Nay's News January 2025
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Wishing you the happiest of New Years! I hope your holiday season has been filled with warmth, laughter, and, of course, beautiful music.
As 2024 drew to a close, I took some time to reflect on the year gone by, and I’m filled with deep gratitude for every choir that ordered my choral scores. It’s truly heartwarming to know that my music has reached choirs across the USA—and even all the way to Switzerland!
I’m thrilled to list them here, with my heartfelt thanks:
“Noel” TTBB/Piano/Solo Instrument –
North Coast Men’s Chorus, Cleveland, Ohio
Washington Men’s Camerata, Washington DC
“Racing the Moon” SATB/Piano –
Idaho All-State Mixed Choir, Boise, Idaho
Hillsboro School District Honor Choir, Hillsboro, Oregon
Oregon Repertory Singers, Portland, Oregon
“Angel in the Snow” SATB/Piano –
Ames Chamber Artists, Ames, Iowa
Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Illinois
Cascadian Chorale, Seattle, Washington
West Salem High School, Salem, Oregon
“Night of Silence” SATB/Piano –
Cascadian Chorale, Seattle, Washington
Art & Act New Gospel Company, Thun, Switzerland
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” SATB/Piano –
Salt Lake Choral Artists, Salt Lake City, Utah
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Midland, Michigan
“Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song)” SATB/Piano –
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, Bend, Oregon
Thank you to all these talented groups for bringing my music to life in your communities! Also, thank you to those who have ordered my scores published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing. I don’t receive any information from them about who has purchased my music, so if your choir ordered through them, please let me know!
I also received a wonderfully kind message from Gary Cannon, the director of the Cascadian Chorale in Seattle, WA. With his permission, I’m honored to share it with you:
"I conduct quite a lot of new music -- including, to date, fifty-four premieres. While I have found much of that music to be engaging, well-crafted, etc., I confess that it is vanishingly rare for a new work to make a deep personal impact on me. Enter your "Night of Silence." I found myself nearly crying during several rehearsals and the concerts. All of the elements of fine musical craft are there, but you also convey an emotional richness that is at the core of why music exists in the first place. Your deft handling of voicing, rhythm, melody, harmony, pacing, phrasing, dynamic shading, structure, voice-leading, vowel color, the interplay of motivic variety and consistency, and other aspects of the musical craft actively amplify the work's central message: that it is okay to feel "alone," that it is okay if hope doesn't come easily, or if the idea of being "not alone" in the world can feel earth-shatteringly significant -- in short, that it is okay to be a flawed, struggling human, and that hope and beauty exist in the struggle itself. I cannot praise "Night of Silence" highly enough. Thank you for such meaningful music."
Wow. Gary's reflections remind me of why I write music—to create moments that offer comfort, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity. To know that my compositions reach audiences in a way that felt personal and impactful is a gift beyond measure.
Each new year, I post a reflective and intention-setting message on Patreon, thanking my patrons for all the projects they’ve helped bring to life over the past year and sharing my creative goals for the year ahead. I’ve made this post public, so anyone can check it out! It's called "2025, let's jive!" The support of my patrons is truly instrumental in helping me set and reach my goals, and I’m incredibly grateful for them. If you’re thinking about a new year’s resolution, perhaps this is the year to support more artists directly? Everyone is welcome!
The window is starting to close for me taking on any more new commissioned works in 2025, but don’t hesitate to reach out! There’s still a chance I can fit your piece in this year, or we could plan for 2026, and I’d love to collaborate with you!
New Lucente Skye songs drop every 4 weeks! I'm gradually releasing a series of songs for an album called Oregon Landscapes, with each song featuring stunning artwork by Lindsay Gilmore. Most recently, “Alpenglow,” released on December 20.
Up next, "Crane Prairie" releases on January 17. Lucente Skye is my artist name for solo piano music. If Spotify listeners give a "Follow" over at Lucente Skye on Spotify, they'll get new releases stashed directly into the Release Radar playlist.
"Crane Prairie"
SHEET MUSIC AVAILABLE
For those of you who like to play along on the piano (or maybe have a new year's resolution to play the piano more often!), I have sheet music available for many of my Lucente Skye compositions. Visit my SHOP to order!
UPCOMING SHOWS
Every Brain Needs (Love) Music
February 14, 2025
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, OR
This multi-media Valentine’s Day event is a collaboration between the Portland Chamber Orchestra and Science on Tap. I'm thrilled to perform again with neuroscientist Dr. Larry Sherman, Native American flutist James Greeley, blues singer Marilyn Keller, and the PCO.
Song Suffragettes PNW
March 8, 2025
McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland, OR
Join us on International Women’s Day, for a celebration of female singer-songwriters! This special showcase features an eclectic lineup of talented solo artists—Naomi LaViolette, Yawa, Kathryn Claire, Rosa Linda, Marianna Theilen—plus the Cider Janes Trio. Enjoy an evening filled with diverse musical styles, compelling storytelling, and soulful performances. The event poster showcases the artwork of the incredible Ivy Newport!
Recent Highlights
I had the pleasure again of accompanying the Oregon Repertory Singers for their Glory of Christmas concerts at the beginning of December, tackling some fast and technical double violin lines on the harpsichord for Handel’s For Unto Us a Child is Born—talk about a workout for my fingers! Curious about what goes into preparing for a performance like that? Check out this behind-the-scenes video I posted on my Instagram page. I also loved reprising performances of my pieces Angel in the Snow and Noel with them.
Towards the end of the month I was notified that my piece "Racing the Moon" had won the Houston Choral Society Choral Competition Competition—my very first contest win as a composer! The Houston Choral Society will be performing it in March!
Whether you've streamed my music, come out to a show, or sent a thoughtful message my way, I’m beyond thankful for your connection to me and my music. As we start this new year, I’m sending you all my best for a year filled with peace, joy, and exciting new experiences.
Happy New Year!
Naomi (Nay)