Final count for Virtual Choir 3: 3727 videos from 73 countries. EPIC. The video will debut early April.

I’m so incredibly proud of all of you!

Just as I feared (secretly hoped), so many people tried to upload their videos last night that we actually crashed the servers. So, so thrilling to see such passion and dedication from all of you. At time of this writing we are at 3242 videos from 71 different countries. (!) To make sure we get everyone who experienced technical difficulties, video submissions will be accepted until 11:00 a.m. GMT, 2nd February.

Woo hoo!

If this doesn’t help, be sure to post on our very active and friendly Facebook page. Don’t let small tech issues keep you out of the fun – we need your voice!

A fond farewell to Phil Lawson, who performs tonight for the last time as a King’s Singer. 18 years, over 2,000 performances. An extraordinary singer, arranger and composer, Phil was one of a kind and will be truly missed. All the best in your new life, Phil!

911 videos from 45 different countries thus far. ONE WEEK LEFT TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL CHOIR. MAKE HISTORY WITH US.

It’s official: Soaring Leap: Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, May 3rd. We’ll spend the day at Capital University, singing and exploring the music together. Join us!

Photo by Nhick Ramiro.

Wednesday night, Jan. 25th, I’ll be conducting the European premiere of my new work for choir and organ, The Chelsea Carol. 6:45 Vespers service in the Sidney Sussex chapel, Cambridge. (And you’ll get to hear a mountain of other beautiful music performed by Dr. David Skinner and The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, including Super flumina Babylonis (Palestrina) and Magnificat Primi Toni (De Rore). Join us!

Over the past six years I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way.

I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my wife, soprano Hila Plitmann. (It will appear on the new Decca album, out this Spring).

Now I would like to adapt Goodnight Moon for mixed chorus and piano, and I would like to extend the invitation to choirs, ensembles and conductors to join a commissioning consortium. Members of the consortium will be granted exclusive performing rights from August 1st, 2012 to January 1st, 2013, and the name of the school or ensemble and their musical director will appear in the score, to be published by Chester Music. A single ‘lead commissioner’ will be granted the very first performance, the opportunity to give the piece its world premiere.

Like so many other parents, Goodnight Moon is so close to my heart. Thank you for helping me bring this piece into the world.

Click here for all the details.

This is a timeline showing the precise dates when singers submitted their Virtual Choir 2.0 videos. I am genuinely concerned that we are going to crash the servers if everyone waits until the last day. YOU CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN YOU.