Other Composer Symposiums I've Attended

After attending my first Composer Symposium in Atlanta, in 2018, I decided to attend the Symposium in Austin, Texas; October 15-17, 2018. The Clinicians at this 'Composium' were: Joseph Martin, Robert Sterling, Patti Drennan, Pam Robertson and Brad Nix.

At that time, I submitted what I considered was a Choir Anthem, SATB with a SA descant. This song was made from the last part of a testimony song, that I had basically written just to put on my website, so people could find out a little about me. I titled it "Testing".

I hung out with a new friend I met there, Cathy DeRousse. She teaches Songwriting at East Texas Baptist University. She is a Collaborative Artist/University Organist, and a Director at Bennett Technology Lab. She was able to give me some detailed tips on my song. The surprising comment I received from the Clinicians was that they would not consider this song a "Choir Anthem". They said they would describe it as more of a production number. Afterward, one of the ladies that was attending, came up to me and said she thought my piece could remade into a mini, modern day opera, and another gentleman told me that he used to do annual musicals, but had not done any since he moved, but I had inspired him to get back into it.

After Brad Nix's lecture on music theory rules for part writing, (which I never even knew existed), I decided I needed to work in this area.

June 10-13th, 2019; when decided to attended my 3rd Composer Symposium. It was back in Atlanta again. This time, to work on my part writing, I wrote a Hymn, titled "Generational Relay" based on a sermon I heard Ravi Zacharias preach, Titled "Raised to Run".

I also had an unexpected thrill, when the accompanist at our church, (Miriam Moon) played my hymn as the offertory, in the Sunday evening service before I left. When she heard I was going, she asked me to bring her a copy, but I had no idea she would play it in the service.

In this conference, I was able to meet even more friends. One of which was Janis Dalrymple. Janis also writes and records children's music. She has an album titled His Word in Me. Her desire is to put Scripture verses and lessons children need to learn, to tunes, so children can learn them more easily. We had so much in common. Check out her website at hiswordinme.com.

The clinicians were: Joseph Martin, Robert Sterling, Brad Nix, Rick Nichols, Heather Sorenson and John Purifoy.