READERSVOICE.COM: How and where did the recording take place for Cross Symphonic? Were there different days where different elements of each song were recorded, like, did the choir record at the same time as the strings in Antidote, with everyone in the same studio at once?

JOHN PAUL HAYWARD: Cross Symphonic was recorded in three different stages. We recorded string and winds together at EastWest in Los Angeles California over a period of two days. Choir was recorded at Warner Chappell in Salt Lake City about a month or so later, and then Brass was recorded remotely by a group called The Game Brass.
It’s not unusual in the recording industry to split up an orchestra and record them separately in sections, however it does present a certain set of challenges with music like this. Complex music generally has a lot of interplay in the orchestra: instruments that pass themes to one another, rhythmic sections where the orchestra really needs to listen to one another, etc. Had I the budget I would have loved to record everyone together at the same time, but I think what we did with Cross Symphonic worked really well and the results speak for themselves.

RV: Did all the instrumentalists and choir come from the Utah Chamber Artists and the Utah Symphony? Was it an expensive proposition paying for all those musicians?

JPH: As with any large orchestra project a majority of the cost goes into paying the musicians for their time and expertise. Without all of the generous support from the kickstarter, and several private donations, this project wouldn’t have been possible. All of the strings, harp, and winds are freelance musicians and were contracted in Los Angeles by Karen Garrity from CMG Music Recording. The choir consisted of friends and colleagues that I’ve worked and sung with over the past 10 years. A majority of them sing or have sung in multiple choirs (Utah Chamber Artists, the Utah Symphony, and the University of Utah Chamber Choir) all directed by Dr Barlow Bradford. The Brass were contracted by John Robert Matz and are all a part of a group called The Game Brass.

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