It was a wonderful evening spent with the Cantabile Chamber Singers as they recorded my new choral work, Praying to Trees. Under the direction of Cheryll Chung, the choir moved through the recording session with remarkable focus and artistry, resulting in an exceptionally polished interpretation. The session took place in the beautiful acoustic of Humbercrest United Church, with expert audio engineer Dennis Patterson skillfully capturing every detail of the performance.
This recording followed closely on the heels of Cantabile’s world premiere performance just a few weeks earlier. That experience was made even more meaningful by the presence of my good friend Kathleen Burke, who wrote the text for the piece. It was an honour to have my music presented alongside works by so many composers I deeply admire that night. The choir was in outstanding form, bringing warmth, nuance, and artistry to a beautifully curated program.
Praying to Trees is a contemplative a cappella choral work that explores humanity’s spiritual relationship with the natural world. The piece weaves together themes of listening, presence, and interconnectedness, inviting both singers and audiences to experience trees as sources of wisdom, healing, and quiet reverence, while also reflecting on the urgency of environmental stewardship.
I’ve admired Cantabile’s artistry for many years, so receiving this commission to compose a new work for them — and having the opportunity to workshop the music with the choir earlier last month — has been incredibly meaningful.
From workshopping, to performance, and now recording, it’s been a great collaboration with Cantabile. The recording would have never been possible without the support of the Ontario Arts Council. We’re planning to release the recording as a single later this year. Stay tuned to my social media channels, blog, and e-newsletter for updates as the project progresses.
