David Ross – arranger/pianist

HolySheetMusic welcomes young composer, David Ross.  His first featured choral with HolySheetMusic, Baptism Hymn, is an artful combination of two beloved baptism songs, When I Am Baptized, by Nita Dale Milner, and Baptism by Crawford Gates, set for men’s voices. This sweet arrangement, written for the BYU Men’s Chorus, is one of the 14 tracks on their album of missionary hymns Set Apart, which can be downloaded for free at Setapartalbum.com.

Here’s more about David:

David Ross is a pianist, singer, and composer with roots in Spokane, Washington. Previously a member of BYU Men’s Chorus, he now sings with BYU Vocal Point. David seeks to create introspective, enlightening compositions that minister relief to the soul. The baptism of a close friend sparked the arrangement of “Baptism Hymn”, his first choral work featured on HolySheetMusic.

HolySheetMusic is happy to announce the collaboration of the Kapp sisters, Ann Kapp Andersen and Janice Kapp Perry.   This is the second large scale collaboration between Janice and Ann.  Ann is creating choral arrangements of Janice’s hymn settings.  We are delighted to present the first two choral pieces, “Be Not Afraid” and “One by One”.

Here’s more about Ann Kapp Andersen:

Ann Kapp Andersen – Composer/Arranger

ANN KAPP ANDERSEN (1945-    ) was born in Ogden, Utah and grew up in the farming community of Vale, Oregon.  The Kapp family was always very involved in music in the LDS Church, as well as in the community, schools and popular dance music.

Ann began piano lessons with her mother, Ruth Kapp, at the age of five.  Her childhood was filled with performances on recitals, community meetings, school festivals, weddings, etc., along with church music and sports teams. She studied piano and music theory with Marilee Scheer in Vale for all four years of high school and continued study as a piano major with Merrill Bradshaw at BYU for two years, during which she played trombone in the Concert Band (Ralph Laycock, conductor) and sang with A Cappella Choir under Kurt Weinzinger (acting as its “pitchpipe”, since she has perfect pitch).  Ann continued to participate in musical activities after she married Thayne I. Andersen in 1966 but didn’t return to college until 1985, after her family had moved to Alaska.

She enrolled at University of Alaska Fairbanks as a piano major, studying with Dr. James F. Johnson, and in 1989 received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance.  After laying out of college for a few years to raise a son and daughter and many Alaska Native foster children, Ann returned to her music studies at UAF and in 1997 earned a Master of Arts degree in Conducting with show music emphasis.  Her current favorite musical things to do are conducting, writing arrangements of music, and teaching piano.  Between 2008 and 2114, Ann recorded “Soft Sounds for a Soothing Sunday”, a twelve-CD set of the music of her sister, Janice Kapp Perry, arranged for piano solo. She and Janice have recently embarked on another collaborative project of Ann writing choral arrangements of Janice’s hymns. These appear on HolySheetMusic’s website.

Arthur J. Michaels – Composer

HolySheetMusic welcomes composer Arthur J. Michaels to its family of composers.  Here’s more about Art:

Arthur J. Michaels earned a bachelor of music degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music and a master of arts degree in teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has taught instrumental music in grades 4 through 12 in New York and in New Jersey. His published works include music for concert band, string orchestra, instrumental ensembles, and choruses. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Music Educators Association, and ASCAP.

Agnus Dei, for SATB choir – a cappella:  This moving SATB a cappella setting is a showpiece for a choir’s phrasing, dynamic range, independence, and control. The piece, about a grade 3 (on a scale of 1 to 6), is an excellent selection for any venue, and singers and audiences will enjoy its fresh harmonies and varied dynamic range.

HolySheetMusic is thrilled to release Alexander and Aubrey Woods’ new Violin Duo sacred music album, All Is Well.

Alex writes:  Many years ago I wrote an arrangement of the tune “Kingsford” for solo violin.  It wasn’t until I married Aubrey in March of 2011 that I realized how much better this arrangement work for two violins, and how much Aubrey and I enjoyed performing our own arrangements.  As we started to perform these for friends and family, they encouraged just to make a CD.  We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to record and share this music.  We are thankful for the countless people that have made it possible.  This recording would not have happened without the encouragement and expertise of composer/producer David Zabriskie.  We have long admired Dave’s music, and we wanted to feature his wonderful arrangements on this album.

Each of these unique arrangements has a specific story to tell.   Sometimes we were inspired by a visual image, storyline or emotion.   We want to share what has inspired us, but we hope that each track will take on a personal meaning for every individual.

Here’s more about Alex and Aubrey:

Alexander and Aubrey Woods were married in March of 2011. They have enjoyed playing music together ever since. Though neither of them imagined marrying another violinist, they were drawn to each others personalities and have always had a strong mutual respect for each others musicianship.

ALEXANDER WOODS is a dynamic performer who fully embraces and promotes the panoramic history and literature of the violin. He recently released his debut CD “Corelli’s Influence: virtuoso works for baroque violin” on the Acis record label. Fanfare magazine praised his “Great flair” and his “elegant phrasing and subtle variations in dynamics”. Fanfare concluded that this was “a fine debut recording for Alexander Woods…an artist who will hopefully be heard featured on numerous albums in the future.”

Alexander Woods – Violinist/Arranger

Alexander’s commitment to a broad spectrum of repertoire is manifest in his work with an array of ensembles, including the Sebastians, New York Baroque Incorporated (NYBI), TENET, the Talea Ensemble, and Trinity Wall Street, and performances at top festivals and concert series in New York City and abroad: the Mostly Mozart Festival, Festival Pablo Casals, the Helicon Symposium, the Lincoln Center Festival, Festival Wien Modern, the Darmstadt Institute, the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert Series, the 4×4 festival, and the Bang-On-A-Can Marathon Concert. He may also be heard on the Tzadik and Bridge record labels.

Alexander is a full-time member of the faculty at the Brigham Young University School of Music where he teaches violin, chamber music, and violin pedagogy. He is the founder and director of the BYU Baroque Ensemble, an early music chamber orchestra performing on original instruments created by the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. He studied at Yale University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Arizona. Alexander is originally from Tucson, AZ.

Aubrey Woods – Violinist/Arranger

Aubrey Woods, violin, is the concertmaster of the Ballet West Orchestra in Salt Lake City, and a frequent substitute with the Utah Symphony. Her playing has been described as possessing “feeling…expressiveness, and shimmering beauty.” (reichelreccomends.com) She is a sought after soloist and ensemble player locally and nationally. Also an avid baroque violinist, Aubrey has performed with several internationally-recognized ensembles including New York Baroque Incorporated (NYBI), The Sebastians, Yale Schola Cantorum, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, as well as locally with Woodsmusick and Utopia Early Music. As a teenager Aubrey was a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square (Salt Lake City, UT), performing worldwide broadcasts with the Mormon Tabernacle choir, and soloists such as Bryn Terfel and Renee Fleming.  She has also recorded as a studio musician in Utah for numerous films and television programs. Her first full-length commercial recording, all is well, a duo CD of sacred music for two violins with her husband violinist Alexander Woods, is currently available. Aubrey is from Provo, UT and a graduate of Brigham Young University.

David Owens – Composer/Arranger

Please welcome David Owens – Composer/Arranger to HolySheetMusic.com.

We are thrilled to be publishing David’s arrangement of Dona Nobis Pacem for Two-part Chorus, Handbells and Piano.  This delightful arrangement is accessible for Children’s or Adult choirs.

David writes:  “The Dona Nobis Pacem was first introduced to me as the ‘Left Hand Cross Over’ piece in the John Thompson book.  At that time, not having a liturgical understanding of this canonic phrase, I was merely smitten with the lovely Thompson setting of this old traditional tune. It is clearly quoted in the 3/4 section.
While arranged quite simply – originally for the Junior Singers at First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City – it none the less is easily adapted to a more mature choir with a simple division of two voices.  While it can stand with piano accompaniment alone, this arrangement has the addition of a bell choir.   Arranged by David A. Zabriskie, the bells are a perfect compliment to this easily approachable and highly rewarding piece.”

Here’s more about David Owens:

David began piano study after moving with his family to Salt Lake from southwestern New Mexico.  He earned a degree from the University of Utah in piano performance.  Mr. Owens serves as Director of Music at the First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City, Utah conducting the choirs and musical programs.  David also maintains a full teaching roster.