Masterworks Chorale
Encyclopedia
Masterworks Chorale is a choral ensemble based in San Mateo, California
.
), and currently conducted by Dr. Bryan Baker, the mixed chorus presently consists of 90 members, and performs a wide variety of music from the Renaissance and Baroque to modern masterpieces. Masterworks is a community chorus in the best sense of the word; singers come from all over the Bay Area, and vary in age from the 20s to the 80s. Each season the Chorale performs four concert sets and a summer program. The Fall and Spring concerts generally include major choral works in which the chorus is usually accompanied by a professional orchestra and renowned soloists. The December and March concerts are more intimate and give the Chorale a chance to sing shorter pieces, often without accompaniment. Chorale members must pass an audition to join the chorus, and many of the singers have had voice and/or choral training. Each rehearsal starts with 15 to 20 minutes of varied vocal exercises that are used to improve pitch and tone production. There is a waiting list to join the chorus, especially among altos and sopranos.
In the summer of 1982, Masterworks Chorale sang in three performances of Mozart's Requiem during the Midsummer Mozart Festival. The performances were conducted by Calvin E. Simmons
(1950–1982); they were one of his last appearances before his tragic death later that year. In September 1984, Masterworks was one of four choirs to participate in four performances of the Eighth Symphony of Gustav Mahler by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Edo de Waart
in Davies Symphony Hall. Other Northern California concerts have included performances with the San Francisco Opera
, San José Symphony
, and at the Festival of Masses and the Cabrillo Festival.
The 25th Anniversary of the Chorale, in 1989, featured the World Premier of Alexander C. Post's Sea of Light, commissioned by the choir for the anniversary celebration. To celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 1994, Masterworks took a Central European tour; the tour included performances in Brno, Krakow, Budapest, and Prague, accompanied by the Brno Concert Orchestra and the Budapest Concert Orchestra. The tour featured the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with pianist Jon Nakamatsu
, who three years later won the acclaimed Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
.
Masterworks Chorale has taken part in seven European tours, tours of the People's Republic of China and gave concerts in New York that featured performances at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, where they performed the Verdi Requiem.
After a hiatus of a few years, the group has again started to travel/tour. 2007 featured a tour of Brazil with concerts in Manaus, Petropolis, Ouro Preto, and Rio de Janiero. And in 2009 members of Masterworks again sang in New York, performing a new piece by Eric Whitacre
as well as short pieces from their repertoire. The New York trip was so successful that it was repeated in 2010, this time with another performance in Carnegie Hall.
In the fall of 1997, Galen Marshall retired and was named Artistic Director Emeritus. He was succeeded by Richard Garrin, a former assistant director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus
. In 2002 Richard Garrin moved to New York. Dr. Bryan Baker was appointed as the Artistic Director and Conductor. John Hancock, a longtime member of the College of San Mateo faculty, accompanied rehearsals during Marshall's tenure. The present accompanist is Inara Morgenstern, a faculty member at San Francisco State University
.
Dr. Baker has remained Artistic Director of the Chorale since 2002. Having taught at Arizona State University, Truman State University, and San Francisco State University, he now serves on the faculty of the College of San Mateo
. Dr. Baker has led the Chorale in many of the major choral-orchestral works, including Orff's Carmina Burana, Mozart's Grand Mass, Requiem, and Mass in C, and Faure's Requiem. He has also introduced works that are new to the group, including Vivaldi's Magnificat, Handels' Laudate Pueri, and Corigliano's Fern Hill. Masterworks 40th Anniversary concert featured Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances, Brahms’ Nänie, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, with pianist Jon Nakamatsu
. Metropolitan Opera Soprano Luana DeVol
joined in the 42nd Concert year Opera Gala.
San Mateo, California
San Mateo is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a population of approximately 100,000 , it is one of the larger suburbs on the San Francisco Peninsula, located between Burlingame to the north, Foster City to the east, Belmont to the south,...
.
About Masterworks Chorale
Masterworks Chorale is one of the oldest choruses in Northern California. Founded in 1964 by Galen Marshall (born 1934 in Greensburg, KansasGreensburg, Kansas
Greensburg is a city in and the county seat of Kiowa County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 777. Greensburg is also home to the world's largest hand-dug well....
), and currently conducted by Dr. Bryan Baker, the mixed chorus presently consists of 90 members, and performs a wide variety of music from the Renaissance and Baroque to modern masterpieces. Masterworks is a community chorus in the best sense of the word; singers come from all over the Bay Area, and vary in age from the 20s to the 80s. Each season the Chorale performs four concert sets and a summer program. The Fall and Spring concerts generally include major choral works in which the chorus is usually accompanied by a professional orchestra and renowned soloists. The December and March concerts are more intimate and give the Chorale a chance to sing shorter pieces, often without accompaniment. Chorale members must pass an audition to join the chorus, and many of the singers have had voice and/or choral training. Each rehearsal starts with 15 to 20 minutes of varied vocal exercises that are used to improve pitch and tone production. There is a waiting list to join the chorus, especially among altos and sopranos.
History
Masterworks Chorale was initially called the San Mateo College Community Chorus and performed with an orchestra of students, faculty, and members of the community, either in the Little Theatre or the main gymnasium at the College of San Mateo. During its early years under Galen Marshall the chorus gradually grew in size and started giving concerts throughout the San Francisco Bay area. In 1972 the group was renamed the Masterworks Chorale, and gave its first complete performance of Handel's Messiah that December at St. Bartholomew's Church, San Mateo. In May, 1985 it became a self-sufficient non-profit organization.In the summer of 1982, Masterworks Chorale sang in three performances of Mozart's Requiem during the Midsummer Mozart Festival. The performances were conducted by Calvin E. Simmons
Calvin E. Simmons
Calvin Eugene Simmons was an American symphony orchestra conductor. He was the first African-American conductor of a major orchestra.-Biography:...
(1950–1982); they were one of his last appearances before his tragic death later that year. In September 1984, Masterworks was one of four choirs to participate in four performances of the Eighth Symphony of Gustav Mahler by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Edo de Waart
Edo de Waart
Edo de Waart is a Dutch conductor, and the Music Director of both the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra....
in Davies Symphony Hall. Other Northern California concerts have included performances with the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
, San José Symphony
San Jose Symphony
The San Jose Symphony Orchestra was a symphony orchestra performing in San Jose, California. It performed in the Civic Auditorium through 1971, and the Center for the Performing Arts afterwards until its suspension and dissolution in 2001...
, and at the Festival of Masses and the Cabrillo Festival.
The 25th Anniversary of the Chorale, in 1989, featured the World Premier of Alexander C. Post's Sea of Light, commissioned by the choir for the anniversary celebration. To celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 1994, Masterworks took a Central European tour; the tour included performances in Brno, Krakow, Budapest, and Prague, accompanied by the Brno Concert Orchestra and the Budapest Concert Orchestra. The tour featured the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with pianist Jon Nakamatsu
Jon Nakamatsu
Jon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu is a Japanese American classical pianist who still resides in San Jose but mostly performs away from home. He is the son of David Y. Nakamatsu and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu .In June 1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition...
, who three years later won the acclaimed Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
.
Masterworks Chorale has taken part in seven European tours, tours of the People's Republic of China and gave concerts in New York that featured performances at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, where they performed the Verdi Requiem.
After a hiatus of a few years, the group has again started to travel/tour. 2007 featured a tour of Brazil with concerts in Manaus, Petropolis, Ouro Preto, and Rio de Janiero. And in 2009 members of Masterworks again sang in New York, performing a new piece by Eric Whitacre
Eric Whitacre
Eric Whitacre is an American composer, conductor and lecturer. He is one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. In 2008, the all-Whitacre choral CD Cloudburst became an international best-seller, topping the classical charts and earning a Grammy nomination...
as well as short pieces from their repertoire. The New York trip was so successful that it was repeated in 2010, this time with another performance in Carnegie Hall.
In the fall of 1997, Galen Marshall retired and was named Artistic Director Emeritus. He was succeeded by Richard Garrin, a former assistant director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus
Chicago Symphony Chorus
The history of the Chicago Symphony Chorus began on September 22, 1957, when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced that Margaret Hillis would organize and train a symphony chorus...
. In 2002 Richard Garrin moved to New York. Dr. Bryan Baker was appointed as the Artistic Director and Conductor. John Hancock, a longtime member of the College of San Mateo faculty, accompanied rehearsals during Marshall's tenure. The present accompanist is Inara Morgenstern, a faculty member at San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.
Dr. Baker has remained Artistic Director of the Chorale since 2002. Having taught at Arizona State University, Truman State University, and San Francisco State University, he now serves on the faculty of the College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
. Dr. Baker has led the Chorale in many of the major choral-orchestral works, including Orff's Carmina Burana, Mozart's Grand Mass, Requiem, and Mass in C, and Faure's Requiem. He has also introduced works that are new to the group, including Vivaldi's Magnificat, Handels' Laudate Pueri, and Corigliano's Fern Hill. Masterworks 40th Anniversary concert featured Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances, Brahms’ Nänie, and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, with pianist Jon Nakamatsu
Jon Nakamatsu
Jon Yasuhiro Nakamatsu is a Japanese American classical pianist who still resides in San Jose but mostly performs away from home. He is the son of David Y. Nakamatsu and Karen F. Maeda Nakamatsu .In June 1997 Nakamatsu won the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition...
. Metropolitan Opera Soprano Luana DeVol
Luana DeVol
Luana DeVol is an American operatic soprano who made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Ortrud in April 2007 in Wagner's Lohengrin. The production was broadcast internationally on April 29, 2007...
joined in the 42nd Concert year Opera Gala.