Ambassador since 2019. Rebecca recalls that her father, a self-taught musician, taught her to sing harmony on family vacations since the car lacked an FM radio. Her love of singing took her on the road with a musical group for a time and she's performed in churches, schools, on military bases, and in bands--from country music to jazz. Rebecca is a member of Conspirare's Symphonic Choir, grateful for all she's learned and for Craig's generosity as a conductor.

"Volunteering as an ambassador for Conspirare allows me to have a small part in bringing joy and healing to our community in a way I could never do on my own," Rebecca says. Conspirare's volunteer ambassadors warmly welcome concertgoers, help with crucial duties in the office, and call to thank ticket buyers.

Thank you to volunteer Ambassadors for welcoming everyone to the Big Sing last month: Courtney Aguilar, Linda Cameron, David Cameron, Ali Carraher, Stephanie Foster, Michelle Fisher, Henry Leighton, Nancy Lesch, Beth Pierce, Pat and Ken Reed, Kathy Taylor, and Jing Wu. We're also grateful for Ambassadors who committed time to make calls to patrons this spring: Ali Carraher, Michelle Fisher, Stephanie Foster, Sara Hilgers, Dell Lawhead, Pat Reed, Kathy Taylor, Veryan Thompson, and Jane Rundquist

Learn how you can become a Conspirare Ambassador.