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ABOUT THE LEAVENWORTH CHORAL FESTIVAL 2010…
April 10, 2010 marks the fourth year this event has occurred. Annual
festivals were held in 2006, 2007, and 2008, when the biannual festival
was created in order to bring our audiences the very best in planning and
choral performances. Five choirs are selected from applications received.
Choir members participate in a Friday evening desert reception, Saturday
workshops, and on-stage rehearsals, culminating in the public concert on
Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. The concert features each choir individually
in a 15-20 minute performance and as a massed choir of over 200 voices
with conductor, Dr. Linda Gingrich. Host chorus, the Leavenworth Village
Voices, open the concert and join the other performers later for the
massed choir performance.
ABOUT OUR PERFORMING CHOIRS…
CANTABILE OF SKAGIT VALLEY, WA
Making an encore performance from the 2008 Leavenworth Choral Festival,
Cantabile of Skagit Valley, is a 25 member ensemble of auditioned
vocalists gathered from the greater Skagit Valley area. Janet Hitt, also
director the Skagit Valley Chorale, now conducts the choir into its
2009-2010 season. “Cantabile” is an adjective, meaning songlike, or in a
smooth, flowing, lyrical style. It is usually used as a musical direction
for musicians to play or sing in a “cantabile” style. Founded in 2005, the
ensemble performs with warmth and flexibility, and an added extra element
of energy and dynamism.
Cantabile performs a two-concert season of repertoire from the sixteenth
century to the present day; from well-loved choral works to overlooked
masterpieces - but always music that will stimulate its singers and
audiences. Seasonal concerts feature a balance of sacred and secular
works, including time-honored classics, as well as contemporary
selections. Past concert themes have included a Requiem for Darfur and
Tapestry Americana (both benefit concerts), Of Love and Nature, the Seven
Days of Creation, and several Christmas themed concerts. During its short
existence, Cantabile has also participated as the chorus for several
Skagit Opera productions, such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Barber
of Seville, and the Marriage of Figaro.
The choir’s mission is to promote the joy of choral music by offering
seasonal concerts, and participating in charitable performances that
educate and entertain audiences in the greater Pacific Northwest. For
further information, go to
www.cantabileofskagitvalley.org
RAINIER CHORALE, Kent, WA
Rainier Chorale, a community chorus of over 65 active members, was
established in 1983. Three concert programs are presented each season and
include holiday, masterworks and pops concerts. As part of these concerts,
the Chorale presents a broad spectrum of music styles such as the holiday
favorite White Christmas to the classical Vivaldi’s Gloria, popular fare
like Wicked and Sweeny Todd, long standing musical hits, and even the
Beatles greatest hits are performed.
Rainier Chorale is committed to pursuing excellence in the performance of
choral music, providing a challenging creative outlet for its members, and
producing enjoyable musical experiences for its audiences. Ron Bayer has
been the artistic director of Rainier Chorale since the 1996-1997 season.
Having worked with Seattle choral groups to produce a performance of
Carmina Burana at Benaroya Hall in 2007, the choir will again perform with
select Seattle area choirs at Benaroya in March of 2010. Tours have
included Alaska, British Columbia and New York City as well as
performances at the Bach Festival in Oregon. www.rainierchorale.org
In the summer of 2007, Rainier Chorale established a youth choir
organization, Rainier Youth Choirs, which has a thriving program offering
4 auditioned choirs tailored for choristers grades 3 through college.
www.rainieryouthchoirs.org
NORTH COAST CHORALE, Astoria, OR
Founded in 1990, the North Coast Chorale is a community chorus of over 50
members from Astoria, Oregon and nearby communities. Under the direction
of Dr. Denise Reed-Hinds, the singers have performed works that include
the JS Bach ‘Magnificat’, Handel’s 'Messiah', Saint Saens ‘Christmas
Oratorio as well as a program of spirituals and gospel music. They are
affiliated with Clatsop Community College Arts & Ideas program which
provides rehearsal and a performance venue for the Chorale. NCC has also
performed at the Historic Liberty Theater in Astoria and in venues on the
Long Beach Peninsula in Washington. They are the proud recipient of an
‘Excellence’ grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the Endowment for
the Arts, a federal agency.
The North Coast Chorale is a welcoming, community-based, non-profit
organization dedicated to the presentation of great choral literature and
is committed to the promotion of music education. Website:
www.ncoastchorale.com Contact phone 503-738-8585
MASTER CHORUS EASTSIDE, Issaquah, WA
Making an encore performance this year, Master Chorus Eastside (formerly
the Issaquah Chorale) began in 1991 as a small, non-auditioned ensemble,
and has since grown into a polished, fully auditioned chorus and one of
the premiere arts organizations on Seattle’s Eastside. It is known for its
innovative and imaginative programming, from its family-style
"All-American Independence Celebration," featuring American music and
historical tidbits, to large choral/orchestral works, acapella repertoire,
multi-cultural explorations, and jazz and Broadway classics. Its
four-concert season is enlivened by conductor Dr. Linda Gingrich's
informative concert commentary. MCE performs on the Eastside, on the
Christmas ship, and across the greater-Seattle region. It has appeared on
the Columbia River as part of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition, at the Jamestown celebration in 200, and at the 2008
Leavenworth Choral Festival. MCE has also performed with several area
orchestras and dance troupes, at local service organization and private
functions, and as part of KING FM broadcasts.
From its mission statement, “Master Chorus Eastside exists to share the
power of choral music to unite, inspire and bring joy.”
www.masterchoruseastside.org
WENATCHEE VALLEY APPLEAIRES, Wenatchee, WA
Founded in 1978, the Wenatchee Valley Appleaires women’s choir now has
over 50 members. It is directed by Don Fox, Technical Director and
Facilities Manager for the Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee. The
Appleaires stay busy with annual events such as their home concert held
last September, “Let’s Go to the Hop”, singing the National Anthem at many
sporting events, participating in the Spurs and Spokes and Mobile Meals
benefits, the International Choral Festival, as well as entertaining
residents at area nursing homes. They will be continuing our trip through
the decades with a salute to the 60's on September 25th, 2010.
Proceeds from concerts and various donations and sponsorships go to help
provide college scholarships to local students continuing their education
in music. For more information about the Appleaires call President Kathy
Monroe at 509-679-1959 or email her at kayede@genest.net
The Appleaires are pleased to announce that they will be bringing the
Vienna Boys Choir to the Performing Arts Center on February 24, 2010.
Tickets are available at Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee (509)
663-ARTS or
www.pacwen.org
ABOUT OUR GUEST CONDUCTOR
 Linda
Gingrich, artistic director and long time Issaquah resident,
is the founder and conductor of Master Chorus Eastside. She received her
Doctor of Musical Arts and Masters degrees in Choral Conducting from the
University of Washington and her Bachelors degree in Voice from Cornish
College of Arts, both in Seattle. She is also a performing member of the
Ladies Musical Club. She has many years experience with church choirs, in
college and private teaching, as a lecturer, and as a composer and
arranger. Ms. Gingrich is a published composer, and MCE has premiered a
number of her works.
Master Chorus Eastside’s achievements are due primarily to Ms. Gingrich’s
inspiration. She has transformed a group of 25 rusty-voiced amateurs in
1991 into a talented 50-voice ensemble which sings with “zest and panache”
(Eastsideweek, June 1996. Ms. Gingrich has a passion for choral
conducting, and according to reviewer Phillipa Kiraly (Eastsideweek, Sept.
1996, “Arts Groups to Watch”), is “musical to her fingertips.”
Ms. Gingrich’s incomparable dedication and commitment to presenting
enjoyable and inspired musical programs to the community east of Seattle
is truly a gift shared by performers and audience members alike
E-mail: LeavenworthChoralFestival@verizon.net
Phone: (509)548-9168
www.LeavenworthVillageVoices.org
www.Leavenworth.org
Leavenworth Choral Festival , P.O. Box 2254, Leavenworth, WA 98826
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