Livermore, Calif. – The Valley Concert Chorale is celebrating its 60th Anniversary as the Tri-Valley’s premier chorus with its March concerts that will highlight America’s well-known contemporary choral composers. Details are as follows:
Choral Currents: Celebrating American Composers
Saturday, March 18, 2023 7:30 pm
Asbury United Methodist Church
4743 East Avenue, Livermore
Sunday, March 19, 2023, 4:00pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
1225 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton
“For our special 60th Anniversary performances I selected pieces by American composers who have written the most beautiful melodies,” explains John Emory Bush, Artistic Director for the Chorale. These composers are well-known whose music is performed throughout the world. While sometimes we might think of "contemporary music" as discordant and hard to relate to, this is just the opposite. Each composer has carefully crafted rich and soothing tunes that will capture your heart and soul. This is a program for everyone to enjoy.”
Featured composers include Norwegian-born, American composer Ola Gjeilo, young American composer Jake Runestad, Grammy Award winner Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest and Daniel Elder. In each case, the composers have selected wonderful texts to bring their music to life.
“While born in Norway,” says Bush, “Ola Gjeilo has resided in the United States for many years. He grew up in a musically eclectic home, listening to jazz, classical, folk and pop music. These styles and elements are reflected in his choral compositions.”
Grammy Award-winner Eric Whitacre, is known for his virtual choruses, where singers from around the world video record themselves singing a Whitacre piece, submit their video which is then compiled into a massive virtual choir video and published on platforms such as YouTube. Once such piece, “Sing Gently,” the Chorale will perform on March 18 and 19.
A special addition to the concerts is baritone Igor Vieira, a well-known, multi-talented Bay Area-based singer who will be featured in a superb arrangement of southern California's composer, Leon Kirchner's, "I'll Be On My Way." Mr. Vieira has also performed with the Livermore Valley Opera (Die Fledermaus, 2010), as well as San Francisco Opera (Roberto Devereux, 2018).
Accompanying the chorale will be a string quartet and piano, as well as acoustic guitar for one of the pieces.
Tickets
Tickets are $30. High school and college student tickets are $10 with valid student ID. Children are free. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Chorale’s website at www.valleyconcertchorale.org, at the door, or by calling the Chorale’s information number at (925) 866-4003.
More information about the Valley Concert Chorale is available at www.valleyconcertchorale.org or by calling the general information line at (925) 866-4003.
About Valley Concert Chorale
For 60 years, the Valley Concert Chorale has been the Tri-Valley’s premier chorus. Under the direction of John Emory Bush, the Chorale has offered a variety of musical performances to serve the diverse musical tastes of its audiences.
Valley Concert Chorale’s mission is to engage audiences in the transforming power of music by sharing their passion and joy in live performance. They are dedicated to excellence in singing choral music of all genres, nurturing the next generation of singers, and supporting musical endeavors in the Tri-Valley community.
The all-volunteer, non-profit chorale receives financial support from grants, ticket sales, membership dues, fundraisers and donations.
About the Director
John Emory Bush has been the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Valley Concert Chorale since 1998. He holds a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music and is also trained as a pianist, organist and harpist. He was Music Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Concert Chorale for eighteen seasons and Director of Music and Organist at St. Matthew's Episcopal Cathedral in Dallas from 2000-2010. Mr. Bush is Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church, McKinney, Texas. For the past 22 years, Mr. Bush has divided his time between the Bay Area and Dallas, contributing to both musical communities.