CapRadio's Insight Highlights Choral Concerts

"Insight" is a daily, hour-long program produced by Sacramento's Capital Public Radio and broadcast at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on KXJZ, 90.9 FM.  Beth Ruyak hosts, and conducts interviews on wide-ranging topics.  This past Thursday's program (11/29/12) included a 12-minute segment in which Beth interviewed Jeff Hudson, CapRadio's arts and theater critic about upcoming holiday performances.  After noting the great number of performances that are imminent, they briefly discussed -- with audio samples -- (1) the dance company, Compañia Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento, (2) Sacramento Master Singers, (3) Cantus, (4) the Sacramento Ballet's "The Nutcracker," (5) Chanticleer, and (6) the Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra.  You can listed to an audio of this part of the "Insight" program at this link.

SCSO KVIE Documentary Rebroadcast

In January 2011, Sacramento's KVIE "Viewfinder" series debuted a documentary on the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra.  The half-hour-long program discusses the significance of choral singing in America and the unique position of SCSO as the only chorus in the US with its own professional orchestra.  With snippets of various performances and interviews of Music Director Don Kendrick, President Jim McCormick, and various chorus members, the video illustrates how the chorus functions and what it is like to be a member of SCSO.  There is an emphasis on the group's tours, with highlights of SCSO's 2006 tour in China.  The program was funded in part by the Cultural Arts Award of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission with support from the City and County of Sacramento.

In April 2012, approval was given to have the documentary broadcast nationally, and since then, it has been shown 63 times in a variety of markets throughout the US.  There is a summary of its airings at this link.  Understandably, SCSO is proud to have given the Sacramento arts scene this national visibility.

Now this program, simply titled "Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra," is being rebroadcast locally on KVIE during the month of December.  Broadcast times on KVIE are (1) Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m., (2) Dec. 14 at 4:00 p.m., (3) Dec. 16 at 6:00 p.m., and (4) Dec. 18 at 11:30 p.m.  KVIE has a web page at this link where one can view the entire show (including a video "extra") or read the transcript.  One can also purchase a video of the program for $14.95.

Commissioned Work at "Light Your World"

The Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus will be giving the first performance of a new work titled, "A Social Network Christmas" by Eric Lane Barns, which was jointly commissioned by SGMC and the Seattle Men's Chorus.  Barnes was in Sacramento recently, rehearsing the chorus in his piece, which he describes as follows:

"The basic premise is, the main narrator of the song decides to stay inside during the month of December, participating in Christmas only through posting on his Facebook page. As the piece unfolds we see various YouTube videos, jpegs and other holiday tidbits he shares as he ‘posts’ on his page.” The piece is performed by the chorus and a small group with choreography and "staging and casting of special characters such as the YouTube phenomenon 'Jingle Cats.'"

Barns is author of the critically acclaimed Fairy Tales, which received numerous awards in Chicago, New York and London. His scores and scripts for Chicago’s Lifeline Theatre include Tuck Everlasting, The Amazing Bone, Simple Jim and His Four Fabulous Friends, and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, the latter of which has enjoyed a successful U.S. tour. His musical The Stops, about three lady organists, was awarded Best Musical at the 2006 National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival. Barns’ show Rapture of the Deep received a City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs grant and was co-presented with Seattle’s Balagan Theatre. His most recent show, 2011’s The Holiday Stops, broke all box office records in the history of Richmond’s Triangle Players. He has written songs and underscoring for several independent films, including the upcoming Fallen Jewel, and has been commissioned to write and produce shows and songs for numerous choruses throughout the United States.

Other features of the concert will be traditional holiday numbers such as “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Whisper (Tiny Baby in a Manger Lay),” and “How Could Anyone,” a round that will be performed in American Sign Language by the entire 60-member chorus.

For more details on the November 30-December 8 performances of "Light Your World" by the Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus, see their listing in the Sacramento Choral Calendar at this link.

Sacramento Choruses Touring Italy in 2013

Coincidentally, three Sacramento choral organizations are planning tours of Italy in the summer of 2013.  The Sacramento Choral Society – which toured Central Europe in 2004, China in 2006, and Canada in 2009 – is planning a 7-night, 9-day tour spanning June 25 and July 3.  They will be giving concerts in Venice, Lucca and Rome, with visits to Verona and Florence.  More information about this artistic adventure is in the SCSO's website, http://www.sacramentochoral.com/.

As the SCSO arrives, the Slavic Chorale will be leaving Italy.  Their tour is scheduled for June 14-24.  The itinerary has not been publicly announced, but they may still be looking for new members to join them.  Their website is http://www.slavicchorale.org/.

Finally, Schola Cantorum, which performed at the Vatican for the Pope during their 2007 concert tour to Italy, will be returning by special invitation from the Vatican to perform at St. Peter's Basilica next June.  Their tour will run from June 17-25, and they are planning a local preview performance of the tour on June 2.  More details are in their website:  http://www.scholacantorum.com/.

Sacramento Choral Calendar in Sacramento Magazine

The December 2012 issue of Sacramento Magazine includes an article on the Sacramento Choral Calendar (www.sacchoralcalendar.com) on page 137.  This is the most wide-ranging publicity the Calendar has received, and it is very welcome, though it focusses far too much on its editor (me).  The article comes at a perfect time of the year, when interest in choral singing peaks, and when the public in our region may be more likely to pay attention to the profusion of choral concerts being offered – and sample a wider variety of them.

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.

Sac Women's Chorus Book Sale

Sacramento Women's Chorus will be holding a book sale to raise funds for the Chorus.  It's taking place Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 913 El Dorado Way (East Sacramento).

Follow-up Concert Sells Out

As a footnote to the August 11 article "Sierra Master Chorale Reprises 'The Armed Man,'" it's worth noting that this follow-up concert, 4 months after the original performances -- sold out the large Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley.

Perla Warren Memorial

Perla Warren, the beloved music teacher and choral director at American River College from 1975 to 1995 who gained a national reputation, died on July 29. Click here to read the brief obituary published in The Sacramento Bee on September 9. 

On October 28 & 29, 2011, Perla’s many students and colleagues assembled for two tribute concerts entitled, “From Sand to Pearls.” The program included performances by Sacramento Master Singers, RSVP (Reconciliation Singers Voices of Peace), the American River College Chamber Singers, jazz pianist Jim Martinez, and the quartet, MoodSwing. The concert ended with all the singers performing three pieces in a mass choir. Click here for a review of the concert published in the Sacramento Press, and click here for scores of pictures from the event. 

A memorial service for Perla was held last Friday, September 21 at St. Mel’s Catholic Church in Fair Oaks. At the service, Sacramento Master Singers performed selections from the Fauré Requiem, and RSVP sang “The Road Home” (from its recently-released CD by that title). At the reception afterwards there was a performance of Norman Dello Joio’s “Come to Me, My Love,” in recognition of the fact that Perla’s husband, Jean, passed on exactly two months before her death. 

Sacramento Master Singers has announced that its March 9 & 10, 2013 performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem will be dedicated to the memory of Perla Warren (click here for details). A Facebook page for Perla's alumni and friends at this link is currently accumulating remembrances and tributes.

Camerata California Hosts Alpenfest

Camerata California hosts occasional fundraisers to benefit its "Emerging Young Artist Scholarship Program."  Here's how they describe their upcoming Alpenfest:  "Unpack your lederhosen and dirndls for an evening of singing and dancing to a live German band.  Enjoy traditional foods, great beers and wines.  Sample the region's finest beers and cast your vote for the winner."  The event will take place at the home of Mary Wesley in Carmichael on Sunday, October 21.  "Libations" start at 4:00 p.m., a "Deutsch Buffet" at 5:00 p.m., and sing-along and dancing at 6:30 p.m.  A donation of $50 get you past the gate.  To make a reservation, call 916/483-1386.  Click here for a flyer with more information.

Name Change: Renaissance Choir Sacramento

Dr. Lee Lovallo announces that the Antelope Renaissance Choir, organized last year, has changed its name to Renaissance Choir Sacramento.  Lee explains that the name change will better reflect the composition of the choir, since currently only two of the members are from Antelope.  (He adds that they could use a couple more tenors and basses -- from anywhere -- and who couldn't, especially tenors!)

Also new is the Choir's website at www.renaissancechoirsacramento.com.

The choir's next performance will be a “Choral Evensong with Music by Orlando Gibbons,” which will include the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from the Short Service, “Almighty and Everlasting God,” and other music by Christopher Gibbons and Thomas Tallis. These performances will be on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7850 Watt Ave., Antelope; repeated Sunday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 15th and J Streets, Sacramento.  (Events like this are not listed in the Sacramento Choral Calendar, which does not include performances that are part of a church service.)

For information about the Renaissance Choir Sacramento's forthcoming Christmas concerts, check their listing in the Sacramento Choral Calendar at this link.

 

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. 25 at the Collings Teen Center in West Sacramento. Sessions cover posture, breathing, articulation, etc., and there is no charge.  According to their press release, "This clinic is intended for male singers looking for a new and exciting musical experience.  Taught by world renown vocal coached and directors, attendees could be in invited to sing with the American River Chorus at its annual Holiday Concert at Three Stages, Folsom on December 2, 2012." For more information, check the special website at http://www.annualsingingclinic.org.