Postcard from Tim Keeler, Music Director, Chanticleer
In SFGC’s Postcard series, our guest artists, collaborators, and faculty take us behind the scenes and share an intimate look into their thoughts about music, life, and art-making.
Tim Keeler, Music Director, Chanticleer
This postcard features Music Director of Chanticleer, Tim Keeler. SFGC's Premier Ensemble will be performing alongside Chanticleer in our co-presented concert Neighbor Tones.
TIM KEELER sang as a countertenor in Chanticleer in the 2017-18 season. In Chanticleer’s history he will be the fourth of its six Music Directors to have been a member of the ensemble. Prior to moving to San Francisco, Tim forged a career as an active conductor, singer, and educator. He performed with New York Polyphony, The Clarion Choir, and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street. He also performed frequently as a soloist, appearing regularly in the Bach Vespers series at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, as well as with TENET, New York's preeminent early music ensemble. An avid proponent of new and challenging repertoire, Tim remains a core member of Ekmeles, a vocal ensemble based in New York City and dedicated to contemporary, avant-garde, and infrequently-performed vocal repertoire.
Our concert together is full of new music, something that both our organizations make a point to perform regularly. Why is contemporary repertoire so important to you?
Art speaks to the time in which it was created. Often, as musicians, we’re tasked with endowing relevancy to music from the past. We don’t have to work so hard with contemporary repertoire – it is by definition “of the time!” Contemporary repertoire is full of contemporary stories and voices and sounds and harmonies. It’s exciting and necessary!
What excites you about 2022-2023 Chanticleer composer-in-residence Ayanna Woods’ work?
Ayanna is a remarkable musician and composer. She has a multifaceted career as a singer, bassist, and composer in many different genres, and her writing reflects those diverse interests. She grew up singing with the Chicago Children’s Choir and has continued to sing throughout her career, so she knows exactly what the voice can and can’t do. Her compositions are always grounded and purposeful, and her part-writing is always witty and down right fun to sing. That’s an awesome combination!
You have been a part of many choirs in your musical career, including Chanticleer before becoming their Music Director! What is it about choirs that keep you coming back?
Singing in a choir provides an emotional and physical connection with those around you. Everyone agrees on a sentiment or a feeling, and then physically manifests that feeling with their bodies. And you can hear it! How amazing is that!?
What advice can you give to our singers that you wish you had received when you were their age?
Never be afraid to fail. Volunteer for the solo even if you’re scared of it. Sing out, even if you’re not exactly sure how the music goes. That’s the only way to learn! And be proud of everything you accomplish, no matter how small! Many small steps add up to miles.
What inspires you about working with SFGC?
While living and performing in New York City, I sang alongside many SFGC alums. They spoke so highly of the Girls Chorus and about the impact it had on them as people and as musicians. It’s an honor to share the stage with such an important musical and educational institution – and with such talented and dedicated young musicians!
What are you excited to work on in the future? Give us a sneak peek!
We are releasing a new album on April 21st and we can’t wait to share it with the world! It features many new commissions written specifically for Chanticleer, including “close[r], now” by Ayanna Woods!