Day seven was full of lectures and conducting.  Fine lectures by Jame Jordan, the President of St. Stevens House, James Whitbourn, and 4 hours of conducting practice with the choir.  This was on top of a two hour rehearsal they had for their own concert tomorrow.  The evening ended with Compline and I think everyone will sleep well tonight.

There are 25 conductors attending CMI.  Each one is unique, interesting and passionate about what they do.  I would say about 1/2 have some connection to Westminster having been students or attended the institute the previous year.  The rest of us have been recommended by someone for the most part.  In order to get the most conducting time for the first 7 days we have been in two separate groups for the masterclass portion of the day.  Even though we do everything else together, I realize that I don’t know the people in the other group as well.  I think there is something intimate about watching other conductors going through the same issues in the masterclasses.  Being vulnerable, working with James and growing.  This has made the smaller groups a little more bound together.  I had feared that the other directors might be snobbish or standoffish but I haven’t found that to be the case for the most part.  Most of the directors consider themselves introverts but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting characters in the bunch!   The skill level among the group is pretty advanced.  Each director with very few exceptions has been able to do well standing in front of Williamson Voices.  We have a lot of bad habits to lose and there is still a ways to go but these are by no means beginning conductors.  I have a profound respect for each of these people and have learned a lot just from watching them grow in their craft.  To make things even better they are good people too!

Fen Motetten

II. Bon by Thomas Jennefelt

Jacob Finkle, Conductor