Reputation for Excellence

Dancer Tiekka Schofield with
the Lawrence Pech Dance Company

Our musicians are much sought after even with the wealth of quality performing arts organizations in the Bay Area. Beyond the regular seasons of the Guild Chorus and Cantabile Children’s Chorus, this is a busy year with several premiere performances in the area.

In November, 16 singers from our Guild Chorus will sing the premiere of Lawrence Pech’s ballet Angels: Fallen and Otherwise. Guild Music Director Sanford Dole is preparing the singers and will also conduct the four performances.

This is a premiere not only for the choreography but also for the musical score by Bay Area composer Kurt Erickson. Because various Bay Area personnel in the performing arts arena had recommended us and told him of Dole’s reputation for preparing quality ensembles, the composer called in August to ask about the availability of our music director and choristers.

Besides the Guild Chorus, the performing forces that Dole will conduct are the Lawrence Pech Dance Company, the boys’ chorus Ragazzi, and the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. Performances are November 21–24 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco. The four shows are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 and a Sunday matinee at 2:00. Tickets are available by calling (415) 978-ARTS (2787).

The talent within our organization extends to our children’s chorus as well. With many past guest appearances to their credit, the Chamber Ensemble of Cantabile Children’s Chorus, under the direction of Signe Boyer, will be the youth choir featured in the premiere of Craig Bohlmer’s Sisters with the Mission Chamber Orchestra, directed by Emily Ray.

Sisters weaves together the cultures and music of San Jose and its seven sister cities: Veracruz, Mexico; Ykaterinber, Russia; Dublin, Ireland; San Jose, Costa Rica; Okayama, Japan; T’ainan, Taiwan; and Pune, India. The 25-minute piece has eight movements, one for each city. This premiere performance will be at St. Joseph’s Basilica in San Jose on February 8, 2003.

Congratulations to the wealth of talent in the singers and directors of the Baroque Choral Guild family.

Volume 11, Issue 2

Baroque Choral Guild, 953 Industrial Ave. Ste 118, Palo Alto CA 94303, 650.424.1410