November 12, 2006
THE MAGIC OF JOHN RUTTER RETURNS TO SONORA
The glorious music of John Rutter returns to Sonora, this time with Mass of the Children, performed by the Sonora Master Chorale with Chamber Orchestra and the Connections Academy Choir. You heard the Rutter Requiem with the Master Chorale in 2004 and asked for more. Here it is!
Whether you have sung in a choir or attended a concert of
choral music, chances are that you have experienced the wonderful music
of contemporary British composer John Rutter. He has given choirs all
over the world some of the most beautiful liturgical works of the last
40 years, both large and small scale, along with graceful orchestral
(and instrumental pieces, a piano concert, two children's operas, as
well as music for television. Rutter's two most famous works, the
Requiem and the Magnificat have been performed many times in Britain,
the USA, and a growing number of other countries. The Columbia College
Community Chorus has performed the Magnificat, Te Deum, and Gloria to
enthusiastic Sonora audiences.
In 2003, Rutter composed Mass of the Children in memory of his son,
tragically lost in a car accident two years before. He uses the
standard Latin Missa brevis but has added several relevant English
poetic texts from Bishop Thomas Ken's morning and evening hymns. The
result is an emotional and uplifting framework for texts and moods
which appear like event in a day or landmarks in a life.
The Sonora Master Chorale first performed Rutter's Requiem two years
ago and is thrilled to be singing his music once again. The Chorale, a
select group of talented local singers under the direction of Melina
Cherling, will be joined by the Connections Academy Choir of
Summerville High School and an instrumental ensemble of exceptional
musicians. The Chorale consists of sopranos Pink Baker, Sheri Betz,
Joan Mosley, Sally Peters, Annie Pingree, Caitlin Randall, and Julie
Sieben. Alto singers are Barbara Farkas, Beverly Gulseth, Judy Leslie,
Ann Troxell, Carol Woods, and Madeline Young. Tenors Ruben Moulton,
Matthew Nesper, Ralph Retherford, and basses Ray Maechler, Ron Randall,
Jan Ruff, Ron Troxell, and Adrian Wise round out the group. Accompanist
is Dorothy Maechler.
The Connections Academy Choir is made up of students from the
Connections Visual and Performing Arts Academy, a charter school for
7th-12th graders, located on the Summerville High School campus in
Tuolumne, CA., The school is in its fifth year of operation, and
provides students the opportunity to take specialized curriculum in
fine arts, while emphasizing strong academics. The choir participates
in concerts and musical productions on campus, and most of its members
sing in the Tuolumne County Honor Choir each year. They are currently
rehearsing for a production of the musical play Once Upon a Mattress,
which will be presented on Dec. 7th and 9th at the Summerville High
Theater. The choir is directed by Madeline Young, who also directs the
Summerville choirs and theater program.
Academy Choir members include first sopranos Aubrey Duncan, Tonysha
Hadden, Bethany Johnson, Gage Johnston, Carly Uslander, and Amanda
Walker. Singing second soprano are Julianne Capito, Lisa Johnson,
Karissa Kirkle, Anna Medeiros, Brittney McCullah, and Katherine
Stearns. The alto singers are Kelly Adkins, Maranda Bartschi, Natalie
Buller, Sean Figley, Matthew Garman, Katrina Kelly, Devon Martin,
Kathryn O'Shea, Emily Powers, and Nichole Wren.
The instrumental ensemble consists of Clarinetist Roger Francis, John
Baker on Horn, Mike Mori on Bassoon, Oboist Janet Telford, Harpist
Janean Woods, Organist Barbara Vukich, Kim Manuel on Double Bass,
Flautist Toni Sudduth, and Percussionist Tyler Combs.