BALTIC SINGS!
TALLINN, ESTONIA :: JUNE 12-17, 2018
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DR. JEFFREY BENSON
Director of Choral Studies
San Jose State University
THE SETTING
THE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE
In a custom designed festival experience, mixed choirs will have the opportunity to
partake in two concert events in Tallinn. A spotlight performance will allow each
balanced ensemble to present a sample of their own program. The Gala Concert will
bring all participating choirs together to sing a joint choir program with a professional
orchestra under the direction of esteemed conductor Dr. Jeffrey Benson. This diverse
4 day residency program includes a community service project and will allow ample
time for choristers to learn about the history and significance of music in Estonia and
deepen their understanding of the “Singing Revolution.”
THE SINGING REVOLUTION & ESTONIA
In the Baltics singing is cultural and historical. Choral music was vital in establishing
a sense of national identity during the many years of occupation. During the tragic
times of Soviet rule their culture, heritage and even battle for independence were
expressed through choral singing. The history of the Baltic Nation of Estonia is a story
set to song. When independence was finally achieved in 1991 mass singing festivals
became the focus of national pride and a cultural celebration of their new freedom.
Every 5 years song festivals still draw audiences of tens of thousands.
Estonia’s UNESCO world heritage capital city Tallinn is rich with cultural and
architectural diversity. This charming city fuses modern with medieval with a fairytale
town square along with a mix of church spires, glass skyscrapers, baroque palaces
and buzzing sidewalk cafes.
THE ORGANIZERS :: Perform International
“Building Bridges and Transforming Lives through the Power of Music”
Boldly informed by the belief that music inherently speaks as an expression of the
human spirit beyond borders and in all cultures, Perform International seeks to
empower music directors and ensembles to realize meaningful and life-changing
immersion experiences and performances around the world.
• We empower music directors, music ensembles and individual musicians to share and grow in their artistic
expression and understanding of people and cultures.
• We design and create rewarding performances as well as educational and cultural immersion opportunities
by building and maintaining relationships with domestic and international musicians and music education
organizations.
• We partner with concert venues, publicity teams, airlines, hotels, and tour guides to plan and implement
operational methods that enhance rather than distract from the artistic experience.
• We provide meaningful and life-changing performance tour experiences that are personal, thoughtful, and
efficient in the processes of conceptual artistic and educational development.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
DR. JEFFREY BENSON :: Director of Choral Activities, San Jose State University
Jeffrey Benson is currently Director of Choral Activities at San Jose State University in
San Jose, California. Previously, Dr. Benson served as Director of Choral Activities and
Fine Arts Department Chair at H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, Virginia.
The Washington Post hails his choirs for singing “with an exquisite blend, subtlety of
phrasing, confident musicianship and fully supported tone…that would be the envy of
some professional ensembles.”
Dr. Benson has served as cover conductor for the Grammy award-winning Washington
Chorus, where he helped to prepare the ensemble for Maestros Julian Wachner,
Leonard Slatkin and Marvin Hamlisch. In 2006, Benson was invited to La Universidad
Americana in Managua, Nicaragua to assist the university in forming the first a cappella
choir at the institution.
Choirs under his direction have performed on multiple state and regional conferences of ACDA and NAfME and
have toured throughout the United States and Europe, including invited performances at The John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, The White House and Washington National Cathedral. Recently Dr. Benson’s
choirs have been invited to perform with the Rolling Stones, Andrea Bocelli, the Los Angeles Festival Orchestra
and the Skywalker Orchestra. In 2006, the Woodlawn Chamber Singers under Dr. Benson’s direction were the
only high school choir invited to sing on the National Conference of Chorus America in Washington, DC.
Dr. Benson is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, the American Choral Directors
Association, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization, where he currently serves as California National
Board Representative. In 2002, ACDA recognized Benson with the first annual Colleen Kirk Award for his
outstanding achievement as a young conductor.
A former member of the Choir of Men and Boys at Washington National Cathedral, Dr. Benson is an active
singer and a frequent guest conductor and clinician. Benson will conduct several honor choirs on both coasts
including appearances at Carnegie Hall and in Europe in 2014-15. Santa Barbara Music Publishing recently
released one of Dr. Benson’s folksong arrangements under the Charlene Archibeque Choral Series.
Benson received his Masters degree and his Doctorate in Choral Conducting/Music Education from The Florida
State University and his Bachelors degree in Music Education from New York University.
ITINERARY OPTIONS
BALTIC SINGS! :: JUNE 12-17, 2018
JUNE 12: USA to Tallinn, Estonia.
JUNE 13: Upon arrival in Tallinn meet with your Tour Manager. Enjoy a festive Welcome
Dinner with participating choirs. Overnight in Tallinn.
JUNE 14: Breakfast at your hotel followed by a morning rehearsal with Dr. Benson.
Afternoon sightseeing will include the song festival grounds with an impromptu singing
opportunity. Dinner included this evening followed by a rehearsal with Dr. Benson.
Overnight in Tallinn.
JUNE 15: Following breakfast today there will be a sound check at the venue hosting
this evening’s concert. Afternoon community service project outside Tallinn. Dinner
and evening spotlight concert in Tallinn. The spotlight concert will be an opportunity for
each participating choir (that wishes) to present their own short program.
JUNE 15: This morning you’ll enjoy some free time following breakfast to explore Tallinn
on your own. This afternoon we’ll meet at the Gala concert venue for a dress rehearsal
with a professional orchestra. Evening gala concert under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey
Benson.
JUNE 17: Begin your journey back to the USA, taking with you lifelong memories of
performing in Tallinn or start of post tours by the individual ensembles.
POST FESTIVAL PROGRAMS
Tour B – June 17-19, 2018
From Tallinn head north by ferry to Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Enjoy 2 days
post festival in the home of renowned composer Jean Sibelius where you’ll enjoy a visit
to the famous Rock Church and many of the other sights this delightful northern city
has to offer.
Tour C – June 17-20, 2018
Continue to explore the fascinating Baltic States with a visit to Riga, Latvia and Vilnius
in Lithuania. Riga is known as the world capital of Art Nouveau as well as host to
numerous singing festivals. Vilnius, filled with medieval, gothic, renaissance and
baroque buildings will be sure to delight and inspire choristers and is a perfect way to
deepen understanding of the Singing Revolution in the Baltic States.
*during all post tour programs performances for your individual ensembles can be
arranged.
2017 FAMILIARIZATION TOUR FOR DIRECTORS – Join our faculty and travel to the
Baltics January 5-10, 2017 for a sneak preview of this 2018 Festival Event. For more
information please contact us at [email protected] or call 770-220-2242.
ATLANTA l 2344 Perimeter Park Drive Atlanta, GA 30341 phone 770.220.2242
COLORADO SPRINGS l 8825 Liverpool Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80920 phone 719.481.0107 fax 719.531.5374
HONOLULU l 50 S. Beretania Street, Suite C-211 B Honolulu, HI 96813 phone 808.479.3414
www.perform-international.com l www.reformation-music.com l [email protected]