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Star of Wonder, Star of Night 

Chorale, Chamber Ensemble and Nova Youth Choir

Music by Bach, Bruckner, Howells, Glick and others

 

Sunday, December 8 at 4:00 pm in Oakland

Monday, December 9 at 7:30 pm in Walnut Creek

 

Always a seasonal high point, the holidays are simply not the same without Cantare setting the stage. With adult, youth and children’s choirs, accompanied by full orchestra and organ, we will feature works by Bach, Bruckner, Howells, Glick, along with arrangements of “Silver Bells”, “Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 3”, “Home for the Holidays”, Oseh Shalom, and several others. All choirs will present Boito’s breathtaking “Final Psalmody” from his opera Mefistofele. The audience is invited to join the choirs and orchestra in singing!  General $40, Senior $35 and Student $10. Click here for tickets.

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Recruiting Singers 

Considering Matthew Shepard

In late February/early March 2020, the Chorale will present Considering Matthew Shepard, composed by Craig Hella Johnson in 2016. This 105-minute passion oratorio recounts the life, death and legacy of Matthew Shepard, the 21- year old gay student at the University of Wyoming who was kidnapped in October 1998, to be robbed, pistol-whipped, tied to a fence and left to die. His murder brought national and international attention to hate crimes, culminating in the Shepard/Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.

 

This piece addresses humankind’s inclination for cruelty toward those who are viewed as different. It also offers an affirmation of the redemptive power of love and gratitude, encouraging us to stand for compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and justice in our families, local communities, and the world. Craig employs a variety of musical genres, including Broadway musical, Country & Western, Blues/Jazz, Pip, Southern Hymnody, and Gospel. The various solos will all come from within the choir. The choruses, as with traditional oratorios, find the choir playing different roles in advancing the story.

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Rehearsals are mostly Sunday afternoons in Oakland. Those on Tuesday evenings are in Lafayette. Rehearsals: Jan 5, 12, 19, 26; Feb 2, 9, 18, 23, 25. 

Tuition is $150 and for those under 35 tuition is $75.  Performances are Feb 29, March 1 & 7.  If you have questions, sign up here or you can email David Morales at david@cantareconvivo.org.

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The Value of your Gift of Support

Early on parents and educators saw the important role that music could play in shaping a school environment culture where students learn songs from a variety of cultures, value their differences and learn to interact with their peers in a healthy way through singing games. Together we had the opportunity to change the lives of students from low-income backgrounds by providing opportunities that inspire, encourage, and educate. By providing access to the arts, these opportunities can be the turning point for many students, opening up possibilities for their future. Won't you help us? Please click here to learn how.