Cypress Choral Music Joy Will Lead You - Beatch - SAB

Lyrics: Dominic Gregorio (1977 - 2019)
Music: Stuart Beatch (b. 1991)
Format: Choral Octavo
Voicing: SAB with piano accompaniment

In the fall of 2012, when Dr. Dominic Gregorio began his position at the University of Regina, I was in my final year of an education degree--feeling lost and unfulfilled, wanting to pursue composition but stuck on a predetermined career path and suddenly feeling trapped. In Dom's first year at the university, he launched a composition competition, which enabled the performances of my very first choral works--and set me down the path of specializing in choral music, a path I've continued to follow for the past seven years. When news spread of his passing in early 2019, I was shocked and confused. Dom was, to so many people, an embodiment of life and joy, and the community--both in Regina and across Canada--was shaken by his sudden loss. When I was approached by Tim Friesen to compose a work in Dom's memory, I knew this was a project I needed to take on. The text, a poem about always following your passions, seems even more poignant given Dom's own influence in helping me pursue my dreams, and I hope this piece holds meaning for every person who continues to be touched by his life.
Duration: 5:55