Nay's News November 2025
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As the days grow shorter and the nights turn colder, the November season of gratitude settles in. I find myself thankful for the beauty of the changing leaves, the rhythm of rain and sun, the trees of the Pacific Northwest, and the chard in my garden that has come back to life like a wild, green miracle.
I’m also grateful for my connection with you through this newsletter and for your continued support through the years and this journey in music. Thank you for walking beside me and cheering me on.
Some fun news to share with you this month:
Upcoming performances of my choral compositions:
I’m always delighted when my music is included in a choir’s program and reaches new audiences. If one of these concerts is near you, I hope you’ll attend and support these choirs as they bring new music to their communities.
Performance: “Noel” TTBB/Piano/Violin
Nov. 20, 21 & 22 - Apple Valley, MN
Minnesota Valley Men's Chorale
Performance: “Noel” SATB/Piano/Violin
Dec. 2 - Salt Lake City, UT
Univeristy of Utah University Choirs
Consortium Premiere: “Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song”) TTBB/Piano
Dec. 6 - Minneapolis, MN
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus
Performance: “Angel in the Snow” SATB/Piano/Percussion & “Noel” SATB/Piano
Dec. 6 & 7 - Mercer Island, WA & Redmond, WA
Cascadian Chorale
Performance: “Night of Silence” SATB/Piano/Cello
Dec. 7 - Vancouver, B.C.
Pacific Spirit United Church
Performance: ”Night of Silence” SSA/Piano
Dec. 7, 13 & 14 - Portland, OR
Oregon Repertory Singers
Performance: “Winter Solstice” SATB
Dec. 10 - Bellingham, WA
Squalicum High School
Consortium Premiere: “Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song”) TTBB/Piano
Dec. 12, 13, & 14 - Portland, OR
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
Consortium Premiere: “Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song”) TTBB/Piano
Dec. 13, & 14 - Eugene, OR & Corvallis, OR
Eugene Gay Men’s Chorus
Premiere: “Winter Solstice” SSA/Piano
Dec. 13 - Portland, OR
Portland Symphonic Girlchoir
Performance: “Noel” SATB/Piano/Violin
Dec. 13 - Shepherdstown, WV
Renatum Chamber Choir
Performance: “Night of Silence” SATB/Piano
Dec. 13 & 14 - Vashon, WA
Vashon Island Chorale
Consortium Premiere: “Love is Love (The Christmas Eve Song”) TTBB/Piano
Dec. 19, 20 & 21 - Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus
Performance: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” SATB'/Piano
Dec. 21 & 24 - Fox Chapel, PA & Sharpsburg, PA
Schola Cantorum / Christ the King Parish
STREAMING NOW
“Noel (with Choir)” released Oct. 17. 2025
Listen on streaming platforms:
UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE
“Thorns” Album by Lucia LaViolette
“Thorns” by Lucia LaViolette (my daughter!) - releases Nov. 21, 2025
What an absolute joy to help my daughter Luci produce her debut album of original songs. So much thanks to recording engineer/instrumentalist Tim Karplus, drummer Ji Tanzer, and mixing/mastering engineer Jeanot Lewis-Rolland for helping us bring it to life!
Spotify Pre-Save Link
Commission Consortium Opportunity
Coming in 2026: I’m launching a Commission Consortium to complete a large-scale SATB choral work celebrating all of the Solstices and Equinoxes!
If you're interested in learning more or joining the consortium with your choir, I'd love to hear from you.
In the meantime, take a listen to “Winter Solstice” for a sonic preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQcxbpoilaY
Just FYI, a commission consortium is a group of multiple choirs who pool financial resources to fund the creation of a new work. This model makes it more affordable for everyone involved to commission a new work than if they were to do so alone. In return for their financial contribution, consortium members receive rights to be among the first to perform the new work and have their names listed in the score.
Recent Adventures…
What a joy it was to share my Lucente Skye piano pieces live on Portland All Classical Radio’s Thursdays at Three program last month. The audio replay is available on their website for just a few more days if you’d like to give it a listen! You can find it HERE by scrolling down to the program from October 23, 2025. A huge thank you to All Classical for this wonderful opportunity!
On Oct. 10, I was the choral clinician for the OMEA District 4 Fall Inservice Day. I loved developing and presenting these sessions for the first time, and learned a lot during the process.
An attendee gave me this lovely quote to share about the experience:
“Hearing Naomi's perspective on what it means to be a collaborative pianist gave me some great reminders that I will implement from now on! Her presentation on commissioning also opened my mind to the possibility of getting pieces commissioned when I thought it was out of the realm of possibility for me before. The templates provided were awesome too!”
Performing with the Oregon Repertory Singers at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR, for “Sing for the Cure” on October 11 was a true career highlight. It was such a meaningful and emotional experience, and it was an honor to accompany the narrations with my piano compositions.
Sharing the very first Discovering Peace Piano & Yoga experience was such a treat! Stay tuned for more chances to enjoy this collaboration with yoga instructor MacKenzie Domann / Superbloom Health & Wellness.
Upcoming Shows
November 8, 2025
Tales of the Steinway: How the piano that Bernstein played landed at First Church - a dedication concert jam
Join First Church Friends of Music for a free concert dedicating the Sanctuary’s restored Steinway piano, featuring pianists Colin Alexei Shepard, Naomi LaViolette, and Darrell Grant performing jazz, classical, and pop in an intimate “in the round” setting. Donated by Dr. Ethan Sperry and his brothers in memory of their father, the piano’s colorful history is celebrated alongside this unique musical experience for the entire community.
May this season bring you moments that lift and nourish your spirit.
Your friend,
Naomi (Nay)
PS - In my march toward the 50th hike (find out about my 50 hikes goal HERE), I came across these massive mushrooms last week. They deserved Honorable Mention!
