Bill Heigen

A New Year

January 15, 2018

A New Year has begun and we are already at the end of the first month! Time flies!
And for me, the New Year already brought me good news!
I am happy to announce that two of my sacred works were published this month by Paraclete Press.
Please, feel free to visit Paraclete’s page and check it out!

Ave Verum Corpus (a cappella SATB)
https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/ave-verum-corpus/
“A lovely version of the Eucharistic prayer, this features mostly homophonic writing with rich harmonies primarily in D-flat and G-flat major.”
Psalm 23 (a cappella SSATBB with divisi)

https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/psalm-23-2/
“An ambitious setting of the beloved psalm, this features a rich 6-part texture, with chromaticism and fluid harmony. A wide vocal range enhances the expressivity of this anthem for advanced choirs.”

May 2018 be the happiest year of our lives!

Messiah Debut

December 10, 2017

Yesterday, I had the privilege and the honor to share the stage with great people during what I love to do: singing. It was my debut as the tenor soloist for Handel's Messiah. The evening was magical with snow outside, stunning church, amazing choir and orchestra, and beautiful music. I feel lucky to have this opportunity to make music in such an especial occasion. Please, take a look at the video that I recorded from the performance yesterday:

Caroling Marathon

December 1, 2017

December has just begun, and the New York Holiday Choristers are crazy busy! This is my 5th season singing with the group! Also, this is my second year as a singer at their men’s group, the Men Singing Carols! This is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and I am so glad I can sing my brains out all over New York! It is so much fun!!!! If you want to check out the best caroling group in the tristate area, go visit their website:

newyorkholidaychoristers.com

mensingingcarols.com

Compline Concert

November 27, 2017

It is always an honor for any composer to have their pieces performed by professional musicians! Last Sunday, I got just that! Three of my pieces where performed by amazing musicians and friends! St. Michael’s Episcopal Church is a gorgeous place for worship, and they have an outstanding Music Program in which contemporary composers like myself get their voices heard. Wanna hear the results? Here we go:

Carmina Burana and Contest in Poland

November 18, 2017

This past month has been a wide journey both in my personal life and career.
Great things have happened, and I would like to briefly share with you all 2 of the most important ones:

1 – Thanks to the National Chorale (http://nationalchorale.com/), I sang “Carmina Burana” at Lincoln Center under the guidance of the amazing Everett McCorvey. I have to tell you that by the end of the performance, I was taken by the power that lies on making great music surrounded by great people in one of the coolest cities of the world: New York City.

2 – Recently, my “Ave Maria” was performed in Lubaczow, Poland in a choir competition. Conducted by Kornelia Igneas, the choir Alba Cantans who performed my piece, was awarded the second prize! It amazes me the fact that my music can reach places that I have never dreamed of visiting! So cool!

The story behind the song

October 8, 2017

Last Sunday I had the pleasure to hear my piece “Duo Seraphim” being beautifully sung by 4 great singers conducted by a dear friend in a place that I simply love! What could be better than this?

"Duo Seraphim" is a result of an unuccessful comissioned work where the contracting party claimed the piece was not good enough for its intended use, even though both parties followed all guidelines during the project. Basically, the project was ended without any reasonable explanation.

After this incident, I decided to try something: I advertised my piece on social media to see how the public would receive it.

As a result, I got 26 choirs from four different countries showing interest in performing my piece, even producing a concert recording! I got some emails with people saying things like:

“beautiful work”, “Sounds great. We’d love to sing it with our choir.”, “It's a beautiful piece”, “thank you so much for making this available”, “Thank you for sharing this”, “This is lovely”, “Sounds nice. Thank you for offering this.”, “I have had a listen to the Soundcloud version and really liked what I heard.”, “Whatever the reason it won't be premiered, shame on them. Thank you for this lovely composition.”

Those comments came from choral directors from Japan, Indonesia, UK and the US. The sample track posted on my SoundCloud page already got more than 350 listeners and counting. This is so great, and if it wasn’t for this unfortunate situation, I would not have reached that many people!

Now I know that a lot of people like my piece, and after hearing it being performed last Sunday, I could not be happier!

Below, a video of the premiere:

Resurrection

August 27, 2017

Last Saturday I had the pleasure to sing Mahler's Symphony number 2 for the second time in my career. This piece brings me so many memories of a time in which I was living in Brazil and trying to figure out so many things in my life. I can say that I am a totally different person now! Time changes us profoundly! Yesterday, besides the fact that singing this piece is an emotional experience, I was also mesmerized by the fact that here in the US, people are capable of putting together a concert featuring such a demanding piece in a mid-size church. It wasn't even a concert hall, it was just a church in Chelsea. The beauty and the message was not lost at all. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of a project like this, and I cannot compliment enough all of those entrepreneurial musicians and music lovers that could bring closer to the public such a magnificent symphony!

Well done Litha Symphony Orchestra!

www.lithasymphony.org

Chameleon Summer Institute

July 3, 2017

I have been thinking lately about how Choral Music has become a niche, and as the years pass, less and less people have contact with this kind of art, and therefore, it feels like nobody really cares about it.

From the moment I had my first contact with Choral Music, I got so addicted to it, that I can no longer go on with my life without it.

This past week, despite of the Summer heat (which I do not like, lol), I got the opportunity to be invited (for the third time) by my dear friend Vince Peterson to be part of the professional choir that works as a "lab choir" for Chameleon's Summer Institute!

It is such a rewarding opportunity to make music with such a talented group of people, and to be able to hear and perform stunning pieces in a perfect acoustic at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY.

I am grateful to live in a world in which this kinds of moments still exist!

As long as I live, Choral Music will never die!!!!

If you want to know more about the Institute, please, take a look at the following links:

www.choralchameleon.com/institute.html

All Things Possible

May 18, 2017

May we indulge the notion that there is a resource that is more sustainable and indefinitely renewable that will make it ALL possible? No matter the challenge. No matter the obstacles. No matter how mutually exclusive two needs may appear, we believe there is always a way found in HUMAN INGENUITY.

Come join Schola Cantorum on Hudson as we celebrate the power of creativity and human inventiveness. Be the first to hear premiers of great pieces such as Robert Schuneman's "Prophecy" and Wayne Eastwood's "Heart, We Will Forget Him." Listen to other great pieces such as Ivo Antognini's "My Song" or Stephen Paulus's "Embracing All" or other fantastic arrangements from Bill Simpkin and Gregg Smith, as well as much, much more!

We look forward to seeing you all there!

scholaonhudson.org

St. Michael’s Church Soloist Octet

May 10, 2017

This is my third season singing at this church already! Last Sunday, this group of cool people and great musicians, under the guidance of Scott Rednour, once again gave life to my Psalm 23 setting a cappella! In the picture, from left to right we have:

Soprano - Marilyn Lenat
Alto - Laura Bennett
Bass - Steve Friedman
Bass - Tony Ramos
Tenor - Willis Partington
Alto - Hallie Stotler
Soprano - Kathleen Cantrell
Tenor - Bill Heigen (me!!!)

We perform every Wednesday at 8:30pm on the Compline Service, and every Sunday at 10:00am on the Regular Service, from October through May. For more info about St. Michael’s music programs and schedule, click on the link below:

www.saintmichaelschurch.org

Annual Spring Gala

May 5, 2017

Annual Spring Gala

Last Friday I had the pleasure to give a speech (most like a stand-up comedy moment, lol) for about 150 people. I shared some of my experiences as a composer connected to Project Encore! It was a great Gala event hosted by Schola Cantorum on Hudson in a gorgeous venue at West Orange, NJ. For this season, I am working as a ringer for this choir. “Project Encore is a free catalog of contemporary choral music reviewed and endorsed by a panel of renowned conductors”.

I am so blessed for having four of my pieces accepted in this prestigious catalog!! Also, they are about to have an article published on the Choral Journal Volume 56 Number 4!! Deborah King, the Founder and Director of this project is one of the greatest supporters of my career. Schola already performed some of my music, and Deborah is always giving me great reviews! She is a great conductor, and we can see her work reflected on the high quality performances delivered by Schola’s singers under her direction.

It has been such a joy to be part of all of this, and I am extremely grateful for Deborah and Schola for being part of my career trajectory. I strongly suggest you to visit Project Encore’s website, the full article at Choral Journal, and also, Schola’s upcoming concerts! Please, visit the links below:

http://projectencore.org/

http://projectencore.org/sites/default/files/archive/2015-11-cj.pdf

scholaonhudson.org/

Mozart Requiem

April 5, 2017

This weekend I will be singing Mozart's Requiem at Lincoln Center in NYC!
This piece was the very first piece I have sung in a professional setting! Therefore, singing it again brings back many memories from the beginning of my career in Brazil.

Let me share with you something that I always think about in moments of anxiety and uncertainty:

"If Mozart, who was a genius, had financial issues, depression issues and not enough recognition as an artist during his life, why should I feel sad when I fail in prevent those kind of issues? If even genius like him have no guarantee of a successful and pain-free life, no one else has! Therefore, there is little I can do to improve myself and my career. It does not depend only on me!"

That thought brings me relief! Maybe should bring some to you as well.

In the meantime, if you want to check this concert out, feel free to go to the following website:

http://www.lincolncenter.org/show/national-chorale-mozart-requiem-everett-mccorvey-artistic-director

See you there! :)

An Amazing Choir!

February 11, 2017

I got three things to say about the joint concert with The Tallis Scholars last Wednesday:

1 - This is how Choral Music should sound like. Period.
2 - There is as much talent in this picture as the color green in a rain forest.
3 - I love Choral Music, and as long as I am capable of singing in tune, and there are others willing to sing with me, I will be doing this!

Thank you Carnegie Hall, The Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips, George Steel, Amanda Fischer, Douglas Beck, and all the crew for providing us an amazing musical experience!

This was one of the greatest accomplishments of my career as a choral singer, and I am glad to share this moment with such wonderful people!

Till next time!!!

Venetian Voices: The Splendors of San Marco

January 15, 2017

The New Year just has started, and we are entering the 3rd week of January! Time goes by really fast!!!! As the New Year begins, many people are trying to change some habits, and others, like me, are welcoming new projects to their lives. I am welcoming to my live an amazing opportunity to do something really cool: meet The Tallis Scholars and sing with them in an amazing concert!

“Dear Bill,

Congratulations! On behalf of the Artist Training Programs team at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, I am delighted to invite you to participate in The Tallis Scholars Workshop February 3-8, 2017 (inclusive) in New York City. All of us were greatly impressed with your audition and are looking forward to working with you in Carnegie Hall’s new Resnick Education Wing.”

With that letter that I got last month, I prepare myself for a great year with more music, more fun, and new friends.
If you are in New York City, please, do not miss the opportunity to attend to this concert! It will be a blast!
Click on the link below to learn more about the concert and purchase your tickets!!!

https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2017/2/8/0800/PM/Venetian-Voices-The-Splendors-of-San-Marco/

May this New Year be a time of accomplishments and happiness for all of you!!!!

Christmas time is here!

December 2, 2016

Christmas time is here!

The Holiday Season is already upon us, bringing lots of fun, lots of food and lots of MUSIC!!!!!! This is the fourth year in which I have guaranteed enjoyment. As a professional choral singer, singing Christmas carols is one of the more entertaining things to do during this season. I am blessed for being part of such a great group of people: the New York Holiday Choristers and the Men Singing Carols!!!! Please, take a look at their website! Also, check this video out! Merry Christmas!!!

newyorkholidaychoristers.com
mensingingcarols.com

National Chorale - Gershwin

October 23, 2016

Last Friday I had the honor to perform with National Chorale at Lincoln Center. For those who don’t know this choir, let me briefly describe it:

IT IS AN AMAZING CHOIR!!!!!

Great singers, awesome atmosphere, outstanding conductor and the repertoire is just the BEST.

The concert was entitled “A Gershwin Celebration”. It was “an evening of music by the celebrated American composer, including A Tribute to Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, interpreted as “a musical portrait of New York City” and stunning, exciting and moving selections packed with human emotions from Porgy and Bess.”

“The National Chorale, New York’s premier professional choral company, will be celebrating its 49th Lincoln Center Season during 2016-2017, with infrequently performed works, and its continuing series of 20th century American Classics.

Founded in 1967, the National Chorale is the only professional choral company in the United States to have established and maintained an annual subscription season in the major New York City concert halls – 49 seasons in David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall) with additional concerts at Carnegie Hall. The Chorale presents a broad repertory of choral-orchestral works; seldom-performed works from many stylistic periods; opera-in-concert; American music theatre; and contemporary works, including commissions by the Chorale for its Lincoln Center Season.”

I am truly happy with the opportunity to work for such a great organization. Also, it was my debut at Lincoln Center.

For more info about the choir, please, visit www.nationalchorale.com

Compline Service at St. Michael's Church

October 8, 2016

Last Wednesday, we had our first Compline service of the season. This service is definitely one of the highlights of my week. Imagine a beautiful church, all the lights turned off, 8 professional singers singing the best sacred a cappella repertoire for 20 minutes straight. Under the guidance of the conductor and music director John Cantrell, it is a magical experience regardless anyone’s system of beliefs. I strongly recommend everyone to attend this service at least once during this season.

Every Wednesday, from 8:30pm to 9:00pm at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The picture above was taken after the first Compline service. On the picture, you can see the conductor and the 8 professional singers in charge of the service.

More about the church: www.saintmichaelschurch.org
Live recording of the service:

The Revenger's Tragedy: A Jacobean Musical

September 11, 2016

Hi everyone!

Despite the warm weather, the Summer is over and the Fall is around the corner.
It is time to be prepared for the upcoming season! This is gonna be the first time I am working with Musical Theater in the US!
The Revenger’s Tragedy is one of my newest projects, and I invite all of you to take a look at the following video and donate through the link below!

“The Revenger’s Tragedy:The Musical tells the story of what would happen if a tyrant was leading a corrupt government, or when the Church is corrupted and the citizens are fighting for change to the system. The citizens rebel and take matters into their own hands, often finding vengeance against their leader or even each other. It’s amazing that a play that's over 400-years-old is still relevant to today’s world and we believe now it's time to bring this piece to audiences in the 21st Century.”

The Revenger's Tragedy: A Jacobean Musical
Book by Michael Wysong
Lyrics by Greg Kefalas
Music by Bill Heigen
Creative Producer: Craig M. Rosenthal
Executive Producer: Matt McKenna

For donations, click the link below:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-revenger-s-tragedy-the-musical-music#/

The concert was a blast!!!

July 2, 2016

“Jubilee Chorus in New York City presented a successful concert on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church. The recital hall filled with choir members' families and friends. The concert featured choral repertoires that include gospel, popular, Broadway, a cappella, and sacred styles of music. A number of soloists also performed songs with which they resonated and identified.”

“Song after song, the audience responded joyfully with applause. Families and friends greeted singers with smiles and congratulatory remarks. A Chinese member of New York Immanuel Church enjoyed the concert with her young daughter and husband. "I brought my daughter because she loves to sing," she shared. "When she heard Jubilee Chorus sing as she entered, she was so excited. Praise and worship before God is truly a beautiful thing."

I am so grateful for still being able to make music with great people for a greater purpose. This world needs more music, and as long as I am able to provide it, I will be just fine!

Please, take a moment to visit Jubilee’s website at http://www.jubileechoir.org/ and take a look at the following video from one of the songs performed at the concert!

Seasonal Concert with Jubilee Chorus

June 25, 2016

If you are in New York City this Saturday, come join me for a fun and nice concert.
I have the pleasure to conduct the Jubilee Choir.
On its all female version, the choir have worked hard to put together a pleasant repertoire of some old and new standard gospel songs.
We will have solo numbers, duets, and even brand new choral arrangements.
And the best part is: FREE ADMISSION!
Put some live music on your Saturday night!

When: Saturday, June 25, 2016, at 7:30 PM

Where: St. Michael's Episcopal Church (225 W 99th Street, New York, 10025).

My piece won MCE's Audience Favorite award!

February 27, 2016

The Manhattan Choral Ensemble’s singular choral music competition, New Music for New York, returned Saturday, February 27 to the DiMenna Center for Classical Music. In this interactive concert, the choir premiered three compositions selected by our artistic panel, and audience members each voted for their favorite. The program included Benjamin Britten’s “Flower Songs” as well as beloved folk songs. Bill Heigen’s “Refuge”, a setting of the Sara Teasdale poem, won our Audience Favorite distinction, earning an encore performance and an additional prize.

I WON A PRIZE!!!!

January 14, 2016

“it is my pleasure to inform you that our competition committee has chosen your submissions as our 2015-16 selections. As a winner, you will be awarded a prize. Congratulations!”. After everything I went through since I decided to move to US to work on my musical career in a foreign land, these words made my cry like a baby. They were sent by the people from Manhattan Choral Ensemble. This prestigious choir will premiere one of my choral pieces, and this means that my music is somehow worth listening to. This reminds me that I should never give up, and you know, I am just happy. I WON A PRIZE IN THE US! This is a HUGE accomplishment, and yes, I wanna share this with all of you, my dear friends, who have been so supportive all along the way! THANK YOU!!! More details about the performance you can find by clicking on the image below:

Merry Christmas!

December 21, 2015

"It is the most wonderful time of the year."

After a wonderful concert with Chameleonic singing my own piece, I spent the holidy season caroling all over the city with The New York Holiday Choristers. I have been singing with them since 2013, and they are so funny! Take a look at those videos and you will see what a mean by "funny"!

Wakeful and Wintry

December 5, 2015

Just as Spring looks different through Vivaldi's eyes than it does through Stravinsky's, the winter holidays look different in beautiful New York City than they do anywhere else. A metropolitan Christmas is a special one that can't be compared. The vast and sleepless city of eight million changes its air and becomes a little more caring, a little more loving and a little more personal than at other times. From the echoing halls and corridors of Manhattan, in the rush of day or lit up at night, any moment is a New York Moment at Christmas. This momentariness is captured eloquently and equally in the music of Bach, Mathias, Sondheim, Corigliano, Billings and more. I wrote a piece for this concert called "Wintry and Wakeful". My dear friend Greg Kefalas wrote the lyrics. I could not be happier by conducting my own piece among great singers and dear friends. If you are in NYC area, you should come and see this. You can by tickets online through the link below: http://www.chameleonicnyc.org/current-season.html

Tempus, Choral Chameleon

November 23, 2015

I've always had issues connecting with people. You know, sometimes it is just hard. I got kind of a "depressing resting face" that pushes people away, and my love for sarcasm is something that a lot of people do not enjoy. Anyway, I am saying this because last Monday, after a long time, I felt connected! I sang with amazing singers from Choral Chameleon under the guidance of Vince Peterson. I am still the "new guy" in the group, but I felt a great energy surrounding everybody in the room. In my live, Music has always been a tool for building connections (actually, one of the few tools I still know how to use for this purpose), and last Monday, making music with those people felt so f**king good! For a world with more connections. For a world with more music. For a better world.

Paraclete Press

October 10, 2015

Happy to announce that 3 of my choral pieces will be published by Paraclete Press in 2016! The pieces are: "How Large The Promise", "Psalm 23" and "Ave Verum Corpus". More details yet to come. In the meantime, visit www.paracletesheetmusic.com.

Jubilee - Assistant Conductor, Bill Heigen

July 22, 2015

I am so happy for this opportunity to work as a conductor! Here is what they wrote about me:

Jubilee Chorus announces the new appointment of an assistant conductor, Bill Heigen. Heigen is noted to be a very talented Christian musician among the communities of choral conductors, composers, singers and producers.
Bill Heigen exuberantly shares about the privilege given by God on becoming the new assistant conductor.

"To become an assistant conductor at Jubilee Chorus is truly a blessing! Choral music is my life. I have been working as a choral singer, choral arranger and choral conductor since 1999. It is a privilege to be able to spread a message of love, equality, and tolerance through choral music. I am looking forward to performing this sacred art and to touch people's hearts and souls. We live in a world where so many people still suffer because of hunger, violence, and poverty. In order to comfort all of those hearts, I hope that we can 'proclaim a message of hope, healing, and spiritual freedom through music.' May this season be a blessing for all of us!"

2015 Choir Tour France

July 15, 2015

France is an amazing country. So much culture and history to be seen and felt. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to visit marvelous cathedrals and make my music heard for so many people. Last week I had one of the greatest accomplishments of my career: I travelled to France with St. Michael’s Choir and witnessed 2 of my pieces being performed in stunning venues by amazing singers. “Set me as a Seal” was premiered at Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans in Orleans, and “Psalm 23” got performances at Normandy American Cemetery, Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans in Orleans, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, and Notre-Dame de Paris. I felt like the time has stopped, and I was living in a perfect world in which all I could see is beauty, and all I could hear is music. This trip was a life changing experience! This month, the piece "Set me as a Seal" is available for FREE DOWNLOAD at the main page of this website! Enjoy!

Choral Chameleon Summer Institute

June 22, 2015

Last week I had the privilege to be part of something great. I was one of the singers at Choral Chameleon Summer Institute. We spent the whole week rehearsing brand new choral pieces, talking about many aspects of today’s choral music, sharing ideas and opinions about conducting a choir, meeting many talented people and having fun. Of course, all of those things are enough to describe any experience as something great. However, I think there is another aspect that made everything that I experienced there even greater: I was surrounded by people that respect each other, that care about the other’s development and success. That is something hard to find nowadays, and I am glad to be part of an organization that makes so much for so many people. It is all about collaboration, art, music. Thank you, Vince Peterson, for giving me the opportunity to be part of this organization.

Many thanks to the 5 stars faculty and the amazing singers.

If you want to develop your skills as a composer or conductor, YOU HAVE TO MEET THESE PEOPLE. I am serious about it. You will be glad you did!

Visit the link:

http://www.choralchameleon.com/about-the-institute.html

Choral Good Vibes - YouTube Channel

April 7, 2015

We live in a crazy world. Black people vs. white people, gay vs. religious, starvation, money, hot, cold, politicians, CEOs ruling the world, people killing each other and dying for many different reasons. People are very stressed nowadays. We have to pursue our dreams, to take care of ourselves, to study, to work, to pay the bills, to have fun, to take care of our families, and on the top of that share all of this in our social media profiles.

I am just tired. Because of that, I started to think about a way to simply slow down, to relax, and to try to spend my time with activities that I enjoy!

Then I had an idea! I thought about it, I searched for many ways to make it happen, I learned how to do other things that I’ve never done before, and after all of this my idea was BORN:

CHORAL GOOD VIBES PROJECT!

The idea is simple: if you are stressed out and in need of some relaxation, just go to the channel, put your headphones on, and relax. You will be able to listen to an original a cappella arrangement of an excerpt from a well-known song with uplifting lyrics and in a very different version from the original one. For instance, a Jessie J’s song being sung in a relaxing choral setting.
Four parts vocal arrangements, well-known songs, positive messages (no sex, butts, bad words, you name it), and short videos (1 minute length)!
Do you want to send a cool message to someone? Share the video!

You also can download all the scores by accessing my website! Every Tuesday a new video will be posted!

You know me. I don’t go to parades, I don’t fight, I am not rich, I am not a politician. I am an artist. However, the fact that I am an artist doesn’t make me unaware of everything that happens in this world. So many bad things are going on, and this bothers me. The Choral Good Vibes Project is just an attempt to use my art for sending good vibes to everyone, and consequently to contribute to making this world a better place by making music.
If you read everything I wrote, THANK YOU for taking the time to know about this idea.

I will never get tired of being grateful for all your support!
THANK YOU!!

Channel Trailer of my YouTube Channel

March 13, 2015

Hey guys! You know, being a composer nowadays is not about spending all day long writing new music (I wish...). In order to get my music out there I need to spend most of my time in many other things such as building a website, promoting my music on social media, engaging my audience, updating stuff, you name it. My most recently creation is a channel trailer for my official YouTube Channel. There you will find some live performances of my works and studio recordings. Please, take a look at it (only 40 seconds in length) and share your thoughts! Hope you like it!

5 Tips for Commissioning New Pieces

January 15, 2015

A couple of months ago, Fahad Siadat, the owner of See-A-Dot Music Publishing, wrote this article about commissioning new pieces on a small budget. If you are planning on commissioning new pieces, these are good tips! Take a look!

"I can’t stress enough the importance of commissioning for composers. Based on my experience, those who make their living as composers do so by writing music, not selling their existing works, licensing it out for movie scores, etc. I run into many conductors and ensembles who want to support new music, and I tell them the single best way to do so is by commissioning. Buying scores is great, but if you want to support composers, pay them to write something new.

I recently sat on a panel for the New York Choral Consortium about the commissioning process. There was a lot of enthusiasm and interest from local choirs, but finances were the dominant barrier. In fact, many of the ensembles with the biggest need and hunger for new repertoire (public school choirs, for instance) are often the ones in the worst financial position to generate those works. Here are some of the great ideas that came from that conversation, along with a few of my own.
Don’t be Afraid to Start the Conversation
Commissioning Consortiums
Payment Plans / Layaway
Performance Royalties and Tours
Trades

Your choir has a lot to offer, what can you trade in exchange for a new work? Are you planning a recording? Performing at a festival or conference where lots of conductors will be present? What exposure can you offer the artist and their work? Does your institution offer an artist-in-residence program? Get creative! Money’s not the only way to compensate a composer; the right opportunity for exposure and prestige might be the perfect motivation for them to write for your group.There are tons of creative solutions to commissioning work, many of which will be unique solutions for your particular community. Try brainstorming with your choir, fellow directors, and local composers to see what ideas you come up with. You’ll find these relationships with composers to be unique and lasting throughout the life of your ensemble."

more: www.seeadot.com

Christmas time is here!

November 30, 2014

This group is the best! The New York Holiday Choristers are New York City's most fun & musical professional holiday carolers! I made an audition last year, and they invited me to be part of the group! I couldn’t be happier! Now I am in my second season singing with them, and having the opportunity to sing Christmas songs in this time of the year is just a blessing!

The New York Holiday Choristers are the only Christmas caroling group built to make booking your holiday and Christmas party entertainment as hassle-free as possible, combining fresh versions of cherished standards & truly contemporary music in a single acapella group with an innovative online booking system and unprecedented flexibility.

If I were you, I would definitely invite them to make your Christmas event MAGICAL!

http://www.newyorkholidaychoristers.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"A perfect way to end the evening"

November 21, 2014

I couldn't be happier! Bubbles just got an awesome review by Jean Ballard Terepka! She is an archivist and intellectual historian from New York City!
Last week C4 (www.c4ensemble.org) premiered my piece Bubbles on the first two concerts of their 2014-2015 season. Ms Terepka was in the audience. Take a look at what she wrote:

"Bubbles proved to be a perfect way to end the evening. The text, as C4 composer and Bubbles poet Bill Heigen, noted, is “an attempt to compare life with a bubble.” Bubbles shimmer, float and fly; they bump into other bubbles (and things), and then, with a pop we imagine we hear, they’re gone. Though bubbles contains a familiar carpe diem message, the music’s exploration of particular moments of life–a bubble’s and our own–by means of distinct, though often overlapping singing by choir sections, subsections, and choir divisions by gender as well as by constant CHANGES of dynamics, rhythms, tones and keys makes the old dictum feel quite original.

The music alternates passages of intimacy and expansiveness, endearing silliness and stealth gravitas, memorable loveliness and shiny, transparent evanescence and loss. Conducting the lovely music with evident happiness, Siadat also made exuberant cascades of bubbles with a bright blue bubble gun (as did dancer Anastasia Wiebe, perched like a quiet, good girl on a chair by Siadat, while some audience members blew bubbles, too). The piece – about bubbles! – ended with a great swell of choral glory."

Here you can read the whole review that also talks about the other pieces on C4's concert:

http://www.theaterscene.net/music/c-4-1-on-1/jean-ballard-terepka/

Here you can listen to the audio from the dress rehearsal:

https://soundcloud.com/bill-heigen/bubbles

Writing choral pieces for IBOC's music program!

November 17, 2014

Two months ago I was invited by Mr. Joao Macdowell (Artistic Director of iBoc) to write three choral pieces for the Iboc Singers in collaboration with the awesome Brazilian writer Marcos Bassini. After some fruitful meetings, the choral song cycle "Nights Cariocas" was born! I can't wait to hear those pieces being performed by those singers under the direction of their conductor Neviton Barros!

This cycle is a poetic picture of how some people in Rio de Janeiro have fun, fall in love, and enjoy the night. Each song explores elements from very distinctive rhythms such as funk, bossa-nova, and samba. The words are full of Brazilian slangs, and the text is full of excellent poetry. Mr. Bassini knows well how to use the Portuguese language!

I am thrilled for being part of this! The iBoc is an amazing organization that brings to the world the new face of the contemporary opera. Many thanks to Mr. Macdowell for making this work an achievable dream.

If you wanna have more information about this company, here is a brief description:

"The International Brazilian Opera Company (iBoc) is a New York based non-profit organization that supports the creation and development of new operatic repertoire that combines ideas from both Brazilian and international artists."

More: http://brazilianopera.com/

C4 will premiere my piece "Bubbles"

November 8, 2014

Hey guys, check this out! 2 really cool concerts next week!

C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective Presents

1 on 1: Music for Solo Instruments and Choir
First Concerts of 2014-15 Season on November 13 in Brooklyn and November 15 in Manhattan

What: 1 on 1: Music for Solo Instruments and Choir
When: Thursday, November 13 and Saturday, November 15 – 8:00 PM each evening
Where: November 13 at Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street in Brooklyn
November 15 at Church of St. Luke in the Fields, 487 Hudson Street in Manhattan
URL: http://www.c4ensemble.org/november-2014-concerts.html

1 on 1: Music for Solo Instruments and Choir will feature performances of really cool pieces from live composers, and also C4 will premiere my piece called “Bubbles”! I am so excited! “Bubbles” is written for choir a cappella SSAATTBB plus bubble machine! It is a piece for your ears and for your eyes. Come on, everybody likes to play with bubbles right? Don’t miss the opportunity to see and hear this piece! C4 is doing a great job!

Tickets for the November 13 and 15 concerts are $20 in advance, $25 day of performance, with 10 $4 "Rush" admissions 30 minutes advance at the door. A reception will follow the Saturday evening performance (it means FREE FOOD!!!). Tickets can be ordered at http://www.c4ensemble.org/november-2014-concerts.html.

For more concert information, call 516-586-3433 or email jamesarts@att.net. All C4 concerts are ADA accessible.

SAUDADE

October 26, 2014

SAUDADE. According to Wikipedia, “Saudade is a Portuguese or Galician word that has no direct translation in English. It describes a deep emotional state of nostalgic or profound melancholic longing for an absent something or someone that one loves.”
In April of 2014, I was thinking about writing a piece that could touch people’s heart. A piece that could speak to anyone’s soul. Inspired by this beautiful word from my native language, and by the willing to say something I wrote “The Five Stages of Loss”.
I based the idea of this work on the attempt to express each of the emotional stages that someone may experiences when faced with impending death or death of a beloved one. The five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Those emotional stages together are known as the Kübler-Ross model. This model was first introduced by Swiss-American Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, “On Death and Dying,” and was inspired by her work with terminally ill patients. I wrote one song per emotional stage, and I wrote the texts based on what someone experiencing one of those stages may feel, think, and say. In honor to all of those who are gone, I have dedicated this work to all of those who lost someone in their lives.
Then, I decided to offer this work to the Universe. You know, this is just something that I have learned to do. The Universe has given me so many good things… I need to express my gratitude, and the best way that I found to do this is sharing some of my music with everybody. I posted the scores and the sound samples on my website for free downloading, and I promoted this offer in all my social media. A couple of days after, Jay Dougherty (Professor of Choirs, Metropolitan State University of Denver) sent me a message telling he would like to program my piece. Then, after exchanging some emails, I am glad to announce that next Saturday November 1st, “The Five Stages of Loss” will be premiered by the Women’s Chamber Choir from Metropolitan State University of Denver! The picture above was taken by Mr. Dougherty about three weeks ago in one of the rehearsals for this concert. I am sure that this concert will be a blast! I couldn’t imagine that I would receive such a gift from the Universe so quickly. I posted my music in May, and in November it will become real for the world! It is already real for those who are rehearsing it, and I am so thankful for this. Thank you Jay, Women’s Chamber Choir, Metropolitan State University of Denver, performers, and all of those who are involved in this concert. I hope this work can honor the memory to all of those who are already gone.
King's Center Concert Hall on the Metropolitan State University Denver campus on November 1st at 7:30pm.
http://www.msudenver.edu/music/

Birthday Last Sunday

October 15, 2014

Last Sunday October 12th was my Birthday. For my entire life I have never liked this day. This date reminds me that I am getting older, that I have even less time to pursue my dreams, to become a better musician, and to stay here in this world. For the past few years I used to organize remarkable celebrations to push the depression away. Last year I even organized a concert with my musician friends! But this year, because of my busy life, I didn’t organize any special event. So, the terrible day came last Sunday. I worked, I had lunch, I studied, fed my cat, watched my favorite cartoon (American Dad!), and you know what? It wasn’t that terrible at all! It was just another day, just like any other day. Everything was inside my head. I realized that every single day I am getting older, and I have less time to do anything anyway. There is no such a thing like 365 days cycle at all, this is an illusion. I have lived such a wonderful life surrounded by love, adventures, and music, and the fact that I am not the youngest anymore doesn’t need to bring me down so easily. With that in mind, I started my week putting less weight on my shoulders and feeling much better. It is sad, but it is true: everybody will die someday! We have to keep working and keep doing things, but no rush. Who cares how old are you if you are happy with yourself? Everything that is determined to be ours will find a way to come to us sooner or later. Remember, birthday is just a reminder of your currently age. Age is just a number, and numbers weren’t made to determine who we are.

MY NEW BLOG

October 9, 2014

Hi everyone! This is my first post of my new blog on my official website! Here I will share with you some thoughts, cool stuff, and of course, music. For now that is not much more to say, but stay tunned for some really cool stuff about to come! Thanks for all your support!