Classical through contemporary strains of choral “Glorias,” from Vivaldi’s familiar “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” and Handel’s stirring “Glory to God,” from the “The Messiah,” to triumphant pieces by 21st century composers, will be performed this winter by the San Tan Chorale, a non-audition choir serving the East Valley.
“Glorious Music,” featuring more than a dozen stunning selections spanning three centuries, is the centerpiece of the chorale’s seventh season, according to Matthew Frable, artistic director of San Tan Community Performing Arts (STCPA). The concerts will be on Feb. 23-24, 2013, at venues in Mesa.
“The selections included in this concert offer us a glimpse of the great variety of settings of the word ‘Gloria’ – as diverse as the decades and countries in which the pieces were composed,” Frable said. “The chorale is still accepting new members for this session – come add your voice to the mix performing these wonderful Gloria’s.”
Additionally, “Mozart and More 2012,” featuring works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Christoph Willibald Gluck, will be performed by the San Tan Orchestra at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 30, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 142 N. Date St., in Mesa. Conducted by Katherine Shields, the music is sure to entertain both classical aficionados and more voguish listeners. For information about tickets ($12 each in advance, $15 each at the door), visit http://stcpa.org.
Both instrumentalists (ages 15 and older) and singers (ages 18 and older) are invited to join the STCPA, an East Valley-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the performance of varied music and theater for the benefit, education and enjoyment of its members and surrounding communities. Partially funded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, STCPA maintains a rehearsal atmosphere that is supportive to all levels of experience.
Chorale rehearsals are held from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays at Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran Church, 425 N. Greenfield Rd., in Gilbert. The chorale’s winter concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 807 N. Stapley Drive, in Mesa, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at First United Methodist Church, 15 E. First Ave., in Mesa.
In addition to the classical performances, the chorale will be singing during the upcoming holidays, with brief practices for each event following Tuesday’s regular rehearsals. Opportunities include singing carols, popular songs and medieval fare at the 12k’s of Christmas Run/Walk on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 15, in Gilbert and, that evening, singing Santa into San Tan Mountain Regional Park’s Wonderland, near Queen Creek.
“STCPA is an organization that is comprised of people who love to perform,” Frable said. “Our chorale and orchestra are both non-audition and are welcoming to others who share a love of performing varied music.”
For more information about membership in either group, visit http://stcpa.org or email member@stcpa.org.
Other STCPA chorale and orchestra performances scheduled this season:
Chorale –
“Family Fare” - Selections of family-oriented songs to delight all ages; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 807 N. Stapley Drive, in Mesa, and 3 p.m., Sunday, May 19, 2013, Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. Kings Ranch Rd., in Gold Canyon
Orchestra –
“Treasures for Small Orchestra” - Gems by Ottarino Resphigi, Darius Milhaud and John Adams; 7:30 p.m.,Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 142 N. Date St., in Mesa
“Bring a Friend Concert” - Friends take friends to concerts: orchestral favorites you’ll both love with works for Johann Sebastian Bach and Samuel Barber; 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2013, Victory Lutheran Church , 5946 E. University Dr., in Mesa.
About San Tan Community Performing Arts
San Tan Chorale began its first season in the Fall 2006 with 29 members. Spring 2012’s membership reached 70. All totaled, 217 members have performed in the chorale’s 36 regular-session performances. Additionally, the chorale has participated in community outreach performances for Sister’s Christmas Catechism, the Chandler Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert, Maricopa County’s 12K’s of Christmas, San Tan Mountain Regional Park’s Wonderland, Gateway Airport’s Aviation Days, a Memorial Day concert, and the Florence 4th of July Parade and Concert. The chorale has taken two tours, one to Hawaii celebrating its 50th year of statehood and the other to Washington, D.C., joining in Memorial Day commemorations. These events bring the participation of the chorale to 83 performances.
San Tan Orchestra has performed with the chorale since the February 2007 performance of Rutter’s “Requiem” and continued in STCPA’s annual masterwork performances. The orchestra’s first independent concert with Brian Viliunas was Fall 2010’s “Chamber Music” and a second concert in Spring 2011 featuring pianist Andy O’Brien. Directed by Katherine Shields, the orchestra performed “Mozart and More” for its Fall 2011 concert. Showcasing Arizona composers, the orchestra performed as part of STCPA’s official Arizona Centennial event, “Western Vistas.”
San Tan Players, the theatrical branch of STCPA “took to the boards” in January 2010 with a debut performance of the jovial farce, “A Ring of Truth,” at the first Madrigal Feaste, and appeared again with “Three Jesters in the Fountain” for 2011’s second Madrigal Feaste. Plans are underway for future theatrical productions.
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First United Methodist Church
15 E. First Ave. Mesa, AZ
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