THE 2025 EXPLORATORIO
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RuLEs foR BEiNG humAn
The human brain excels at two contrary tasks. Our brains deftly navigate the world by changing and adapting constantly and rapidly. Our brains equally instill confidence in us that everything is the same and will never change. A large swath of the human experience lives within the dance of desired change and perceived stasis. People are eager to offer their opinion on what others ought to do with their lives. Encouragements range from wild to unremarkable statements that can easily be found in human psychology 101. Yet, people just as fervently invite the opinions of others to guide them through life’s uncertainties. The whole “being human” thing chafes against being human. We need outside inputs to help steady ourselves.
If you could offer one guidepost to others to help them discover life, what would it be? And, perhaps more importantly, how would you use music to package that idea? At the 2025 N.E.O. Voice Festival, we’ll bring these ideas for life into discovery. By encouraging curiosity and compassion, we’ll chart a week-long experience culminating in the presentation of your insights on what it means to live this life: your “Rules For Being Human.” Your unique voice will blend with the music of other professionals, or, as we like to say, anti-professionals, through a communal creation that shares in the mysteries of the human experience. As we feed one another in the art-affirming N.E.O. space, we will also birth a new statement for living in the 2025 ExplOratorio. We look forward to blending your wisdom and vision into this project. |
What We'll Do At A Glance
Compassion-Led Rehearsals
N.E.O. rehearsals are artist-centered and compassion-focused, choosing to elevate the individual by creating a corporate space in which each member can bring the fullness of their voice while they grow, explore, and thrive. We recognize that traditional artistic experiences are often laden with elements of judgment and pressure that lead to internal conflict among the very people who are there to share from places of vulnerability. Operating from the scientific definition of compassion written by researcher Paul Gilbert, we maintain ”a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try and alleviate and prevent it.” Rehearsal processes, learning and creative explorations, and activities grow from this place, yielding lasting connections that feed the group’s artistry as individuals find confidence in their personal expression. Listen to David Harris and Laurel Irene's podcast Underground Ictus to hear more in-depth discussions on compassion as a leadership motivation.
N.E.O. rehearsals are artist-centered and compassion-focused, choosing to elevate the individual by creating a corporate space in which each member can bring the fullness of their voice while they grow, explore, and thrive. We recognize that traditional artistic experiences are often laden with elements of judgment and pressure that lead to internal conflict among the very people who are there to share from places of vulnerability. Operating from the scientific definition of compassion written by researcher Paul Gilbert, we maintain ”a sensitivity to suffering in self and others with a commitment to try and alleviate and prevent it.” Rehearsal processes, learning and creative explorations, and activities grow from this place, yielding lasting connections that feed the group’s artistry as individuals find confidence in their personal expression. Listen to David Harris and Laurel Irene's podcast Underground Ictus to hear more in-depth discussions on compassion as a leadership motivation.
Illuminate Your Voice Practice
Explore the inner workings of the human voice, the most versatile acoustic instrument on the planet. Discover "why it does that" in digestible, experienced-based scientific explanations that allow you to find new entry points into your established practice. We will delve into multiple different stylistic approaches including traditional choral cathedral singing, operatic and art song strategies, and pop, music theater, jazz and other genres that use a range of acoustic approaches. With the use of hearing science, you will begin to understand how to apply new learning in creative, fun, and direct ways for your practice. If you're not someone who sings regularly, we'll help you feel more confident in your personal practice.
Explore the inner workings of the human voice, the most versatile acoustic instrument on the planet. Discover "why it does that" in digestible, experienced-based scientific explanations that allow you to find new entry points into your established practice. We will delve into multiple different stylistic approaches including traditional choral cathedral singing, operatic and art song strategies, and pop, music theater, jazz and other genres that use a range of acoustic approaches. With the use of hearing science, you will begin to understand how to apply new learning in creative, fun, and direct ways for your practice. If you're not someone who sings regularly, we'll help you feel more confident in your personal practice.
Change Your Ears/Change Your Voice
At N.E.O. we engage with vocal choices through the ear, using scientific understanding of acoustics, filtered listening technology, and the ear and brain combined into creative explorations. The sonic world that we illuminate with our voices every day remains a hidden mystery to most. Yet, within those secret realms lies exciting music and vocal tools waiting for your discovery. We guide this exploration with the VoiceScienceWorks Filtered Listening process that you can begin to explore on your own by visiting the website.
At N.E.O. we engage with vocal choices through the ear, using scientific understanding of acoustics, filtered listening technology, and the ear and brain combined into creative explorations. The sonic world that we illuminate with our voices every day remains a hidden mystery to most. Yet, within those secret realms lies exciting music and vocal tools waiting for your discovery. We guide this exploration with the VoiceScienceWorks Filtered Listening process that you can begin to explore on your own by visiting the website.
This spectrogram image shows the extreme variation present in the timbres of vowels we speak and sing every day. The vowel is labeled along the bottom as "vowel complex", and the individual vowel colors are labeled along the left side as "ASTC", shorthand for "absolute spectral tone color." At N.E.O. we learn to make sense of these changes logically and sonically so that we can access and recombine them artistically.
Create New Work
At the center of N.E.O.'s artist-centered focus lies the ExplOratorio, a concert-length work written by N.E.O. composers each year for the N.E.O. Festival Chorus and created by all of those in residence with N.E.O. each year. There are few things as inspiring as creating new music with a group of synergetic artists. In addition to the ExplOratorio, featured performers have the opportunity to bring their new projects to the opening night Out-Of-The-Voice-Box concert, and everyone will enjoy opportunities to write and sing new works throughout the week.
At the center of N.E.O.'s artist-centered focus lies the ExplOratorio, a concert-length work written by N.E.O. composers each year for the N.E.O. Festival Chorus and created by all of those in residence with N.E.O. each year. There are few things as inspiring as creating new music with a group of synergetic artists. In addition to the ExplOratorio, featured performers have the opportunity to bring their new projects to the opening night Out-Of-The-Voice-Box concert, and everyone will enjoy opportunities to write and sing new works throughout the week.
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Expanding Your Vocal Tools
During the N.E.O. week you will have the opportunity to experience the exploration of different vocal styles, extended techniques, and timbral variations, and to begin to understand the functional underpinnings of them to help guide your future engagement with new vocal tools. Through the exploration of new sounds you'll also find stability, focus, and clarity in the sounds that you rely on in your current practice. Through artist-centered, compassion-led experiences based in the science of learning, you will be invited into new vocal spaces as well as new learning spaces. Some vocal tool highlights include: overtone singing, undertone singing, growling, rattling, stylistic variation through timbral adjustment that applies to all vocal sound systems, yodeling, throat singing, microtonality, and ensemble goals like blend, balance, and timbral alignment/contrast. |
Amanda Cole's "Singing In Tune With Nature" (from "The New Morality Play," N.E.O. 2020) demonstrates approaches to overtone singing and microtonal vocal tools. Listen to the fundamentals in contrast to the whistles that form a halo of higher sounds created by the vowel glissandi.
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Expanding Your Compositional Tools
Western notation excels at communicating pitch and time, but has few tools for composers to access when attempting to communicate timbral choices, emotion, and intention. We explore specific options for notating different timbres, overtones, vibrato, textures (growls, rattles), microtones, external physical adjustments, emotional and intention cues, and the subtle and robust practice of writing for the organ. Abe Ross leads composers through several sessions on The Great Organs At First Church, and offers one-on-one sessions with composers as they hone their organ scores should they choose to add the organ to their vocal piece. At N.E.O. everyone is a composer as we create together in targeted composition games where you play with the new tools we're developing. Here are a few scores from past N.E.O. Exploratorios that demonstrate some of the ways in which N.E.O. composers have communicated in new ways.
Western notation excels at communicating pitch and time, but has few tools for composers to access when attempting to communicate timbral choices, emotion, and intention. We explore specific options for notating different timbres, overtones, vibrato, textures (growls, rattles), microtones, external physical adjustments, emotional and intention cues, and the subtle and robust practice of writing for the organ. Abe Ross leads composers through several sessions on The Great Organs At First Church, and offers one-on-one sessions with composers as they hone their organ scores should they choose to add the organ to their vocal piece. At N.E.O. everyone is a composer as we create together in targeted composition games where you play with the new tools we're developing. Here are a few scores from past N.E.O. Exploratorios that demonstrate some of the ways in which N.E.O. composers have communicated in new ways.
Jasper Sussman's graphic score "Introduction" from "The Origins Of Creativity", N.E.O. 2019, explores emotional and timbral notation through imagery and expanded use of Western musical notation.
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Mathias Coppens' "Music For Choir" from "The New Morality Play", N.E.O. 2020, utilizes timbral layering, asking singers to use multiple timbral approaches at any given moment. In this part of the score he asks for stylistic variation defined as "cathedral choir" and "poppy and speaky" as well as overtone singing and declamatory speaking in combination with traditional articulation variation.
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Amanda Cole's "Passion Choral" from "The Passions", N.E.O. 2021, deepens into overtone singing notation and microtonality for singers. She utilizes timbral relationships created by vowels to align overtones with sung phonemes, and communicates microtonal variations based on a C pedal as aural guides all over Bach's well-known "Passion Chorale," inviting our ears to hear traditional music in new ways.
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Joogwang Lim's "Nun's Dance" from "The Passions", N.E.O. 2021, translates vocal gestures found in traditional Korean folk music for use in his Western-notated composition. He guides singers into vibrato choices and pitch glides, as well as opening them into emotional spaces that align with the dramatic arc of the piece.
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Becoming The Anti-Professional
N.E.O. participants are music, performing arts, medical, and academic professionals eager to explore aspects of their careers that are often undervalued by the industry. We value the professional capacities that N.E.O. participants bring to the week. These professionals are defined not by a specific set of skills or traits, but by their personal, passionate engagement in the niche of life they have chosen. Whether you are a pop or classical musician looking for others to share creatively with, a college professor eager to lead with curiosity in a judgment-free space, a medical professional wanting to free yourself from the insurance boxes and make something new, a composer or singer hoping to find portals into your personal vision for your art, or any other creative motivated to seek new questions and answers through your voice, at N.E.O. we recognize that you are both gifted and wanting. We embrace the "anti-" prefix as a way to remember that as curious, creative, compassionate people, we can find solutions outside of industry dogma and oppressive systems. The anti-professional has lived with the scars of perceived bias, and seeks new skin, and supportive community to explore their gifts from a place of wholeness and connection.
N.E.O. participants are music, performing arts, medical, and academic professionals eager to explore aspects of their careers that are often undervalued by the industry. We value the professional capacities that N.E.O. participants bring to the week. These professionals are defined not by a specific set of skills or traits, but by their personal, passionate engagement in the niche of life they have chosen. Whether you are a pop or classical musician looking for others to share creatively with, a college professor eager to lead with curiosity in a judgment-free space, a medical professional wanting to free yourself from the insurance boxes and make something new, a composer or singer hoping to find portals into your personal vision for your art, or any other creative motivated to seek new questions and answers through your voice, at N.E.O. we recognize that you are both gifted and wanting. We embrace the "anti-" prefix as a way to remember that as curious, creative, compassionate people, we can find solutions outside of industry dogma and oppressive systems. The anti-professional has lived with the scars of perceived bias, and seeks new skin, and supportive community to explore their gifts from a place of wholeness and connection.
2025 Fellows and Scholars
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N.E.O. Festival Fellows and Scholars are leaders in vocal, compositional, and organ fields across the world. They contribute their expertise and energy to guide each unique N.E.O. collaboration into intimate artistic spaces. Learn more about Past N.E.O. Fellows and Scholars.
Returning Past Fellows and Scholars
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Schedule change from past years
This year we're trying a slightly different approach to the week. The ExplOratorio concert will take place on the Friday of the festival (August 1, 2025). The final workshop session will be on Saturday morning (August 2).
This year we're trying a slightly different approach to the week. The ExplOratorio concert will take place on the Friday of the festival (August 1, 2025). The final workshop session will be on Saturday morning (August 2).
N.E.O. Voice Festival 2024 Schedule--2025 schedule to come
Note that the 2025 Schedule will be similar to the 2024 Schedule, if you want to get a feel for the flow of the week.
Participant Dates
All times are Pacific Time Zone
Participant Dates
All times are Pacific Time Zone
- June 20 Leadership workshop 3:30-5:30, 7:00-9:00 (sign up by emailing David)
- June 21 Leadership workshop 10:00-12:30 (sign up by emailing David)
- June 22: Festival begins! Rehearsal and sound check schedule in the Drive
- To download a PDF of the calendar below, click here
Notes For 2023 N.E.O. Participants
WiFi: Network: 1C-Guest | Password: Church@540
Link to scores in Drive
Link to materials to share folder
Please make sure you fill out the spreadsheet, the link of which is in your email. And download Voce Vista.
Dress for Events
1. Concert black for Sunday morning ***bring a change of clothes for the rest of the day if you like
2. For ExplOratorio wear concert level of formality but in fun and energizing colors. Consider the concert theme if that helps.
3. Those performing in Out of the Box wear whatever you like
Headphones and Pitch Aid Devices
1. Have over the ear headphones for use with Voce Vista. I have some if you need to borrow them, so don't buy any
2. Please have a pitch aid device for rehearsals if you like. These can include smart phones with piano/pitch app and headphones/earbud, small keyboard with headphones/earbud, tuning fork, etc. Make sure only you can hear the pitch aid. Note that I'm not a huge fan of earbuds, but for this purpose it can work.
3. If your smartphone doesn't have a standard headphone connection, have a translator cable.
Personal rehearsal sign up
Each night after rehearsal there are multiple rooms you can choose to rehearse in on campus if you would like to get together with anyone to prepare a piece, get to know one of the organs, etc. The sign up list will be available when you arrive on the first day and ongoing throughout the festival, and are first come first served.
Food
We don’t provide meals during NEO. We do provide regular snacks, and some people use those to fill up on. Each morning there will be fruit and trail bars (nut free) kinds of things with coffee and water. There are several lunch places close to FCCLA and we have a kitchen with a microwave and fridge if you want to bring your own food. We are done each night before dinner time, except for Wednesday night. For a list of local eateries, go to www.fccla.org/localeats
Covid Protocol
Please plan to take a test at the start of the week.
You are welcome to mask if you would like to, but masks are not required.
Have a mask with you in case you get to feeling badly.
If you feel sick in any way, please separate yourself from the group, test for Covid, and mask until you feel better. Let David and Kirk know immediately so we can create a plan.
If you test positive for Covid, you'll need to stay away from the festival, sadly. So, do your best to avoid Covid risk leading up to the festival and while there.
Laptop/Tablet/Journal
We will use Voce Vista and be writing music throughout the week. Your laptop will be needed for this function. You can share if you don't have a laptop or can't bring it. Let us know in the "2024 NEO Participants" spreadsheet.
The Voce Vista tutorial video can be watched here
You are welcome to use a tablet in rehearsals and performances. We will print music for anyone who wants it.
We will be journaling in different ways throughout that week, and will provide paper, but having your own journal will ensure continuity if you'd like to bring one
Link to scores in Drive
Link to materials to share folder
Please make sure you fill out the spreadsheet, the link of which is in your email. And download Voce Vista.
Dress for Events
1. Concert black for Sunday morning ***bring a change of clothes for the rest of the day if you like
2. For ExplOratorio wear concert level of formality but in fun and energizing colors. Consider the concert theme if that helps.
3. Those performing in Out of the Box wear whatever you like
Headphones and Pitch Aid Devices
1. Have over the ear headphones for use with Voce Vista. I have some if you need to borrow them, so don't buy any
2. Please have a pitch aid device for rehearsals if you like. These can include smart phones with piano/pitch app and headphones/earbud, small keyboard with headphones/earbud, tuning fork, etc. Make sure only you can hear the pitch aid. Note that I'm not a huge fan of earbuds, but for this purpose it can work.
3. If your smartphone doesn't have a standard headphone connection, have a translator cable.
Personal rehearsal sign up
Each night after rehearsal there are multiple rooms you can choose to rehearse in on campus if you would like to get together with anyone to prepare a piece, get to know one of the organs, etc. The sign up list will be available when you arrive on the first day and ongoing throughout the festival, and are first come first served.
Food
We don’t provide meals during NEO. We do provide regular snacks, and some people use those to fill up on. Each morning there will be fruit and trail bars (nut free) kinds of things with coffee and water. There are several lunch places close to FCCLA and we have a kitchen with a microwave and fridge if you want to bring your own food. We are done each night before dinner time, except for Wednesday night. For a list of local eateries, go to www.fccla.org/localeats
Covid Protocol
Please plan to take a test at the start of the week.
You are welcome to mask if you would like to, but masks are not required.
Have a mask with you in case you get to feeling badly.
If you feel sick in any way, please separate yourself from the group, test for Covid, and mask until you feel better. Let David and Kirk know immediately so we can create a plan.
If you test positive for Covid, you'll need to stay away from the festival, sadly. So, do your best to avoid Covid risk leading up to the festival and while there.
Laptop/Tablet/Journal
We will use Voce Vista and be writing music throughout the week. Your laptop will be needed for this function. You can share if you don't have a laptop or can't bring it. Let us know in the "2024 NEO Participants" spreadsheet.
The Voce Vista tutorial video can be watched here
You are welcome to use a tablet in rehearsals and performances. We will print music for anyone who wants it.
We will be journaling in different ways throughout that week, and will provide paper, but having your own journal will ensure continuity if you'd like to bring one
Songs to open your ears
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