Davies Symphony Hall

Music melts all the separate parts of our bodies together. --Anais Nin

Last night, those in attendance at Davies Symphony Hall "melted" over hearing the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) together with Grammy Award-winning, guest men's ensemble, Chanticleer.

The hall was filled with thousands of family, friends and fans who came to celebrate the SFGC's 25th Anniversary Celebration called On Silver Wings of Song.

Thanks to Board President, Peter Drake, his wife, Kathy and the inspiration of their daughter, Carolyn (an SFGC alum), a dozen family and friends were invited to the Girls Chorus and Chanticleer's concert. Among the twelve were the head of California State Hayward's Composition and Music Theory, Dr. Frank La Rocca and his wife, Lucia. Dr. La Rocca and his work had previously been selected for inclusion, out of over 200 submissions, as the composer of "Magnificat," one of the Girls' Holiday 2003 concert pieces.

Artistic Director, Susan McMane, Elizabeth Avakian, and accompanist, Susan Soehner led hundreds of dedicated young artists who took us on a journey in song from Elizabethan times, through China's gates, into the soul of Holocaust victim, Anne Frank.

From there we rose "Over the Rainbow" into a spiritual journey "Down by the Riverside" into a world of poetry and "Womanly Song" that was clearly of God.

As diverse as the music was, so were the shapes, sizes and sounds of the women singing the notes.

The standing ovations they received, especially after their two world premiere's singing Alice Parker's Runes and Linda Tutas Haugen's composition of Anne Frank: A Living Voice was a reminder that beauty and harmony come purely from the inside.

The Silver Anniversary concert ended with a poem from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit put to song by Bay Area composer, Kirke Mechem. Mechem was in the audience, last night, and called to the stage to receive accolades for his composition of Sing All Ye Joyful.

After the performance, Mechem said, "I wrote Sing All Ye Joyful for my daughter and grandchild who cared for me while I was sick." At the time, his daughter was reading The Hobbit to her child. He said he was inspired to give them both a token of his thanks for their care, so composed this song which was first sung in 1991 at the Golden Gate International Children's Choir Festival. (Coincidentally or not so coincidentally, I am reading The Hobbit to my children right now.)

There were many highlights of the San Francisco Girls Chorus performance, like this one.

But the clear high point of the evening was when the talented young artists shared the limelight with the 1994 and 2003 Grammy Award-winning men's ensemble, Chanticleer.

After their first two songs, we thought all the separate parts of our bodies had already melted together. And then their Music Director, Joseph Jennings came to the podium. With hips swaying, arms waving, face beaming, those listening and watching began to feel their melted bodies fuse with him and with one another. You could almost taste the soul in the room.

Jennings did an amazing job weaving the professional voices of Chanticleer together with the youthful voices of Chorissima as he directed his own rendition of the traditional spiritual piece Keep Your Hand On The Plow.

Wow!

Kathy Drake said afterwards, "They outdid themselves with their exceptional musical selections. The diversity of their pieces were extraordinary."

Dr. La Rocca chimed in, "Chorissima sang challenging music, displaying great purity of tone and mature musical sensitivity. This concert demonstrated once again the high artistic and technical standards which are the hallmark of this ensemble, thanks to Susan McMane, their outstanding Artistic Director."

At a toast last night for former board members, old friends of the Chorus and guests, Peter Drake quoted Frederica Von Stade. He said, "The Girls Chorus is as important to San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge, and I might add, to the whole world!"

Mr. Drake echoed similar praises to the Chorus faculty and staff in his congratulations message, today:

Last night's concert was another extraordinary reminder of why we board members are involved with the world class San Francisco Girls Chorus.

Congratulations to you, and to all on the artistic and executive staff under your amazing leadership. The program and music, the logistics and marketing; all were flawless.

A worthy celebration of 25 years of excellence...well done! Thank you for making us proud, and for demonstrating so perfectly the artistic and professional standard we set.

SFGC Alum, Haley McNamara ('95) was one of thirty alumnae from classes '84 through '03 who joined the concert last night for three selections. She is one of twelve SFGC graduates (ages 23-29) who have created an ensemble called In Treble. Since their October '03 graduation, In Treble rehearses once a week and performs just three times a year together.

To hear these twelve talented women sing here in the Bay Area, you are invited to go to the Noe Valley Ministry (1021 Sanchez Street @ 23rd) at 8 pm on Friday, May 28th. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $20 for reserved seating.

Sabrina Adler * Evan Angle * Hannah Appel * Kirstin Cummings * Maggie Lukens * Rachel Herbert * Natasha Hoehn * Haley McNamara * Amy Perez * Abby Ramsden * Jenny Terry * Rayanne Truesdell * with Anjali Jameson on piano

For more information, please call: 415.370.0552

The San Francisco Chanticleer, also an ensemble of twelve, will be singing Renaissance master Tomas Luis de Victoria's exquisite Missa salve at Mission Dolores on Saturday, May 15th at 8 pm and on Sunday, May 23rd at 7 pm. These extraordinary artists can also be heard in Sacramento, Carmel, San Jose and Berkeley throughout the month of May.

For dates and details to see and hear Fraser Walters, Tim Maguire, Matthew Oltman, Brandon Brack, Clifton Massey, Jesse Antin, Ben Johns, handle-bar moustached Eric Alatorre, John Bischoff, Mark Sullivan, Justin Montigne, Ian Howell and Joseph Jennings in action, please go to their Web site at: Chanticleer.org

Looking forward to the future, we applaud the San Francisco Girls Chorus' Chorissima for having been selected as one of only two organizations in America as a headliner at the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto Japan. Chorissima is the official, public touring ensemble within the SFGC hierarchy. Dr. La Rocca has been commissioned to write a new work for them to take to the World Choral Symposium. The symposium is scheduled to take place in August 2005.

We also look forward to:

The Chorissima's Saturday, June 5th Concert (8pm) at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael, where they will again perform Linda Tutas Haugen's Anne Frank: A Living Voice

An October 2004 Britten's Spring Symphony performance with the San Francisco Symphony

Their upcoming broadcast on NPR with Michael Tipson Thomas' "Keeping Score: The MTT Files"

A solo performance at Stanford Lively Arts Series in February 2005.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King

Related Articles:

San Francisco Chronicle, S.F. Girls Chorus, Many Friends Lift Voices in Joyous Silver Jubilee, 5/8/04

RE: San Francisco, Girls Chorus & Community Celebrate SFGC's 25th Anniversary at The Palace, 3/21/04

P.S. San Francisco Girls Chorus auditions begin Saturday, June 12th at 44 Page Street from 9 am - 4 pm. The organization is open to girls ages 7-12. No previous experience is required. Financial aid is available. For more information, please call 415.863.1752 ext. 327

P.P.S. Happy Birthday to Executive Director, Rachel Malan!