Reflections of Gratitude from UMary

I am supposed to share with you some words about my special weekend with Cappella for the premiere of Glory Be. As I attempt to do so, I am reminded that one of my favorite facets of beautiful art is its ability to capture our emotions when words will never suffice. No words can share the joy of our shared time together, or the feeling of standing before my dear friends in the choir on Sunday night. It would have been hard to fit more smiles (and more joyful tears) into a few short days.

When I arrived for rehearsal on Thursday, I was astounded by how great the choir sang, and how well they followed me as a visiting (and not well-practiced) conductor. The tempo changes in the piece clicked immediately, and all of the vocal parts sounded wonderful. After being shocked by the ease and strength of the Soprano 1s ascending to high Bb, I was informed that one of them recently sang the National Anthem for a Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball game. No big deal, right?!

Following Thursday’s fabulous rehearsal, the students in charge of Cappella’s social media did some fabulous work promoting the premiere, and I was honored to be the first guest on their new “Coffee with Composers” Instagram Series. The students really went the extra mile to make this project special, and I am so grateful for their creative collaboration.

We also had a professional videographer, Chris Oscilowski, present throughout the weekend to capture photos, and conduct video interviews with myself, Dr. Rebecca Raber, and the students, to create a beautiful video about Glory Be and Angelico’s relationship with Cappella as two young, growing ministries in America’s sacred music landscape. We look forward to featuring Chris’s final creative product at our annual Angelicofest Gala in October.

While getting plenty of beautiful “work” done with the student singers, there was also lots of engagement outside of rehearsal. Between pub night with the older students, Valentine’s Day dinner with the Cappella men applying to seminary, card game night, and more, there were numerous opportunities to touch base with the older students who I’ve come to know in recent years, and to befriend the newer students as well.

Sharing fun, quality time with the students outside of rehearsal!

Finally, after a beautifully blessed time together, we capped everything off with a stellar premiere in Annunciation Chapel on Sunday night. The students sang their hearts out, and four days later, I still struggle to listen to their beautiful voices and keep a dry eye!

Listen to Glory Be!

Cappella and I enjoy a few final laughs together, minutes before the big premiere

As I shared before, no words can fully communicate my gratitude for our dear friends in Cappella. But to provide a little more perspective, I have copied (below my signature in this email) the farewell note I sent to them on Monday morning as I departed for Denver. I hope this collaboration was both musically and spiritually formative for them, at least in a small way, and I certainly know that it was for me.

Similarly, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you, our Angelico Patrons, who make these collaborations possible by your generous donations and prayerful support! I can’t wait for you the see the Glory Be video montage that is in the works, so you can better understand and appreciate the beautiful ministry work you are creating together with us. It is people like you and the musicians of Cappella that make our Angelico movement so special :)

Thank you, and may our loving God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you this Lent for your faith-filled generosity.

For the beauty of the Church,

Ryan Everson

Composer & Executive Director

Angelico Sacred Music

“Let all that you do be done in charity.” (1 Cor. 16:14)