Antelope Renaissance Choir - First Concert

I attended (and enjoyed) the first concert of the Antelope Renaissance Choir this past Saturday (12/17), and it occurred to me that other singers and lovers of choral singing in the Sacramento area might like to know what the initial offering of this choir was like. So, with Dr. Lee T. Lovallo's permission, here is a link to the concert program: (click here).

This program will be performed again on Thursday evening, Dec. 22 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 14th & J Sts. in Sacramento at 7:00 p.m.

American River Chorus - New CD

The American River Chorus has introduced a new CD of holiday music called, "Mint Condition." In addition to holiday songs by the chorus, there are tracks by Far Western District Quartet Champions "Artistic License" and "Great Western Timbre Co." The price is $15, and the CD can be ordered on ARC's website: www.americanriverchorus.org.

Advertise Your Auditions

Starting January 1, the Sacramento Choral News will carry audition information for all the organziations listed in the Sacramento Choral Calendar. You can submit information now by sending an e-mail to info@sacchoralcalendar.com. Here are the categories of information we plan to include:

- Brief profile of the chorus/choir (including types of music to be performed)
- Date(s)/time(s) of auditions (or an indication that they are ongoing)
- Location of auditions
- Voice part openings (if limited)
- Experience or other requirements (if any)
- Audition procedure (i.e. what the individual may be expected to do in the audition)
- Day(s)/time(s)of rehearsals (including planned special rehearsals)
- Place of rehearsals
- Dates/venues of performances for the next season
- Audition contact information (name, phone, e-mail)

This is just an attempt to anticipate all the information a prospective member of your choral organization might need. If you can think of other useful details, they are welcome and we'll find a way of fitting them in.

- Dick Frantzreb

New CD from RSVP

RSVP, Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace, has announced their latest CD, The Road Home. The album includes many favorites, such as Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria," Eric Whitacre's "A Boy and a Girl," Morten Lauridsen's "O Nata Lux," and quite a variety of other pieces. You can order a copy (payable through PayPal) for $10 plus $2.25 shipping & handling from the RSVP website: www.rsvpchoir.org. They say it's also available on iTunes, but I couldn't find it just now — maybe it will be there by the time you read this.

Come Sing The Messiah in Nevada City

Sierra Presbyterian Church is seeking experienced singers to join in two concerts of Handel's Messiah on Sunday afternoon, December 4 at 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. Rehearsals are at 7:00 p.m. on Monday nights, and began on September 26. The Church's Minister of Music, Jonathan Steel says that those who have experience singing Messiah are still welcome to join the chorus. Those who are interested may call him at 530/265-3291, ext. 19 or complete the online registration form for performers on the Church's website: www.sierrapres.com.

Barbershop for Lunch

The Harmony for Lunch Bunch have been meeting for 20 years on the third Thursday of every month at noon at Sam's Hof Brau at Watt & El Camino in Sacramento. Men (and women) get together for an hour of barbershop harmony and food, and visitors are always welcome (no RSVP or reservation needed!). The next meeting is Thursday, Oct. 20. They even have a newsletter to summarize the event and remind everyone of the next meeting. To get on the mailing list, send an e-mail to Kent Borrowdale at kborro@comcast.net.

Antelope Renaissance Choir

The newly formed Antelope Renaissance Choir is preparing Tomas Luis de Victoria's motet "O magnum mysterium" and the mass by Victoria based on the motet for a performance this December, details TBA. Also on the program will be several early Christmas carols. The choir is still accepting new members with choral experience and enthusiasm for early sacred music. The director is Dr. Lee T. Lovallo of National University.

Rehearsals are Saturdays 10 am - noon at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 7850 Watt Ave., Antelope 95843. For more information please contact Lee at (916) 320-8423, ltlovallo@gmail.com.

Placerville Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Gold Rush Chorus invites teens through senior citizens to join their Holiday Chorus rehearsals during the month of November and then to perform with the chorus on Friday Night, November 25, for the annual Placerville Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Rehearsals are every Tuesday night in November from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church at 2687 Andler Rd, Placerville. The church is off Cold Springs Rd. a short distance north of the DMV offices.

There is no charge to participate with this a cappella chorus. The music is provided free, and refreshments will be served at the end of each evening. Spouses are welcome to listen in and to join in the social time afterwards.

For more information, contact Keith at 530/644-4151.

Messiah Singers Welcome

The Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society is looking toward its annual performance of selections from Handel's Messiah on Friday evening, December 2 in Yuba City. According to their website, they're welcoming pick-up singers: "Anyone is welcome to join us, even if they have never sung the Messiah before, so bring a friend!" Rehearsals are on Monday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 and began on October 3. Check this link for more information, including contact details.

Singing Clinic for Men

Here's a creative idea for recruiting men singers, especially "diamonds in the rough" who may be light on singing experience and confidence. The American River Chorus has an annual singing clinic coming up. There are four two-hour sessions on successive Thursday nights, starting Oct. 27 at the Collings Teen Center in West Sacramento. Sessions cover posture, breathing, articulation, etc. For more information, check their special website at this link.

Here Comes the Sacramento Choral News

With the introduction of the Sacramento Choral Calendar, we have the foundation of a community -- of choral organizations, individual singers, and audience members. This blog will give that community a public voice, a way of disseminating information that goes beyond who is singing what, when and where.

The blog format limits the "voice" to my own for the present, but as editor of the Sacramento Choral Calendar, I pick up a lot of interesting chorus-related information, and I hope that others will send me news that I can pass along here. Send your information to info@sacchoralcalendar.com.

The best way to keep abreast of the postings here on the Sacramento Choral News is to "follow" it by entering your e-mail address in the space below "Follow by Email" at the right. Then you will receive e-mail notifications of new posts. Alternatively, you can select one of the choices under "Subscribe to Sacramento Choral News." Or you can just revisit this page once a week or whenever you think of it. If posts become excessive, you can cancel your e-mail or subscription feed.

So welcome to the community. What do you want others to know about choral activities in the greater Sacramento area?

-Dick Frantzreb