Where in the World is WomenSing?

WomenSing kicks off the season with our annual Gala and Auction event. This year we’re delighted to feature SoVoSó, the highly imaginative a cappella ensemble that sings a unique mix of jazz, gospel, world and R&B music, all rendered in their trademark improvisational style! The SoVoSó repertoire consists of original compositions and other songs that present a global perspective from Afro-Latin idioms to traditional funk and jazz arrangements. Take it from acclaimed vocalist Bobby McFerrin, “SoVoSó is tight, soulful and a whole lotta fun.”

Descends the Snow

Our holiday concert features a broad range of seasonal music celebrating the mystery and beauty of winter landscapes. Snowflakes by Milliken is an evocative and beautiful setting of a Longfellow poem, and her lively Hodie Christus natus est for SSAA, triangle and tambour, is fresh off the press (just composed in 2011). You will feel the flame of love with the stunning harmonies of Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs, we will bring back the spacious Christine Donkin Magnificat, and traditional works by Duruflé and Elgar will complement.

A Sparkling Jewel

Join us at a benefit concert for WomenSing, featuring the award-winning chorus and chamber music provided by Paul Caccamo and Martín Benvenuto. The event will take place at the distinguished Oakland landmark, Chapel of the Chimes, designed by prominent Berkeley architect Julia Morgan, and will include an architectural tour led by board member and architect Steve Kubitschek.

Words into Music Symposium

An interactive dialogue and demonstration on choral music composition. Come explore the dynamic relationship between melody and verse! This fascinating panel discussion, led by internationally acclaimed composers Libby Larsen and Sandra Milliken and extensively-published poet Francisco Alarcón will explore questions such as why a composer chooses one poem over another, whether some texts are more suited to music than others, how different composers might set the same texts, and what commission/commissioner parameters influence a work.

YIY Composers Workshop

The Composers Workshop is a cornerstone of WomenSing’s Youth Inspiring Youth program. Join us for a fascinating glimpse into the process of choral composition as advising composers Libby Larsen and Sandra Milliken work with our 2012 YIY composers Dale Trumbore and Anastasia Pahos (via Skype from her home in Australia) during a rehearsal of their new compositions with WomenSing.

Full Circle

In early June we will come Full Circle for a concert featuring Sarah Hopkin’s Past Life Melodies, the Australian piece that has taken the choral world by storm with its earthy drones and aboriginally inspired overtone singing. Along with that we will travel three continents with music by Mechem, Brahms, and a world premiere to celebrate Martín Benvenuto’s 10th anniversary as artistic director of WomenSing! Acalanes High School Bella Voce and the Contra Costa Children’s Chorus Honors Ensemble will join us in unveiling our fourth-year YIY commissions by Anastasia Pahos (Australia) and Dale Trumbore (U.S.), both writing a setting of the beautiful River of Words poem Reflections.