Dedicated to premiering and performing new choral music, Grammy Award-winning chamber choir The Crossing and Artistic Director Donald Nally are no strangers to artistic innovation. So when PARMA began a new initiative to introduce more contemporary choral music into the Western canon, we knew who to combine forces with.
The Crossing says it best: the choir is “committed to working with creative teams to make and record new, substantial works for choir that explore and expand ways of writing for choir, singing in choir, and listening to music for choir.” Since its first collaboration as the resident choir of Italy’s Spoleto Festival in 2007, The Crossing has become a quickly-recognizable name in contemporary music, with multiple Grammy wins and recognition from establishments including the Pulitzer Prize, Chorus America, and the ASCAP Foundation under its belt.
Donald Nally, the choir’s conductor, artistic director, and one of its creative minds, has cultivated the skills and spirit of The Crossing over the years, walking with the choir to great artistic heights. Together with PARMA and composer Kile Smith, Donald and The Crossing are reaching another artistic milestone with the release of THE ARC IN THE SKY.
We recently caught up with Donald as we approached release day for THE ARC IN THE SKY, to discuss The Crossing’s relationship with Kile Smith, how ARC fits into the world of contemporary choral music, and more.
Thank you Donald for taking the time to speak with PARMA. With this powerful entrance into our multi-album collaboration, it seems that contemporary choral music (present and future) is in good hands.
THE ARC IN THE SKY will be available for streaming or purchase through Navona Records on July 12. Click here to pre-order.
