Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus Hosts Outside Clinician

The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus will soon begin its season under a new Artistic Director, Steven Johnson, who is also the Director of Worship & Music at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento.  To give the SGMC and his church choir a boost at the beginning of the season, Steven has arranged a vocal technique seminar, to be conducted by Mary Louise Burke of Denver, Colorado.

I asked him how he learned about Dr. Burke, and he explained that her 2-hour presentation at the GALA Music Festival in Denver this past July was "dynamite" and that he found her "completely engaging."  Steven has arranged visits by other choral directors for his choirs in the past to help give them new energy from a different professional's perspective.  He is particularly excited about working with Dr. Burke this time because he feels that she has the right skill set to deal with the issues his choruses are facing.

Here is an excerpt from her bio:  “Mary Louise Burke is currently in her 18th season with the Symphony and is the Associate Director of the Colorado Symphony Chorus.  She helps to prepare the chorus for all of its major projects, and is in charge of chorus preparation for all pop and special chorus projects, including Too Hot to Handel.  Ms. Burke is also the Associate Director of the Colorado Children's Chorale, conducting the Concert Choir and acting as a vocal coach for the Chorale.  Ms. Burke has a Doctorate in voice performance from the University of Colorado and is a frequent clinician in the area, with a special interest in ‘vocal technique for choral singers.’  She teaches a class, ‘Find Your Authentic Voice,’ for the University of Denver’s Department of Extension.  A mezzo-soprano, she has appeared as a guest soloist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and performed for several seasons in Central City Opera's educational programs, The Great Opera Mix-Up and Mozart and Company.” 

I contacted Dr. Burke, and she had this to add to her bio:  “My degrees are in ‘vocal performance and pedagogy.’  I have a great passion for vocal technique and love to share that passion with both solo and choral singers.  I do lots of work with community and church choirs and try to encourage singers that,  when armed with a little technical knowledge, they can optimize their vocal production and sing well into their 70s, even 80s. The session I'll be doing with Steven Johnson's choirs is called ‘Find Your Voice and Keep It!’  I'll cover all areas of vocal technique, including alignment, breath control, vibrato, range, tone production, vowels, as well as aging voice and vocal health.” 

The half-day seminar for the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus and St. John’s choirs is coming up on Saturday morning, September 8, and includes optional one-on-one vocal coaching sessions in the afternoon – all at no charge to participants. 

This seems like such a good idea.  The Sacramento region is full of good choral directors, many of whom are voice teachers, and so many are expert at eliciting a quality choral sound from their choruses.  But I have always felt that the mark of a true professional is their acceptance of the idea that there is always room to expand their knowledge and refine their technique.  And I reserve my greatest admiration for those who are willing to learn from fellow professionals (and take the risk of exposing their chorus to a fellow professional).  Tapping an outside expert to work with a chorus can help solve recalcitrant problems and break through performance barriers, taking a chorus to new levels of achievement. 

Dr. Burke can be reached at burke@childrenschorale.org.  But readers of this article are encouraged to add comments, sharing their thoughts on this issue and perhaps identifying other vocal clinicians, near or far, with whom they have had experience.

Audition Directory Now Covers Children's Choruses

The Audition Directory in the Sacramento Choral Calendar (www.sacchoralcalendar.com/Auditions.htm) has been updated over the past 4 weeks, and now covers 41 choruses, with helpful information for those looking for a choral home.  The latest innovation in the directory is its coverage of 3 children's choruses:  Sacramento Children's Chorus, Northern California Children's Chorus, and Foothill Children's Chorus.

Although much of the information in the Audition Directory (though not all) is available in the websites of the various organizations, the advantage of the directory is that it gives convenient, side-by-side access to key details, such as whether a chorus is auditioned or not, where and when it rehearses -- plus details about the experience requirements, how the audition (if any) is conducted, and how to contact the chorus.

New Director at Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus

The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus has appointed Steven Johnson as its new Artistic Director.  Johnson is a native of the Sacramento area, and he earned a Masters Degree in choral conducting at Sacramento State University.  He will continue to serve as Director of Worship & Music  at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento.

Joaquina Calvo Johnson

The performing arts community in the Yuba-Sutter area are mourning the passing of Joaquina Calvo Johnson, who died on August 11, 2012.  She was the founder of the Yuba Sutter Master Chorale, among other performing organizations.  I attended the April 29, 2012 joint concert of the YSMC and the Veridian Symphony, which she directed (review at this link).  One can get a sense of her passion for the performing arts and her commitment to their stimulation in the Yuba-Sutter area from the introduction she wrote for the April 29 concert ("With Full Voice").  Click here to read her concert introduction.  (Note there is a full professional biography for her on the second page.)

See also the 8/13/12 article on her passing from the online edition of the Appeal-Democrat at this link:  http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/johnson-118613-yuba-college.html.

-- Dick Frantzreb

Sierra Master Chorale Reprises "The Armed Man"

Over the weekend of May 11-13, Davis' Vocal Art Ensemble gave three performances of an outstanding concert.  The feedback they got on that effort encouraged them to add another performance of the same concert 4 weeks later on June 9 (see article below, "How About an Extra Concert?").  Director Tracia Barbieri reports that, though she could have hoped for better publicity and a larger audience, she considers the experiment a success.

It's an issue that gives choruses something to think about.  So much effort goes into preparing for a series of concerts, and typically they take place over a single weekend -- two at most -- and then it's over, and the chorus looks ahead to the next concert series (or a needed break).  But it doesn't allow time for a buzz over the success to develop.  Even in the Internet age, word of a great concert doesn't spread fast enough.  Reviews don't get published in the media because they don't matter:  by the time a review would come out, the concert series would be over, and there would be nothing for the public to act on.

Yet committing to repeating a concert weeks or months after its first performance is no small decision.  The director will worry that choristers might lose their edge and forget what they worked so hard to perfect.  Arrangements for a venue can be tricky, especially if you wait to decide on extra performances until after the first run.  And publicity is an ever-present challenge.

These challenges notwithstanding, another local chorus is going down this path.  Back in May, the Sierra Master Chorale gave two performances of Karl Jenkins' "The Armed Man:  A Mass for Peace."  I thought it was a brilliant concert, and you can read my review at this link.  They sold out their Sunday afternoon performance, and nearly sold out the large Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley on the previous Thursday evening.

Now they've decided to reprise this concert on Thursday evening, September 27.  You can find the details at this link in their website.  It's a bold move, with just 7 weeks of lead time and a large venue and numerous fixed expenses.  But at the end of September, there is no competition from other choral performances, and the concert itself is a proven winner.  Furthermore, I understand that chorus members themselves are excited about the possibility of performing "The Armed Man" once more.

I have a friend who made the long drive to the church in Grass Valley on that Sunday in May, parked a half-mile away, and found no tickets left when he got to the door.  He'll be there on September 27, and so I hope, will a number of other friends, to whom I described this performance after it was over, and who wished they could have heard it.  It's called "buzz," and choruses need to find better ways to get it working in their favor.

Free Recording Session

Has your chorus been wanting to make a recording, but you’ve been held back by the cost?  Auburn-based Advanced Mobile Recording is looking for a small chorus that it could use to demo its service.  Here’s what they say in their website:

“Advanced Mobile Recording is offering a chance for one group/ensemble of select types to be recorded at absolutely no cost. That's right, FREE! We're looking to post up new material on our sample page so other customers can hear just how great we can reproduce anyone's performance. Not only that, but your group will be listed on the Friends of AMR page as well, along with a link to your website (if available).  All you need to do is email the sales staff with your contact information, how many members of your group and their instruments, and a link to your website (if you have one). If you are chosen, you'll be contacted by us for our free consultation and to set up a recording schedule. You'll also receive a copy of the final product, as well.  It's just that simple! Don't wait, we'd love to hear from you. We are currently looking for a 1- to 3-member group in the Jazz, Classical, African, Folk, or most any upbeat musical genres.”

 
AMR principal, Jeff Widick, clarifies that the free offer is for a 3-song demo, and the mobile recording service would be limited to the Foothills to Sacramento area.  To open the conversation, send an e-mail to sales@advancedmobilerecording.com.  The website has the same domain: www.advancedmobilerecording.com.

The Threshold Choir: Singing in Service to Others

Why do we sing?  Partly because it just feels good to express beauty and artistry through our God-given talent.  And maybe there’s something even more fundamental going on, maybe making or at least appreciating music goes to the heart of what it means to be human.

So why do we sing in a chorus?  Of course, there’s the camaraderie and the appreciation of harmony and the satisfaction of creating pleasing sounds through joint effort.  But for most of us, it wouldn’t mean nearly as much without an audience.  Connecting with listeners on an emotional level is one of the great satisfactions of singing in a chorus.

But what if our choral singing was meeting a profound need of our listeners, a need for comfort, and reassurance, and relief from pain, and maybe even healing?  That would be something else.

And that something else is the mission of a very different kind of choir, the Threshold Choir.  It was initially the project of one woman, Kate Munger, who realized that singing at the bedside of those who were seriously ill or even dying could be a transformative experience, not only for the patient, but for family, caregivers, and the singers themselves.  She gathered the first Threshold Choir in El Cerrito, CA in 2000, and today there are 100 chapters worldwide, populated almost exclusively by women, including three chapters in the greater Sacramento area:  Davis, Woodland, and Placerville.  Their stated goal is “to bring ease and comfort to those at the thresholds of living and dying.”

These choirs rehearse biweekly, working on a fairly standard repertoire, some of which has been composed by the members themselves.  The songs are not religious, but they are nonetheless spiritual, and their only objective is to bring peace and comfort through gentle singing in harmony.  When they are invited to sing at a bedside, it is generally two to four singers, and the session typically runs about 20 minutes.  You can get the full picture in the Threshold Choir website at www.thresholdchoir.org.

There will be a special event tomorrow, Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m.  It will feature Kate Munger conducting a day of singing for women who want to know more about the Threshold Choir concept.  It is sponsored by the Davis Threshold Choir in the hope that a new choir might be formed to help meet the needs of the greater Sacramento area.  The event will be held at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church (9849 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Fair Oaks), and if you’re reading this in time, you can inquire by calling Karen at 209/296-7354.  There is no charge for the event (though donations are always welcome), and a light lunch will be provided. 

If you’re a woman who is reading this after July 28 and whose heart is touched by this idea, it’s not too late to follow up.  Make the phone call, and find out the latest on chapter formation.  Or join one of the existing chapters:  their information is in the Audition Directory of the Sacramento Choral Calendar at this link:  www.sacchoralcalendar.com/Auditions.htm.  There you can find information on the rehearsal times of each choir, along with their contact information.

Free Singing Lessons for Women

The Sacramento Women's Chorus is presenting a 4-week series of singing lessons for women (18 years and older) conducted by Robin Richie, the director of the chorus.  They are on Monday evenings -- August 13, 20, 27 & September 10 -- from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 3201 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento.  Those interested are requested to RSVP via the contact form in the SWC website:  www.sacramentowomenschorus.com.  There is a $5 materials fee.

Two Viral Choral Videos

The first of these videos is a 14-minute TED talk by Eric Whitacre, describing his "virtual choir" concept, and the steps that led to his latest effort of having his "Sleep" performed by 2051 singers from 58 countries.  The talk was recorded March 2011 and posted April 2011, and the TED link is here:  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html.

It was slow coming up for me, and a faster version is at this link:  http://winp.com/choirvoices/

The second video is a delightful flash mob from Spain performing the choral finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  Here's the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GBaHPND2QJg&feature=youtu.be

Guest Night at Sacramento Valley Chorus - 8/1/12

The Sacramento Valley Chorus is hosting a special Guest Night on Wednesday evening, August 1 from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m.  The location is St. Mark's Methodist Church, 2331 St. Mark's Way in Sacramento.

Quoting from the description in their website, "The award winning, high energy Sacramento Valley Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is a women’s singing group specializing in four-part harmony, a cappella singing in the barbershop style. We offer a wide variety of music and styles, from jazz, blues and ballads to Broadway Show tunes, complete with dazzling costumes and exciting choreography."

This fall's activities include coaching sessions with "premiere Region 12 coaches Pat LeVezu and Peggy Gram" and their fall show in October.  In addition, SVC has been invited to sing at New York City's Carnegie Hall on Memorial Day weekend in 2013.

For more information about the Sacramento Valley Chorus, follow this link.

American River Chorus Plays Nice With Others

The American River Chorus, the 60-member men's chorus that performs mostly in a barbershop style, is developing a reputation for collaborating with other local choruses.  Last December, their concert included the Sacramento Capitolaires, RSVP, and the Oasis Chamber Choir.  In June they joined with the Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus to give a benefit concert for Francis House.  And now their Christmas concert coming up in December at Three Stages in Folsom will include the women's chorus, Chanteuses, as guest performers.

Although it makes logistics a bit more difficult, this interesting strategy makes for a more varied program, eases the burden of preparation on each chorus, and probably ensures a larger audience.  Will this be a trend?

How About an Extra Concert?

It's interesting to notice how choral concerts in our area tend to be compressed into two narrow time frames:  (1) late April to early June and (2) late November to the weekend before Christmas.  Also, concerts, if they aren't one-time events, are limited to a single weekend and perhaps the following weekend.

The Vocal Art Ensemble has just experimented with a variation to those patterns.  They gave three outstanding concerts in Sacramento and Davis over the May 11-13 weekend.  (Click here for a review.)  Then they decided to experiment with an extra concert this past Saturday evening (June 9) in Woodland.

Director Tracia Barbieri was concerned about at least a couple of things.  How would the singers react?  Would they keep their performing edge?  And would they be able to draw an adequate audience?

Tracia reported that the chorus members didn't seem to have forgotten the material they memorized.  In fact, "a few pieces even matured and got to new levels after sitting on the shelf for a month."  Add to that the fact that members said they really enjoyed doing another performance.

The audience was perhaps a bit more modest in size than she could have hoped, mostly people who were unable to attend the earlier performances.  But then there's the fact that the concert was in Woodland and didn't benefit from the more extensive publicity of the first concert series.  These factors could perhaps help explain the audience size.  But Tracia wasn't disappointed in the audience -- by any means.  They gave two standing ovations, and most lingered for a half-hour after the concert to express their appreciation.

It makes me wonder whether a follow-up to a solid concert -- perhaps advertised from the start -- might be a way of building audience and capitalizing on the buzz that follows a truly outstanding show.

I think some people may think that an upcoming concert is "like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're gonna get" (wisdom of Forrest Gump).  If there's less risk, we may see more patronage:  think of the long runs of theatrical productions which are reviewed at their opening -- or before.

I've heard a lot of choral concerts over the past year, and a lot of great ones.  And one thing I'm sure of is that none of them got the public support that is possible because most of them were flying pretty much under the public's radar.  And they were here and gone before word could get out about how special they really were.

Even taking account of divergence in people's musical taste, so many of these programs were wonderfully entertaining -- fully able to compete with other entertainment options.  The challenge is to get better publicity for them and break through that ever-present barrier of ignorance and inertia.  Let's get creative in tackling those challenges!

-Dick Frantzreb