Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale April 29, 2011

PRESS RELEASE
Chorale’s Spring Concerts Feature
Broadway, Opera Highlights and
Youth Chorale
New time for Saturday concert!
“Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone…” says Music Director Chris Bowman, of the upcoming Spring Concert series from the SYV Master Chorale, Youth Chorale and Orchestra.
As his quote from composer Stephen Sondheim suggests, Maestro Bowman will lead the Chorale in singing a variety of highlights from popular Broadway shows and well-known operas at the Spring Concerts, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30 and May 1.
With the curtain rising at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (a new time) and 3 p.m. on Sunday, there really will be something for everyone.
In the first part of the program, the Chorale will perform selections from operas such as “The Bartered Bride” by Bedrich Smetana, “Aida” and “Nabucco” both by Giuseppe Verdi, and adding a “modern” comic touch, “The Gondoliers” by Gilbert and Sullivan.
Families with young children in the audience will especially enjoy the Youth Chorale, 20-singers strong, who will be featured in the second half of the program. The young singers, ages seven to 14, will sing favorites from “Mary Poppins: The Musical,” “The Sounds of Music,” and “Mamma Mia,” among others.
“Several of our singers have sung with the Youth Chorale in previous seasons,” said Chorale president and Youth Chorale coordinator Terryl Bunn. “Some have prior singing experience, but for others, this is their first formal choral training. And they seem to be enjoying it!”
The members of the Youth Chorale represent a wide variety of Valley schools and the home schooling community. Two even commute weekly from Orcutt.
“The Youth Chorale is growing and we hope to have even more young singers for the Holiday Concerts this fall so that more children can experience the joy of singing with a group of friends, new and old,” added Bunn.
Also in the second half, the Chorale will welcome local soloist, Elizabeth Brumfield, who will be featured in selections from “A Choral Celebration” of the work of Stephen Sondheim.
Ms. Brumfield, an alto, has been singing all kinds of music her entire life—in school and church choirs, high school and college musicals, and karaoke. A former police officer, and currently an instructional aide in special education at SYV High School, Brumfield was born at Vandenberg AFB, moved east, was later stationed at Vandenberg, moved away again, and now lives with her family in Buellton. Her daughter sings in the Youth Chorale.
“When I was a police officer,” said Brumfield, “the holding cells had great acoustics so two other officers and I would harmonize together and have a wonderful time singing! We still did our jobs...no calls were missed!”
To accommodate those who like to be “home before dark” (as the Sondheim song says), the Chorale is trying out a new time on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Friday concert will be at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday concert will be at 3 p.m., as usual. All three concerts will be held at The Church at the Crossroads, at the intersection of Hwy. 246 and La Lata Drive in Buellton.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and youth. They may be purchased at El Rancho Marketplace, The Book Loft, The Sunrise Coffee House, from Chorale members, at the door, online by visiting www.syvchorale.org or by calling 350-4241.