UPDATE: At the time of this interview, Tony Araujo was taking on the role of artistic director of the British Columbia Boys Choir, a role which he held for 14 years, and as such, was honoured at their 50th Anniversary Christmas Concert. (Unfortunately at the time of the Covid pandemic the British Columbia Boys Choir folded - after 50+ years.)
Tony has since completed his doctorate and has toured extensively around the world with all his choirs, which include the St. Patrick's Regional Secondary Concert Choir (see videos below).
But let this article speak to you of this man's amazing talents and insights... for to talk with Tony Araujo is to converse with a man who truly
speaks from his heart. He brings compassion, caring, wisdom
and a passionate vision.
An
interview article by Rosemary Phillips, 2003, and timeless.
Tony Araujo
A holistic approach to choral music
"To me it's important that the music resonates with
the individual lived experiences of members of the choir," explained Tony Araujo. “When they bring (those experiences) to the
performance it’s more connected, holistic.”
Tony conducts from a feeling space, a place of pure thought. “There’s
something numinous about conducting. When trying to reach the different
frequencies in music, as a conductor, you can be in that frequency,
the space between space, neither here nor there. If you can get
the singers in that space then you are in the same zone, you are
IN the music. I want all my singers to become the music.”
When the singers become the music the audience feels it.
“For me (the joy) is the moment when people who don’t know the choir are moved to tears - that the audience feels really connected.”
Choral music has deep meaning for Tony.
“I feel
like I’m being called to do this. Everything happens for a
reason and there’s a timely contribution to be made.”
To date he has made incredible contributions as the choral director
of international award winning choirs at St. Patrick Regional Secondary
School and as the artistic director of Corpus Christi College Chamber
Choir. He has received the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching
Excellence, and his work has been captured in a documentary film
entitled “Spirit Alive: The Tony Araujo Story”.
At the time of this interview he had just returned from a tour through
Canterbury, London, and Paris with one of the school choirs, and
after a week of rest he is now preparing for his full season ahead.
Spirit Alive - choral music from a depth perspective.
And while working with St. Patrick’s
choirs, he took monthly trips to the Pacifica Graduate Institute
in Santa Barbara where he continued his doctorate studies and research
on “Spirit Alive: The Choral Music Experience from a Depth
Perspective”.
While reading the introduction to his thesis, and another paper
on his understanding of music as healer, this writer was moved by
Tony’s articulation, his energy, and his ability to integrate
academia with writing from feeling that includes his own personal
healing experience. How does a writer, bound by limitations of prose,
describe a concept that can be so illusive and not main stream?
“I’m studying everything from alchemy to dreamwork.
I think that choral music has a transformative capacity to facilitate
the individuation process with every singer. Part of my research
is based on the art of teaching to the soul. Admittedly it’s
one of those things you can’t articulate. It’s called
Depth Psychology - archetypal psychology - Jungian."
Choral music is about listening - to each other.
"It not only changes the singer but the entire audience. It's really about love," explained Tony. “This is what’s driving my research. How can we get
this into mainstream education – to look at the experience
of the individual, rather than the top-down method of teaching?
Choral conductors can be healers – because we are a coach
of a large group of people. Someone called me a Spirit Maker. It’s
not intentional. But I can see how that can be seen in that way.
It comes from a place of humility. When I’m up there conducting
I’m washing (the choir’s) feet – all I ask is
that they wash the feet of the audience. It’s humility. It’s
an inclusive process. It’s not about the ego of the art, it’s
the spirit of the art. It’s about creating a container where
you can really build community.”
