Valley Concert Chorale
Encyclopedia
The Valley Concert Chorale is a Choir
composed of about 40 auditioned singers from Livermore, California
and the surrounding Tri-Valley
area, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area
. It usually performs three
concerts each year, starting off with a holiday concert in November, followed by a concert of serious music in March and
a lighter concert in May. These concerts are often done in collaboration with other choruses in the area, including
the San Francisco Concert Chorale, the Las Positas College Chamber Choir, and the Cantabella Children's Chorus. Recently the
chorus has also organized an annual Sing-it-yourself Messiah, which is held at Livermore's First Presbyterian Church.
The chorus was established in 1963 by Ellen Cunningham. Recent directors have included David Babbit and Philip Manwell.
Since 1998 the chorus has been led by John Emory Bush. Mr. Bush is also the director of the San Francisco Concert
Chorale, and has served as director for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California,
and St. Matthew's Cathedral in Dallas, Texas. The chorus' accompanist is Daniel Glover, a concert pianist who
has performed in 42 states and 42 countries.
The chorus has a community outreach program, the most important part of which is a Music in the Schools program.
This program was started in 1990. About
ten members of the chorus present a short musical play to elementary schools in the area. These plays have included
Hansel and Gretel, Tom Sawyer, and several plays that were written by one of the troupe's members, Bobby Jensen.
The scenery is painted by local artist Carolyn Ramsey, and the costumes and props are made by the members of the cast.
Some students are selected to participate in the play; and when it is over, all the students are given a chance to ask
questions.
The chorus has made two CDs. The first, which consists of Christmas music, was recorded at San Francisco's Trinity Episcopal Church
in 2003. The second CD, Orff's Carmina Burana, was recorded at San Francisco's Mission Dolores Basilica in 2006.
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
composed of about 40 auditioned singers from Livermore, California
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
and the surrounding Tri-Valley
Tri-Valley
Tri-Valley is a triangle-shaped region in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. The area is 18 miles southeast of Oakland and 33 miles from San Francisco...
area, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. It usually performs three
concerts each year, starting off with a holiday concert in November, followed by a concert of serious music in March and
a lighter concert in May. These concerts are often done in collaboration with other choruses in the area, including
the San Francisco Concert Chorale, the Las Positas College Chamber Choir, and the Cantabella Children's Chorus. Recently the
chorus has also organized an annual Sing-it-yourself Messiah, which is held at Livermore's First Presbyterian Church.
The chorus was established in 1963 by Ellen Cunningham. Recent directors have included David Babbit and Philip Manwell.
Since 1998 the chorus has been led by John Emory Bush. Mr. Bush is also the director of the San Francisco Concert
Chorale, and has served as director for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California,
and St. Matthew's Cathedral in Dallas, Texas. The chorus' accompanist is Daniel Glover, a concert pianist who
has performed in 42 states and 42 countries.
The chorus has a community outreach program, the most important part of which is a Music in the Schools program.
This program was started in 1990. About
ten members of the chorus present a short musical play to elementary schools in the area. These plays have included
Hansel and Gretel, Tom Sawyer, and several plays that were written by one of the troupe's members, Bobby Jensen.
The scenery is painted by local artist Carolyn Ramsey, and the costumes and props are made by the members of the cast.
Some students are selected to participate in the play; and when it is over, all the students are given a chance to ask
questions.
The chorus has made two CDs. The first, which consists of Christmas music, was recorded at San Francisco's Trinity Episcopal Church
in 2003. The second CD, Orff's Carmina Burana, was recorded at San Francisco's Mission Dolores Basilica in 2006.