My first experience recording with the pros – the Vandelé Quartet playing; Don Harder, engineering; and “The Don” Marco Del … More
Author: chrissivak
More fun projects underway
I’m really excited to be able to announce that, thanks to a generous grant from CreativeBC, myself and a team … More
Fierce Green – Recording is online!
An excellent performance by The Vancouver Peace Choir under the leadership of the inimitable Brian Wismath! (The acoustic at St. … More
So You Want To Host A Composition Competition
Picture it: you are at the precipice of your arts organization and hosting a competition for composers. Before you … More
On High Art, Shabby Shoes, And Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony
The other day I attended a semi-professional orchestral concert that a few of my friends were performing in. The centerpiece … More
On The Marriage Of Figaro, Dead Man Walking, And Tanya Tagaq At The Vancouver Opera Festival
Today is the last day of the Vancouver Opera Festival’s inaugural run and I am happy to say that I … More
All About A New Piece – Fierce Green
My newest creation is a commission for the Vancouver Peace Choir, my choral alma mater. Writing for the Peace Choir … More
On Doo-Wop, The Scourge Of Robots and Beyonce, and The Anacrusis
Doo-wop is a fascinating little inlet of American Music that was sort of absorbed and overcome by the popularity of … More
Why Write When You Can Dance?
“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture” is a deft phrase meant to evoke the futility in writing about … More
In Defense All Things Swing
When I was about half of whatever my current age is, I spent a lot of time listening to some … More
This Is Not Supposed To Be A Political Blog
Last night, the United States elected to its highest office a xenophobic climate change denier who wants to roll back … More
Assembling A Wind Quintet Is Like Binding Planks Of Sand
I had recently written a string quartet and was gasping at how easy the process of getting it played was … More