David Willcocks, Choral Conductor Kings College (1919-2015)

Sir David Willcocks, who has died aged 95, was the most influential choirmaster of his generation, spending 17 years as director of music at King’s College, Cambridge, and 38 years in charge of the Bach Choir. He was a man of immense courage in both musical and military fields, earning an immediate MC during his war service in Normandy.OBIT Sir David Valentine Willcocks CBE, MC (30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015) was a British choral conductor, organist, composer and music administrator. He is particularly well known for his association with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, which he directed from 1957 to 1974, making frequent broadcasts and recordings. Several of the descants and carol arrangements he wrote for the annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols were published in the series of books Carols for Choirs which he edited along with Reginald Jacques and John Rutter. He was also director of the Royal College of Music in London. During the Second World War he served as an officer in the British Army, and was decorated with the Military Cross for his actions during the Battle of Normandy. His elder son, Jonathan Willcocks, is also a composer. WIKIPEDIA

Jaime Leon Ferro (1921 - 2015)

Born in 1921, Jaime León the Grand Old Man of Colombian music. A vital figure in the development of Colombian art-music, León has been pianist (a grand-student of Clara Schumann), conductor, teacher, administrator and composer. His Misa breve has an innocent sincerity reminiscent of Poulenc’s religious music, and although the word-setting in his songs is subtle and imaginative, they have the same melodic immediacy and uncomplicated appeal. He died May 8, 2015....
Recordings:
Jaime Leon

 VIDEO: In this video Colombian soprano Patricia Caicedo and pianist Janet Pumill perform a set of art songs by Colombian composer Jaime Leon. The songs are Más que nunca (poetry by Maruja Vieira), A tí (poetry by José Asunción Silva), Rima (poetry by Eduardo Carranza) and Todo pasó (poetry by Rafael Maya). The performance took place at TCU in Fort Worth, TX, on October 4, 2011. It was part of the 8th Latin-American Music Festival. If you are interested in learning about the Latin-American Art Song repertoire, its composers and poets please visit www.barcelonafestivalofsong.com the site of the Barcelona Festival of Song a Summer Program for singers and accompanists dedicated to the study of the history and interpretation of the Latin-American and Spanish Vocal Repertoire. If you are looking for scores please visit www.mundoarts.com For more info about Patricia Caicedo, her performances, books and CDs please visit www.patriciacaicedo.com