Dear Ann,

As the melodies of Restless Hearts linger and we eagerly anticipate Recast, we are are viscerally reminded how choral music can call us into a deeper experience of who we truly and create connection and belonging in a world where it is needed more than ever. We are grateful to you for co-creating these transformative experience with us.

As February begins, we are excited to invite you into Craig's studio, share a powerful performance of timely music by Florence Price, celebrate grant awards, welcome our newest member of the chamber choir's alto section, and share a calendar of upcoming events.

This month, Craig shares heartfelt reflections on our recent Restless Hearts concert, where many of you experienced Duruflé's beloved Requiem for the first time. Craig discusses how this masterwork holds special meaning in the choral repertoire and its connection to our upcoming concert, ReCast.

Restless Hearts Touches Hearts

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Restless Hearts - it felt incredible to gather with longtime and new friends and be immersed in the voices of Symphonic Choir, soloists Marques Jerrell Ruff, Tim O'Brien and Laura Mercado-Wright, and instrumentalists Faith DeBow and Austin Haller. A highlight was Florence Price's Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight. You can experience it on YouTube - just in time for Black History Month.

Artists and listeners alike were deeply moved by the music. Here are just a few of the reflections concert-goers shared about Restless Hearts:

"I don't know how the concerts seem to always have exactly the right music for the time- especially considering this one was programed for November... Thank you so much for these concerts, and for making them affordable to regular folks."

"Another moving Conspirare experience...Craig draws one voice from his choirs. Exquisite."

"My ears can still hear the voices of those angels! It was beautiful and so full...it's hard to describe the depth of the sound I heard."

Conspirare's Symphonic Choir is an auditioned choir of professional and volunteer musicians for the Greater Austin area with significant choral experience. Singers in the choir are teachers, doctors, librarians, IT professionals, business owners, social workers, retirees, and more by day and we are grateful they they bring their singing gifts to this choir. Symphonic Choir is an important part of our work to provide lifelong singing opportunities.

We connected with high school and university students as part of Restless Hearts.

Baritone soloist Marques Jerrell Ruff coaches the Tenor Bass choir at Austin's Liberal Arts and Science Academy. He also discussed his career and the Restless Hearts concert. Deric Lewis, LASA Choir Director and a member of our Community Engagement committee, is at the piano - thank you for hosting Marques!

Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson pauses during rehearsal for a photo with Dr. Michael Cooper, who edited the "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight", and a few of his Southwestern University students. Students returned for the concert.

Conspirare, a 2019 Texas Medal of Arts Award (TMAA) honoree, will be joining other previous honorees to recognize 2025 recipients at Austin’s Long Center for the Performing Arts on February 26. Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson will present the Texas Medal of the Arts Award for Arts Education to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA). A long time TMEA member, Craig penned “We Were Made for This” an inspiring pandemic feature for TMEA’s official publication Southwestern Musician membership magazine. 

Soprano Kathlene Ritch will also have a starring role. She’ll by joined TMEA choral students from Leander Independent School District in a medley of “Our Time” and “Children Will Listen." Later in the show Kathlene will be singing “I’ve Gotta’ Crow" from Peter Pan with the Hays Consolidated Independent School District’s Elementary Honors Choir to pay tribute to Sandy Duncan, this year’s honoree in musical theatre.

Awards Show tickets are now available from the Texas Cultural Trust.

This Valentine's Day, immerse yourself in the profound beauty of Shara Nova's (My Brightest Diamond) setting of David Whyte's poem "The House of Belonging" and the emotionally potent lullaby "I Have Never Loved Someone," arranged for choir.

We welcome you to experience these moving performances by clicking the links below. You can also deepen your connection with the music by downloading our complete House of Belonging digital booklet with lyrics and program notes.

• Sheet music for two tracks from House of Belonging is now available for choirs everywhere to sing. Margaret Bonds' "Joy," is available from Hildegard Publishing. Conspirare commissioned Sacred Place  and since the premiere, composer Alex Berko let us know it has received 13 performances in six states and three countries. The sheet music is now available from as part of the ECS Schirmer Craig Hella Johnson series.

• Our Conspirare community extends around the globe. Several of our artists are based in Los Angeles and we are grateful all are safe at this time. However, the larger arts community has been significantly impacted. Please consider supporting those affected through the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund.

Meet mezzo-soprano Zerrin Agabigum Martin, who will make her Conspirare debut in our upcoming ReCast later this month.

In our conversation with Zerrin, she shared her deep connection to choral music and what inspires her.

Currently filling her playlist is the music of Samara Joy: "Each time I listen to her, I hear new nuances and colors; she is one of my favorite artists."

When asked about what makes choral singing special, Zerrin's passion shines through: "My most meaningful and life-altering musical moments have occurred when I was singing in a choir. Choral singing provides me with the opportunity to share and give of myself authentically and generously. I believe that singers in choirs are afforded agency to connect with other singers and audiences; these connections reflect the greater values and parts of ourselves as humans. There is no greater gift that one can give than to share their voice in music within a community."

Outside of music, Zerrin enjoys a variety of interests: "I love to knit, exercise, and read! When I have time to read for enjoyment, I am a big fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery fiction!"

ReCast

Thursday, February 27 at 8 pm

Friday, February 28 at 8 pm

Tickets

Immerse yourself in music of deep lyricism, bold gestures and striking rhythms. Featuring Requiem in the Light, commissioned as part of the Joel Brauer Fund for New Music, and Mass in Exile from composer Mark Buller and librettist Leah Lax. 

Thank you to our concert sponsors Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Amplify Austin

The biggest giving event in Central Texas!

March 5-6

Hidden Music

April 26 - save the date for Conspirare's annual benefit with Craig Hella Johnson. Table Host and Sponsor Information coming this week!

All Night Vigil 

Saturday, May 10 at 8 pm 

St Martin’s Lutheran Church 606 W 15 St Austin, TX 78701 

Tickets 

Rachmaninoff’s profoundly moving and iconic All Night Vespers showcases the full range of the human voice. Performed by the Conspirare Symphonic Choir. 

Thank you for your presence and engagement in our community. Conspirare's music matters more than ever as we navigate this pivotal cultural and civic moment. Together, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create needed moments of beauty and belonging. You infuse every note we sing!

With gratitude,

Ann

Ann McNair

Managing Director

P.S. This month of love is a great time to listen to one of Craig's most enduring mashups, I Love You / What a Wonderful World.