Julie Adams Leaving RSVP

We have an abundance of great choral directors in the Sacramento region – I know: I’ve seen their work. And in the top rank of those great directors is Julie Adams, Founder and Artistic Director of Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace (RSVP). Now the news is gradually spreading that Julie will be leaving the organization that she founded. Her 12-year tenure with RSVP will end next May.

I asked her if she had decided what will be next for her, but she has no plans, though she will continue directing the Cantate and Cantabile choirs of the Sacramento Children’s Chorus and will stay on as Music Director of Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church in Loomis. There is no drama about her leaving RSVP; she just feels that her work there is done, and that it’s time for others to take the group’s work forward.

The nature of that work will not change dramatically though. All the singers, who learned of Julie’s decision last spring, have resolved to stay. And they are all committed to the charitable focus of RSVP: all concert proceeds are donated to the target charitable organization, and RSVP is a volunteer organization throughout.

It will be some time before a new Artistic Director will be selected, though some candidates have already been identified, and others are expected to come forward. When that person takes over, though, they will not have the broad scope of duties that had fallen to Julie as the founder (and soul) of the group. RSVP’s Board has already been reorganized and has set up a transition team to divide the administrative and artistic burdens that have been borne by Julie and her husband, Doug (who has been RSVP’s primary business manager).

Julie is looking forward to having time on her hands to listen for her calling to whatever is next. That’s a significant point: her career moves have been more a matter of inspiration, than calculation. So she welcomes a period of waiting, without the busy-ness that can obscure new opportunities. In the meanwhile, she expects to be available to the new Artistic Director and Board as a consultant for the matters in which she has become so expert, such as coordinating with charities or sourcing repertoire from around the world.

Julie told me that those in the RSVP organization, singers and support people, are excited about meeting the challenge of change. They are committed to the charitable mission and high-quality of musicianship that Julie has established. But Julie’s hopes are beyond that. She imagines new and higher accomplishments for RSVP. And for herself – something special that she can’t even imagine at present.

- Dick Frantzreb

Visit RSVP's website at:  http://www.rsvpchoir.org

View RSVP's details and concert schedule in the Sacramento Choral Calendar at this link.