American Tapestry Celebrating a Rich Musical Heritage
The Woodland Chamber Singers will present its Spring Concert, “American Tapestry”, on Sunday, May 4, 2008, at 7:30 PM in the historic Woodland Opera House, 340 Main Street, Woodland. This concert is free to the public, disabled seating beginning at 6:45 PM, and general seating at 7:00 PM.
“We’re creating a musical tapestry,” describes artistic director Tracia Barbieri, “woven from distinctly American musical styles such as cool jazz, familiar folk tunes, swinging spirituals and toe-tapping Dixieland. It promises to be an entertaining and enriching performance for the whole family, and a celebration of our rich musical heritage.”
The audience will even get a chance to sing some favorite American melodies in an old fashioned sing-along led by previous director, Bob Edmondson. “A real musical melting pot,” continues Barbieri, “complete with brass band!”
The concert will also feature a brass quartet and classical guitarist Matthew Grasso. Lori Jarvey will accompany on the piano.
The Woodland Chamber Singers aims to present to the community free, high-quality performances that are entertaining, moving, memorable, and educational. Their themed Spring concerts feature an array of sacred and secular pieces that bring joy to the audience. Their popular Christmas concerts have become a holiday tradition, showcasing a variety of familiar and inventive holiday favorites.
Last fall, WCS partnered with the Yolo County Arts Council, soliciting original art from the community inspired by four works on its “Winter Journey” Christmas program. Artists throughout the community, ranging from professional artists to children as young as 5, participated in one of several ‘paint days’ where they could create their expressions while listening to the music and collaborating with other artists.
The artwork was then projected on a screen during WCS’s performance of these four pieces in the Opera House, adding a artistic element to the music and marrying visual and aural art forms. The artwork was also made available to the public, raising over $1600 in donations for YCAC and WCS programs.
Promoting choral singing in Yolo County, The Woodland Chamber Singers is a non-auditioned, not-for-profit organization founded in September 1976. WCS brings together a wide range of singers, ages, and skill levels from the community. Originally consisting of only eight members, its semi-annual concerts now feature some 40-50 singers plus instrumentalists. Anyone age 14 and up is welcome without audition. “The only requirements,” offers Barbieri, “are some previous choral experience, a dedication to learning, and the desire to create beautiful, entertaining, and memorable music with the human voice!”
The Woodland Chamber Singers relies on the generosity of its patrons and local service organizations, whose donations help support its programs. For information on how you can help support the arts through WCS, please feel free to contact <a href=”mailto:support@woodlandsingers.org”>support@woodlandsingers.org</a>.
For more information, please visit www.woodlandsingers.org or call (530) 757-2396.
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