MUSIC
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA
Dr. Caroline Carson
Director of Music Ministry
 Originally from Charleston, SC, Caroline Carson is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the University of New Orleans, state R&S (Repertoire & Standards) Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural choirs for Louisiana ACDA and is thrilled to be on board at St. Paul's Episcopal Church! Dr. Carson has served on the faculties of Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA) as Director of Choral Activities and Shenandoah Conservatory (Winchester, Virginia) as an Adjunct Professor of Choral Literature and Graduate Applied Conducting. In addition, she has taught classes in Bulgaria on American Music History and Music Education in association with the University of Varna, Bulgaria.  Dr. Carson has prepared choruses for concerts, workshops, national and international tours, and a year 2000 Carnegie Hall performance. Dr. Carson taught in the Georgia public school systems for seven years. While in Atlanta, she participated in four Grammy-winning recordings with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw and Yoel Levi. While teaching at an arts magnet school in Macon, she founded and directed the Milledgeville Singers Guild, now in its sixth successful season.
Dr. Carson received her Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, a Masters in Conducting from Emory University, and the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from USC in Columbia, SC.
Dr. Carson serves as an LMEA adjudicator. In 2007, she founded the New Orleans Summer Chorus, a relaxed, annual summer performing choral ensemble open to anyone. She has helping the Jefferson Performing Arts Society re-start their children's choral program and sings with the Jefferson Chorale under the direction of Dr. Louise LaBruyère and the NOVA (New Orleans Vocal Arts) Chorale directed by Dr. Meg Frazier. Caroline is taking a choral tour to Bulgaria in May 2008.
Hello everyone!
Thank you to the choir, the staff, and the congregation
for welcoming me into the St. Paul’s community! I am truly
thrilled to be on board and very excited at all of the music possibilities
for our future together! Having graduated from Porter-Gaud Academy,
an Episcopal school in my hometown of Charleston, SC, I am also
delighted to be around an Episcopal school again.
June 11th marks the last of regular choir practices
for the year. We are seeking ALL voice parts (SATB) and welcome
newcomers to our flock for the summer (and beyond)! Wednesday
rehearsals will resume on August 13th run from7-8:30 pm every
Wednesday.
Many folks say to us: “Oh I CAN’T sing!”
I reply: Well, I believe that everyone CAN sing! You do NOT have
to be an opera singer or a highly-trained singer to make a joyful
noise unto the Lord. Reading music helps, but can be learned if
you are “rusty”. We try to rehearse several weeks
ahead so that if you attend rehearsals, you’ve seen the
music a few times before you sing it.
Some Thoughts: Hymns, anthems, and their texts
are prayers in musical form. To me, it doesn’t matter if
something was written in 1209 or in 1986…it is our duty
to find the sacred and spiritual meaning and apply it to our enhancement
of worship. I will strive to pick well-composed pieces of all
styles, from all eras and a variety of pieces from around the
globe (we’re all in this life together). I believe it is
healthy to try new hymns (tunes & texts) every now and then
and to sing familiar ones regularly that have comforting and understood
texts from across the ages. In either case, we strive to be open
enough to convey the words that may speak to at least one person
in the room. I believe that messages must be varied and accessible
whether it be a high Anglican 15th century motet or a wellcomposed
contemporary anthem with ukulele and bongos. I also believe in
a message that can be conveyed through a solo, a poem, an instrument,
or even a dance, etc. I believe in making messages of different
styles accessible to all. I find that singing in harmony or with
occasional quirky rhythms or maybe even a weird language provides
opportunities for a singer to grow in ways that perhaps they previously
felt impossible. With all of this in mind, we have an astounding
choir! What we need now is YOU! If you are interested in joining
the group at all, jump up and give it a try for a few weeks. It
is a comfort and will enhance your confidence and musical ability.
I see lots of folks who sing well out in the congregation! : )
TRAVELS:
Right now, as you read this, I am probably still
in Varna, Bulgaria on the Black Sea. I went there with several
UNO choral students (and one Tulane student) to participate in
a Conducting workshop and perform Johannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches
Requiem. This will be my seventh time visiting Bulgaria. I have
previously participated in conducting workshops in Varna, Sofia,
Burgas, Dobric, and Plovdiv. I have also taught classes in Varna
at the Free University. Bulgaria is a country of 7,200,000 people
and is roughly the size of Tennessee. The main religions are Bulgarian
Orthodox and the Muslim faith. The people are extremely hospitable
and there is a tremendously rich history of musical folklore and
dance. There are also groups that perform overtone or ”throat-singing”,
similar to some of the unusual chanting that comes out of Tuva
or Tibet. There is a large Roma, or Gypsy, population and twice
before, I have had opportunities to travel to remote Roma villages
and help deliver food and health supplies. I will share some photos
and music when I return.
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