Patti Drennan, a former choral music teacher at West Mid-High School, now Alcott Middle School, and Norman High School and full-time music producer and composer, received a Grammy nomination for her new album.
Drennan was nominated for Best Choral Performance with her album “Requiem of Light,” a nine-movement choral piece that explores the journey through grief, expectations and relationships, according to Drennan. She said the album blends styles of jazz and choral textures to complement the vocal presence.
On Tuesday, Norman City Council recognized Drennan for her contributions to music education and choral composition.
Drennan said the nine movements in her album were created to guide listeners through emotions of grief and what lies after death.
“In the middle of the section, you're going to hear more choir members come in,” Drennan said, “and that's supposed to emulate that whenever we pass away, go to heaven, and you hear these choir voices that could simulate all the people that loved us and have gone before us.”
Drennan earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from Oklahoma State University and her master’s degree in music education from OU. She taught music for over 28 years at Norman High School and West Mid-High School before retiring in 2004 to focus on producing music full-time. She said she has produced 875 musical works throughout her career.
Drennan said music has always come easy, adding she has perfect pitch and can play by ear. She said she has always loved writing music for her church and teaching students.
Drennan said Kitt Wakeley, a two-time Grammy-winning composer, producer and artist, and Drennan’s daughter, Emily, helped her produce and create the album. Emily was also the chorus master, or director that leads a singing chorus, and co-producer on Drennan’s previous album.
The album features Grammy-winning soprano soloist Sangeeta Kaur, Grammy-nominated tenor soloist Brian Giebler, four-time Grammy-nominated conductor Steven Fox and the Clarion Choir. The album was recorded at Power Station at Berklee NYC with the Clarion Choir.
Each song’s title is in Latin which Drennan said guides the listener through the emotional progression of the album. According to Drennan, the album was produced in seven weeks.
“I shot for the moon to create something that was really grandiose, …” Drennan said. “Everything is a capella, so that was what made it difficult, because there's no opportunity within about 30 minutes that the choir is singing to take a breath, unless the soloist is singing on their own.”
Musical artist Patti Drennan and Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman at the Norman City Council meeting on Dec. 9.
Family
Drennan said her family members are very musical, including her late husband, Jim, who died in a car accident in 2022. She added that her family has been supportive of her many works.
“My husband was a trumpet (and) euphonium player for many, many years,” Drennan said. “We lost him three and a half years ago in a car accident. A lot of this is bittersweet because he has always been an advocate. So within both pieces that I’ve written, both albums, I would incorporate familiar melodies that were special to us.”
Drennan said she places “easter eggs” throughout her work that honor Jim.
“There's a little line that Sangeeta (Kaur), the soprano soloist, sang that's that little melody that Jim always enjoyed,” Drennan said. ”That's kind of a little nod to say ‘I know you're there. I know you weren't here to experience all this, but (I) think you're hearing this.’”
Both of Drennan’s children were all-state musicians at Norman High and her son-in-law is a co-producer on her album. Drennan said music was a way to bring the family closer.
Drennan said she and her daughter performed a sold-out mother-daughter symphony show Dec. 6 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
“Doing this too, with my daughter and son-in-law, that's the family affair type thing, …” Drennan said. “So we'll get to get back and sing together.”
Beginning of her recent music career
Drennan said she ran into Wakeley with her daughter two years ago at Hideaway Pizza after an OU football game. She said Wakeley was intrigued after hearing about her music and offered to connect her with a friend of his in Los Angeles.
Drennan spoke with Wakeley’s friend, Michelle Jensen, artistic director for Sterling Ensemble in Los Angeles, and quickly formed a friendship. The three of them co-produced her most recent Grammy-nominated album, Drennan said.
Her first album produced by Wakeley, “Echoes of Grace,” was recorded at EastWest Studios in LA last year. The studio has also been used by artists like Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga and the Beach Boys.
Drennan said she wanted to honor Kaur Giebler, Fox and the Clarion Choir because they were all valuable to gaining the Grammy nomination.
Even if she does not win the award, Drennan said she is honored to receive the nomination.
“If I didn't make best choral performance, then I (still) know that I've created very, very good quality music that has touched a lot of people, …” Drennan said. “I can't believe, in my stage of life, where most people would be retiring, I'm coming into a different side of the music creation.”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour, Macey Thaxton, Thomas Pablo and Ana Barboza. Hannah Lambert, Tori Pham and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
