Cantabella Children’s Chorus Also to Perform
Livermore, Calif. – The Valley Concert Chorale, the Tri-Valley’s premier chorus for over 50 years, will share the music of America’s great choral composers in two performances titled “America: Of Thee We Sing.” Details are as follows:
Saturday, May 14, 7:30 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
1225 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton
Sunday, May 15, 3:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
2020 Fifth Street, Livermore (at 4th and L streets)
“Our performances will be an eclectic program of popular American songs, compositions by great American composers that capture images of our diverse country from the perspective of choral sounds,” says John Emory Bush, the Chorale’s Artistic Director and Conductor. “One piece that promises to be an audience favorite is the famous arrangement of the Battle Hymn of the Republic by Wilhousky, which is possibly the most heartfelt musical pronouncement of American patriotism.” Adding to that theme, the audience will be invited to join in the singing of America the Beautiful.
The music of the great American conductor Robert Shaw will also be featured as the Chorale is joining choruses from around the nation that are celebrating what would have been Shaw’s 100 this year. “I had the privilege of participating in numerous choral workshops with Shaw at Carnegie Hall,” explains Bush, “and for this program, I have selected two early American folk hymn selections, Wondrous Love and Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal, both originally written for the famous Robert Shaw Chorale and have been popular with audiences for the past 40 years.”
The award-winning Cantabella Children’s Chorus will perform a selection of American compositions, and join the Chorale in singing four songs.
Additional composers and conductors featured in the program are Leonard Bernstein, Mack Wilberg, the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the late Stephen Paulus, a prolific American composer of over 350 works and who died in 2014, with his beautiful Hymn to America, and Byron J. Smith with his classic spiritual Worthy To Be Praised when Cantabella Children’s Chorus will join the Chorale.
“Finally, we introduce the young and gifted American composer Daniel Elder, offering his beautiful cycle of Three Nocturnes accompanied by our concert pianist, Daniel Glover,” adds Bush. “These beautiful lush melodies are paired with expressive texts of love, nature, darkness and light.”
“So diverse and filled with beautiful melody, there is a selection for everyone to enjoy in this showcase of American song,” says Bush.
Tickets
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. High school and college students $10 with valid student ID. Children are free. Advance tickets may be ordered by visiting the Chorale’s website at http://www.valleyconcertchorale.org/, or by calling the Chorale’s information number at (925) 866-4003 to order tickets
More information about the Valley Concert Chorale is available at http://www.valleyconcertchorale.org/, or by calling the general information line at (925) 866-4003.
About Valley Concert Chorale
For over 50 years, the Valley Concert Chorale is 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 our passion and joy in live performance. We are dedicated to excellence in singing choral music of all genres, nurturing the next generation of singers, and supporting musical endeavors in our Tri-Valley community.
The all-volunteer, non-profit chorale receives financial support from grants, ticket sales, membership dues, 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 Music Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church, McKinney, Texas. For the past fifteen years, Mr. Bush has divided his time between the Bay Area and Dallas, contributing to both musical communities.
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