upcoming shows
- 3/25/19 A Tribute to Nancy Wilson in New York, NY at Aaron Davis Hall
- 4/01/19 - 4/29/19 Deanna is a Short-Term Scholar at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, MN at Collegeville Institute
Easter and Pentecost music
Deanna shares "Alleluia" and "Kindle in Us Your Love," two joyful, easy-to-teach refrains for Easter and Pentecost.
“We Walk in Love”
Deanna’s song in the free-to-use Justice Choir songbook was recently sung by 900 students at the 2017 St. Olaf Choral Day under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong. Watch video from that performance below.
Jazz hymn arrangements
Deanna’s 2017 trio recording and companion sheet music features 14 jazz arrangements of traditional hymn tunes.
Oração da Viajante (The Traveler’s Prayer)
Newly written during Deanna's artist residency at the Sacatar Institute in Bahia, Brazil, this choral piece with original Portuguese text was premiered in June 2018 by Choral Arts Initiative under the direction of Brandon Elliott. Listen to the performance below, and stay tuned for the sheet music.
Author Archives: Deanna
We Walk in Love- the story behind Deanna’s Justice Choir song
In early 2017, I responded to a call for scores for a new collection of social justice songs being curated by Abbie Betinis, Tesfa Wondemagegnhehu, and Ahmed Anzaldúa. The songs to be selected as part of a new movement called … Continue reading
Mary Lou Williams and Deanna’s trip to Pittsburgh
UPDATE: Click to hear audio from Deanna’s December 2018 performance-lecture on the sacred music of Mary Lou Williams. As a musician, the sensation of being “in the flow” occurs when music is easily moving through me; when group interplay rises … Continue reading
Posted in blog, news, Uncategorized
Tagged #justicechoir, dr. harry clark, east liberty presbyterian church, grace aquilina, hillman center performing arts, lighthouse arts, liturgical press, mary lou williams, mike aquilina, pittsburgh christian studies, pittsburgh girls choir, pittsburgh jazz festival, pittsburgh jazz history, tania grubbs, wzum
Leave a comment
NEW! Comfort Ye: 5 Advent and Christmas pieces
As a former church music director, I know what it feels like to look at your upcoming calendar and realize that you need to quickly fill a spot or two for the Advent or Christmas season. With that in mind, … Continue reading
GRAMMY For Your Consideration: Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns
Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns is in three pre-nomination categories for the 2019 Grammy Awards! •Category 33: Best Jazz Instrumental Album (#287, Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns) •Category 31: Best Improvised Jazz Solo (#391, “Lord, I Want … Continue reading
Deanna’s jazz hymns article in the September issue of Down Beat!
My article, “Making Hearts and Voices Sing: Creating Jazz Hymns,” is now out in the September issue of Down Beat (it’s on pages 82-84). Complete with notated music examples, it offers practical tools on where to start in creating jazz arrangements of … Continue reading
Posted in blog, news, Uncategorized
Tagged congregational song, down beat, hymn arrangements, jazz hymns
1 Comment
