Dear Ann,

Happy New Year! We are beginning the new year with full hearts and excitement for the months ahead. Your presence in our community inspires and uplifts all of us.

There is so much to share this month! We invite you to join Craig in his studio to explore venues and their importance, remember a full month of singing joy, celebrate Considering Matthew Shepard, and join us at one of our upcoming concerts. Read on for those stories and more.

Conspirare Christmas was experienced anew in three new venues including Hogg Auditorium. Craig shares his perspective on the importance of venues along with a few of his favorites. Share your thoughts in the YouTube comments!

Conspirare Christmas filled Hogg Auditorium with sounds of the season Photo: Sandy Carson.

December was truly the season of singing! From Conspirare Christmas to Big Sing: Holiday and two community concerts, thank you for gathering and singing with us to create so many memorable moments of connection and inspiration.

Conspirare Christmas was a powerful celebration of music and community in Austin, Houston, Minneapolis and St. Michael and via the livestream. So many of you shared how the music moved you and brought meaning to the season.

We are grateful to these choirs who joined us from the audience:

We extend our deepest gratitude to our concert sponsors, Fran & Larry Collmann, whose generous support was made in loving memory of Dean Collmann, and to the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Conspirare's Artist Citizen Choral Collective trebles filled the atrium with song at the Blanton Museum's Jingle Jam. Two singers from Vandergrift H.S. joined CACCC, experiencing the power of connecting in the community through singing.

Above: CACCC Artists pause for a photo between sets. Photo: Manny Alcala

Members of Conspirare's Symphonic Choir brought the gift of song to the Dell Children's Medical Center's Holiday Village. In addition to live music for shoppers, singers recorded carols for Dell Children's Television (DCTV) special holiday program broadcast on Christmas day. DCTV is broadcast to every patient room within the hospital and ensures every patient and family can participate in the hope and cheer the holidays bring. 

Two days later Symphonic singers were back in action at the Holiday Big Sing. Big Singers enjoyed holiday favorites and songs including a vibrant "The Eyes of Texas" as the Longhorn football team played their first playoff game just a streets away!

Santa takes the podium for a holiday cheer at the Dell Children's Holiday Village as families shop toys.

Symphonic Choir singers in the recording studio with Dell Children's Foundation colleague Ashely Hernandez.

Above: It was all smiles at the Big Sing: Holiday! Photos: Sandy Carson

KMFA's "Top Twelve Classical Highlights in Austin from 2024" includes Considering Matthew Shepard at no. 6, saying: "This revival was not only a powerful musical experience but also a deeply personal and emotional evening that left a lasting impact on all who attended...This revival brought renewed urgency to its themes of compassion, hope, and humanity."

Classical Guitar Alive's current episode features Isaac Bustos. Isaac shares one a powerful moment he experienced while recording How Little You Are (HLYA) with Conspirare. Listen here beginning at the 36:53 minute mark then revisit HLYA on the GRAMMY-nominated album The Singing Guitar.

Conspirare Christmas made news with our Hogg Memorial Auditorium debut and first Christmas tour outside of Texas:

Conspirare Christmas fosters tradition, holiday spirit at UT (The Daily Texan)

Conspirare brings its holiday choral collage to town (YourClassical from Minnesota Public Radio)

Dianne Donovan and Craig Hella Johnson talk Conspirare Christmas on the December 1 episode of Classical Austin.

The search continues for a dynamic leader to serve as Conspirare's Director of Development. The ideal candidate will bring strategic fundraising expertise with a passion for the arts and a dedication to building meaningful relationships.

We invite you to share this opportunity with passionate arts professionals in your network who might help shape Conspirare's future.

Restless Hearts

With Conspirare Symphonic Choir

Saturday, November 16 at 8 pm

University Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX

Buy Tickets

ReCast

Thursday, February 27 at 8 pm

Friday, February 28 at 8 pm

Featuring Requiem in the Light, commissioned from composer Mark Buller and librettist Leah Lax,

All Night Vigil 

Saturday, May 10 at 8 pm 

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

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

ReCast and All Night Vigil tickets go on sale this month!

Priority ticket sales* begin Tuesday, January 14 at 12 noon Central.

Public ticket sales begin Friday, January 17 at 12 pm Central.

*Priority ticket sales are a benefit for Hella Circle members and donors who make an annual gift of $500 or more. Eligible donors will receive ticket ordering information by email from Ali Lewis on Tuesday, January 7.i

As we step into this new year together, one moment from 2024 continues to linger in my thoughts. While our Symphonic singers filled the Dell Children's Medical Center with song from behind a wall adjacent to the lobby during their rehearsal, a grandfather came up to me, saying, "I heard it and knew it wasn't the radio." He stood listening for 20 minutes.

Your support, presence, and love of music continues to inspire us to create meaningful connections through song - sometimes in the most unexpected places. What Conspirare moment keeps popping up for you? I'd love to hear about it (or them!). Please feel free to share your moment(s) with my by replying to this note.

Together, we're building a community where music serves as a powerful force for healing, understanding, and inspiration.

With deep gratitude on behalf of All of Us at Conspirare,

Ann

Ann McNair

Managing Director

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