I began today by taking a brisk walk into some rather cool, brisk, winds in Logan, Utah.  I have fond and vivid memories of Logan that go all the way back to 1992 when I was on tour with the Western Opera Theatre (San Francisco Opera).  I remember walking in this beautiful valley and thinking to myself how fortunate I was to be able to share great music with people all over the world and to be part of the family that passionately shares its collective talent .  I don’t know why this memory stuck so vividly but maybe it was the beautiful mountains that inspired me, just like this morning when I had very similar thoughts.

This time it’s different.  It’s not La Traviata.  It’s the St. Matthew Passion.  But there is a wonderful story that comes to mind.  It was on that W.O.T. tour, with folks that I still call friends, that I was part of a smaller group that did outreach to the schools and universities.  We did one here in Logan, and, we did one too at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.  I remember thinking how wonderful it was to work with such amazingly talented (and respectful) students.  Soon after, I was invited to apply for an open position at the University of Utah, and, in the fall of 1992, I began teaching there.  I never looked back and have been so fortunate to have been able to sing and teach in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  My students are even more talented now and usually pretty respectful too!

This weekend I am fortunate to be able to share the monumental Bach St. Matthew Passion with some wonderful friends and the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra.  I am thrilled to work again with Dr. Craig Jessop.  This man is a unique treasure to our art.  I met him years ago in Washington, DC when I was a guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I knew from our first hand-shake that this was a human being who cared and who would do profound things.   Later, when he joined the Choir as their conductor, I was able to share the stage with him and my Choir friends many times.  Those memories will never fade for me and I am honored to be part of the “team” that he assembled for this great work.   It’s an honor too to be able to perform with Celena Shafer.  Celena was my student at the U in the late 1990’s.  She’s gone on to do some amazing work, and, it’s just incredible for me to hear her sing her first SMP!  Ever curious, she has never stopped asking questions and loves to talk about singing, diction, and, all the things that make singing what it is.  It’s a pure joy to sing with her.  I join my good friend Darrell Babidge (Professor at BYU), John Buffett, Holly Sorenson, and, as the Evangelist, Paul Phoenix, known for his fine work with the King’s Singers.   We’re performing from the Robert Shaw edition.  Mr. Shaw often chose my mentor, Lorna Haywood, for his soprano, and, he was also a mentor to Craig.  I somehow convinced my wife (sister of my mentor) Julia to join me on this quest 25 years ago and, well, it’s just a big, big family that I feel so honored to be part of.  Of course, I could talk about Bach for hours but, I must get to work on memorizing my Verdi project.  More to come on that soon!!!

ALSO!!  For those of you in the Salt Lake area, come hear us in the amazing Cathedral of the Madeleine on Saturday, March 26th at noon!  Get there early!

Cheers!  Robert

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