Director Ernest Siva rehearses the chorus before the concert.
The Pass Chorale Christmas Concert got us all into the Christmas spirit. The orchestra played brilliantly. Our concertmaster, Jeninne Hell, marked the scores of the string players so that their bowing would match the words the choristers were singing! It was a great experience to sing the Haydn Missa Cellensis, a marvelous work that was new to the singers and the instrumentalists. It took many rehearsals for the singers to master this difficult work. The soloists all had beautiful and difficult arias and ensembles.
Bass player waits while chorus rehearses before concert.
Our soloists for the mass were all from California State University, San Bernardino.
Stacy Fraser, soprano, heads the opera program at CSUSB. Tenor, Andrew Crane is head of choral music there. Alto, Danielle Perrault, and bass, Ulises Espinoza, are students in these programs. We are proud to partner with the fine musicians at Cal State, San Bernardino!
Christmas anthems were the second part of the program. These ranged from a 16th Century text, Remember, O Thou Man to a contemporary Brazilian carol complete with bongos, maracas, and claves. An Ave Maria by Franz Beibl was originally written for a firemen’s chorus in England. Those firemen must have been very accomplished singers! Andrew Crane and chorale member Monte Joham sang the solo parts.
Jill Trick prepares goodies. Her mother, Laura, helps in kitchen.
The concert was followed by a reception set up by Jill Trick and her mother, Laura Trick. They always provide beautiful decorations and arrangements. Volunteer Pat Murkland is always there to take tickets and hand out programs. We thank them!
We also thank our choristers who are all volunteers. They put in countless hours of rehearsals and home study to learn their parts. We get so deeply into this music that we come to love it and go through days of “withdrawal” when the concert is over. We are still hearing the music in our heads.
Joan Frost at the keyboard
We especially thank our accompanist, Joan Frost, who puts in as many hours as we do helping us to learn this music and playing in our concerts.
She is a true gem, and we couldn’t do what we do without her!
We thank all who attended the concert, supporting us with their presence. Thanks to donors who contributed as well.
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