The Best Messiah Story You Ever Heard

In December 1939 a Yuba College instructor assembled a group of singers and instrumentalists to perform Handel's Messiah.  It became a tradition that eventually led to the formation of the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society (www.ysos.org), which this year will celebrate the 75th anniversary of this annual Messiah performance on December 8 in Yuba City (click here for details in the Sacramento Choral Calendar).

But that's not the best part of the story.  One member of the chorus on December 8 will be LaVerne Grell, who was at that 1939 performance and has directed or sung in every performance since.  And on November 14, she will celebrate her 99th birthday. 

Parkside Church Seeking a Music Director

Parkside Community Church (www.parksideucc.org), 5700 S. Land Park Dr., Sacramento, is searching for a Music Director.  Click on this link for a complete description of the position, including qualifications, duties, compensation offered, and full contact information.  Candidates should submit their resume to be received no later than October 11, 2013.

Sacramento Capitolaires Welcome a New Director

The Sacramento Capitolaires have shared the following announcement about their new director, Ray Rhymer.

"Ray first joined the Barbershop Harmony Society (aka SPEBSQSA) in 1949 in Park Ridge, Illinois.  Following the completion of high school, 3 years in the USMC, marriage and college, he returned to Barbershop in the Simi Valley Chapter in 1963.  In a few short years he started directing chapters, i.e., Simi Valley, Oxnard, Conejo Valley, Sacramento and most recently 15 years with Placerville.  He served in the Contest & Judging Program for over 25 years as a Certified Judge in Sound and later the Singing Category.  He judged numerous Society contests, including the Internationals, and taught in many Society schools nationwide.  He sang in a number of Quartets, and is a several time Far Western District Senior and Super Senior Champion.  Administratively, he served as the Far Western District VP for Music and Performance and also the Vice President for Young Men In Harmony.  A Barbershop Harmony Society member for over 50 years, he has served as the Editor of Westunes, a Far Western District publication, since 2002.  He is a Certified Chorus Director in the Barbershop Harmony Socidty, and is a member of the Far Western District Hall of Fame.

"In his professional career, he earned a BSME at the University of Tennessee, a MSME at USC, and was employed at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, CA and Aerojet in Rancho Cordova, CA as a rocket engineer (really) and manager, ultimately appointed a Program Manager under contract to NASA.

"Now retired from aerospace, he and his wife Sandy live in Granite Bay with several furry friends."

The Sacramento Community Concert Association Taps Local Choral Groups

It's still rare for local music promoters to call on local choruses for their concert series, but it's beginning to happen.  Months ago the Folsom Lake Community Concert Association announced that it was sponsoring Folsom Gold's Christmas program as part of its season, with Dec. 14 & 15 performances at the Harris Center at Folsom Lake College.

Now, the recently reorganized, 60-year-old Sacramento Community Concert Association has announced it 2013-14 season, and half of its 6 regular concerts include choral groups.  First up, on September 29 is a program that will include the Vocal Art Ensemble, plus guitarist, Matthew Grasso.  Then on November 17, the Sac State Jazz Singers and C-Sus will share the stage with the Doug Pauly Quintet.  And finally, a February 22 program will include the UC Berkeley Gospel Chorus.

All these concerts will take place at the SCCA's new venue:  Westminster Presbyterian Church.

For choral groups, this represents a very promising trend.  Many choruses struggle to build their audiences, and here are community concert associations with their own regular patrons, many of whom may never have experienced a local chorus.  Considering the wealth of entertainment potential in local choruses, this looks like a win-win.

See Barcelona with the Placer Pops Chorale

The Placer Pops Chorale is planning a singing tour of the Barcelona region, July 12-20, 2014, and they have space available for new singers, non-singers, and instrumentalists.  They will be staying in a premium hotel in the heart of Barcelona and giving three local performances.  They go on to explain, "Cost is estimated to be between $3300 - $3500 per person with single supplements or roommate possibilities available.  Add-on travel and touring information is also offered through our tour company and travel agent and we are accepting installment payments quarterly and monthly until close to the date of departure."  More details (including contact information) are at this link.

Kendrick and SCSO Are American Prize Finalists

Earlier today (7/19/13) The American Prize organization announced Dr. Donald Kendrick, founding Director of the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra and Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Sacramento as one of seven finalists in its annual competition in the category of "Conducting -- Choral Division."  At the same time, the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra was named one of twelve finalists in the category of "Choral Performance -- Community."  Both had previously been announced as semi-finalists (see http://sacchoralnews.blogspot.com/2013/05/donald-kendrick-semi-finalist-for.html).

The finalists in these categories were supposed to have been announced "after June 3" and winners "after July 15," so now who knows how long the suspense will be drawn out?

Here is how The American Prize is explained:  "The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit national competitions in the performing arts providing cash awards, professional adjudication and regional, national and international recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individuals each year in the United States at the professional, college/university, church, community and secondary school levels. Administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Danbury, Connecticut, The American Prize was founded in 2009 and is awarded annually. The competitions of The American Prize are open to all U.S. citizens, whether living in this country or abroad, and to others currently living, working and/or studying in the United States of America, its protectorates and territories."

There are 7 categories of competition for conducting and 3 for choral performance (community, college/university and youth/high school).  There are separate competitions for vocalists, pianists, composers, chamber music ensembles, orchestras, bands, musical theater and opera companies, stage directors, and art administrators.

There is more information about The American Prize at their website:  http://theamericanprize.org.  Competition updates are at this link:  http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/.  Other updates are in their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-American-Prize-celebrating-American-excellence-in-the-arts/214320622728.

We said it on May 17, and we'll say it again:  good luck, Don and SCSO!

Announcing: The Sacramento Choral Festival

Choruses throughout the Sacramento Valley are working together to plan a Sacramento Choral Festival to be held in June, 2014.  An organizational meeting was held on July 16, and as details are confirmed, they will be reported in postings in Sacramento Choral News.

For the present, you may direct any questions to Dick Frantzreb, Editor, The Sacramento Choral Calendar at info@sacchoralcalendar.com.

Opening: Alto Choral Scholar

Canon David Link of Sacramento's Trinity Episcopal Cathedral has announced the following:  "The position of Alto Choral Scholar in the Trinity Cathedral Choir is available beginning with the Fall season 2013. This is a paid position and an excellent opportunity for a College/University student wishing to gain some choral experience in a positive environment."

Click here to view a flyer announcing the auditions for this position.

Click here to view the Choral Scholar job description.

If you are unable to view the documents, you may reach Canon Link at sierracanon@gmail.com.

Classical Choral Broadcast

Not getting enough classical choral music?  Looking to discover new groups and new music?  Arlington, Virginia's WETA is a classical station that features a weekly hour-long show called "Choral Showcase."  Details of each broadcast are at this link:  http://www.weta.org/fm/features/choralshowcase.  The show airs on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. (that's 5:00 p.m. here, of course), and you can listen online through WETA's "Listen Live" feature:  http://www.weta.org/fm/listenlive.

It gets even better.  WETA offers a 24-hour service called VivaLaVoce, which airs all forms of classical vocal music:  opera, choral, art songs, etc.  You can find information about this service on the WETA website, and it, too, is available for listening anytime via "Listen Live."

Church Choir Director Opening

The First United Methodist Church in Loomis is seeking a Choir Director.  Here is the basic information:  "The Choir Director position is a part-time, paid position with compensation based on a per-event service to the church. Under the supervision of the Pastor, the Choir Director will plan choral music, direct the Chancel Choir and direct the organist/pianist for the traditional worship service and other special services throughout the year. Compensation is $104.20 per event. In a typical week, the two events are the Sunday worship service and one choir rehearsal. For a complete job description, please contact the church office at (916) 652-0469 or the Chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Mark Nelson at chair33sprc@gmail.com. If interested please submit a cover letter and resume to this email address."

Yuba Sutter Master Chorale Recruiting a Children's Choir

The Yuba Sutter Master Chorale is hoping to build a children's choir to perform in its Christmas Concerts scheduled for Dec. 14 & 15.  Rehearsals for the children will most likely be on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Yuba City.  For more information, contact Daphanne Peters, Secretary, YSMC at ysmcnews@yubasuttermc.com.

Sierra Gold Chorus Welcomes New Director

Sierra Gold Chorus is the Auburn chapter of Sweet Adelines International, the women's barbershop singing organization, and they have announced that Ron Black is their new director.  Black has an extensive resume as a music educator, as a director of barbershop and other choruses, and as a singer in award-winning quartets.  He is also Associate Director of Sacramento's men's barbershop chorus, Voices of California.  Click here for a press release with more details.