PROJECT ONE
“Music is the silence between the notes, and sometimes the best way
to hear that silence is to turn off the noise of the world.”
- Claude Debussy
AN OFFLINE GATHERING:
Create, Collaborate, & Connect
Immerse yourself in the magic of genuine human connection at Vox Musica's "An Offline Gathering." Inspired by The Offline Club’s pioneering initiative to create a sanctuary from the digital world, this event offers a unique opportunity to unplug and engage in meaningful, real-world interactions while being transcended by the voices of Vox Musica.
This Offline event is exclusively devoted to the choral works of John Muehleisen, our long-standing collaborator, supporter, and living composer, whose steadfast encouragement has inspired us to bring new, stunning works for women’s voices to life.
Join us for an evening of luminous, deeply expressive music — entirely drawn from Muehleisen’s settings, many of which our singers know and cherish, and two that Vox will present for the first time. Voices will carry the evocative poetry of Sara Teasdale — a poet widely celebrated for her tender, lyrical explorations of love, nature, longing, and the inner life.
Muehleisen’s art is often praised for its “lush, powerful, condensed, then expansive” harmonic expression, with carefully shaped breath and emotional nuance illuminating every phrase. His choral works have been performed by leading ensembles across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, and his Sara Teasdale settings in particular have earned wide acclaim.
At the Offline Gathering, you'll find a diverse range of activities to choose from. Whether you want to play games, read books, write poetry, paint, draw, knit, or sit in awe as Vox Musica performs their Music Worth Sharing, this experience will encourage you to reflect and reclaim authentic interpersonal connections.
Prioritize real-world connections over digital distractions, and join us for an unforgettable evening.
We invite attendees to be fully present throughout this experience. To ensure this, please leave your digital devices (phones, smartwatches, tablets, etc.) at home, in your vehicle (out of sight), or check them at the door upon arrival at the event.
We will set up a coat check system for your devices, allowing you to reclaim them at the end of the event. We are committed to creating an immersive experience that captivates and engages you. We appreciate your cooperation and willingness to try something new!
The Program
4:15 pm | Doors Open
5:00 pm | Announcement
5:10 pm | Creative Time w/Music
5:30 pm | Community Conversation Time
5:45 pm | Creative Time w/Music
6:00 pm | Community Conversation Time
6:20 pm | Creative Time w/Music
6:40 pm | Central Round-Up
Concert/Community Event
Saturday, October 25th, 2025 • 5pm
@ Verge Center for the Arts
(625 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811)
IN-PERSON TICKETS: $20
STUDENT PRICE: 50% off, use discount code (student) at checkout & show student ID at the door.
Digital Concerts Are Available For Purchase
Visit our Watch Page for this concert and other performances.
Tickets
Featured Artists
Heather Waid, collaborative pianist
Heather Waid is a highly sought-after pianist and vocalist, known particularly for her exceptional collaborative skills. Born in Sacramento, she received a Master of Fine Arts degree in both Collaborative Piano Performance and Vocal Performance from Notre Dame de Namur University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities & Religious Studies with a minor in Music from California State University, Sacramento. Heather is the artistic director and co-founder of the Sacramento Pop Choir, as well as the principal accompanist for the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus. Heather maintains a private piano and voice studio, and also composes and arranges music.
John Muehleisen, Composer, Publisher, Educator
John Muehleisen is widely recognized as one of America’s leading composers of vocal and choral music, with a catalog of over 150 works celebrated for their beauty, emotional insight, and seamless marriage of text and music. His harmonic language—lyrical yet modern, deeply expressive, and structurally rich—has earned critical praise for its “lush, powerful, condensed, then expansive” character.
Since 1996, he has served as Composer-in-Residence for Seattle’s Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, writing more than 25 commissioned works. He was also the final composer-in-residence for the Dale Warland Singers and has held residencies with Choral Arts Northwest. His music has been performed by premier ensembles including Conspirare, The Esoterics, Volti, Magnum Chorum, the Saint Olaf Choir, and Seattle Pro Musica, with performances across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Muehleisen’s large-scale works, such as Pietà, Borders, and But Who Shall Return Us Our Children: A Kipling Passion, demonstrate his gift for weaving human stories with musical empathy and depth. The Kipling Passion earned him The American Prize in Composition – Major Choral Works (2020), and in 2022, he was named an Honored Artist by The American Prize.
His catalog also reveals a striking range—from the wit of “Eat Your Vegetables!” to the luminous poetry settings of Sara Teasdale, including “Joy” and the “After Love” cycle, which have become staples of contemporary choral repertoire.
A native Californian, Muehleisen earned his B.M. in Saxophone Performance from California State University, Sacramento, and his M.M. in Composition from the University of Washington, with additional doctoral study at Indiana University. He maintains a private composition studio in Seattle and publishes most of his music through Muehleisen Music and Northwest Choral Publishers, the digital composer collective he co-founded.