Chorus Information

 

Peninsula Women's Chorus

Martín Benvenuto, Artistic Director

Information last updated: 2008-07-06
Status: Archived

Basic Information

Description: This is an amateur, community, special interest women's chorus, open to the general public by audition through Foothill College. This group has developed a reputation as one of the finest women's choruses in the United States. Anyone (treble voice) eligible as a student at a California community college may join (i.e., general public.)
Web Address: http://www.pwchorus.org
Year Estab: 1966
Mission: The Peninsula Women's Chorus is committed to excellence in performance of diverse and challenging choral literature for women's voices. The chorus inspires and enriches its audiences through compelling musical artistry.

PWC's objectives are:
-to promote the recognition and musical growth of the chorus by participating in festivals, cultural exchanges and musical collaborations, and through the creation and distribution of quality recordings.

-to encourage and support opportunities for women's choirs by expanding and promoting choral literature and by serving as a role model.

-to attract and retain talented musicians and active supporters by providing a challenging and rewarding environment with opportunities for musical and personal growth.

-to complement all artistic endeavors with sound business practices and effective public relations, publicity and marketing programs.
Emphasis: Renaissance to contemporary classical music.
Size: 60
Concerts/Year: 10 to 12
Auditions: Yes, during the first two weeks of September and January. Auditions include vocalizing, sight-reading, and pitch discrimination. Call (415) 327-3095 for appointment.`
Dues: Tuition is approximately $50 per quarter.
Dress: Yes.
Rehearsals: Monday, 7:15 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Foothill College, Middlefield Campus, Room M-2, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto

Categories

Type of Music: Classical
Church/Sacred
Contemporary
Early Music
Christmas
Type of Chorus: Women's
Region: Santa Clara County
Audition Req'd: Y

Chorus Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 50532, Palo Alto, 94303
Phone: (650) 327-3095
Fax: 408-370-9314
Email: info@pwchorus.org

Other Information

Related Groups: Small ensembles vary from time to time.
Discography: Song of Survival. Originally sung in a World War II Prison Camp. Phonorecord. Pressed in the USA. $9.50 (including postage.) Song of Survival. Phonorecord. Pressed by RCA. Sold Out. Kirke Mechem--Music for Women's Voices. Performing instrumental music vocally, music for a Women's Vocal Orchestra. Phonorecord. $11.50 (including postage.) Treasures. Mostly contemporary music for women's chorus--Nystedt, Cleveland, Conte, Holst, Vittoria, Skold. Compact Disk. Alleluia Psallat features Kirke Mechem's Seven Joys of Christmas, Britten's Ceremony of Carols, medieval carols, and works by Cleveland, Holmes, Bach, etc. Compact disk. Songs of the Spirit--1998 release, featuring Snowforms by R. Murray Schafer, Song of Survival selections, and works of MacIntyre, Johansson, Harrison, Jeffers, and Hennings. Compact disk. Order recordings from: Dr. Patricia Hennings, 2360 Emerson, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Download order form from website.
Bibliography: The Choral Journal, February, 1987. Song of Survival; film brochure. 1985. Song of Survival: when music made the great difference, " Panpipes, Summer, 1984. Ratliff, William, "Music sustained the human spirit, " Peninsula Times Tribune, February 25, 1982. Zimler, Richard, "Voices arise from the war camps, " Palo Alto Weekly, March 3, 1982. Moreillon, Stan, "Voices united by adversity to be heard again, " San Jose Mercury News, March 8, 1982. "Recreating a special concert, " The Country Almanac, March 10, 1982. Nichols, Dorothy, "A unique labor of love, " Peninsula Times Tribune, March 11, 1982. Ratliff, William, "A distinctive choral ensemble, " Peninsula Times Tribune, June 8, 1982. "An unusual concert, " Pan Pipes of Sigma Alpha Iota, Summer 1982. Ratliff, William, "A Palo Alto-based tribute to music and the human spirit, " Peninsula Times Tribune, December 15, 1982. Brown, Joe, "Limelight, " The Washington Post, January 2, 1983. Singelstad, Nylene, "Surviving hell through the sound of music, " The Washington Times Magazine, January 13, 1983. "Faith and hope in music from prison camp " and "Prayer from Prison, " Palo Altan, April 30, 1983. Ratliff, William, "Survivors reunite for 'Song of Survival', " Peninsula Times Tribune, May 5, 1983. Stein, Ruthe, " The song of captive choir, " San Francisco Chronicle, May 11, 1983. Long, Barbara, "Tribute, " Accent Magazine, April/May, 1983. Emanuels, Roger, "Song of Survival, " The KUSP Review, KUSP public radio station, Santa Cruz County, California, December 1983/January 1984 . Ratliff, William, "The Bay Area's outstanding musical events of the year, " Peninsula Times Tribune, January 1, 1984. Ratliff, William, "Story of the 'Sumatra Bunch'; will be a documentary, " Peninsula Times Tribune, January 1, 1984. "Women's chorus set for high note, " San Jose Mercury News, March 14, 1984. Allen, Holly, "'Song of survival'-Chorus revives inspirations music of WW II camp, " Menlo-Atherton Recorder, April 3, 1984. "Song of Survival: music from a women's prison camp, " Pomona Today, Spring 1984. "Songs that mean hope, " Coventry Evening Telegraph, Coventry, England, July 10, 1984. Sherlock, Barbara, "Women's 'orchestra' voice of WWII prison camp, " Chicago Tribune, July 27, 1984. "Het zeer bijzondere kampkoor (The very special camp choir), " Haagsche Courant (The Hague Courant), Netherlands, January 26, 1985. Bauer, Bernard, "Song of life saved internees, " San Jose Mercury News, Spetember 18, 1985. Andrews, Michael, "Groot Mannenkoor Zwolle and the Peninsula Women's Chorus, " Peninsula Times Tribune, October 21, 1985. Smith, Karen, "Women's choruses effective, " Peninsula Times Tribune, February 24, 1986. Mecham, Merrilyn, "Experiencing San Antonio, " American Choral Directors Association Western Division Newsletter, April 7, 1987. Smith, Karen, "Peninsula Women's Chorus joins in a truly international effort, " Peninsula Times Tribune, April 22, 1987. Owen, Angela M., "International choruses give the spotlight, " Peninsula Times Tribune, May 2, 1987. Thompson, Tracie, "New songs, challenges, " Peninsula Times Tribune, December 1, 1987. Andrews, Michael, "Glorious sounds, " Peninsula Times Tribune, December 16, 1987. "
History: Founded in 1966 under the auspices of the Association of American University Women, the Peninsula Women's Chorus is now affiliated with Foothill College in Los Altos, California, and is the premier vocal ensemble for women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Under the direction of Dr. Patricia Hennings from 1975 until her untimely death in 2001, the PWC was led by Karen Robinson until the fall of 2003 when current artistic director, Mart??n Benvenuto, assumed the musical leadership of the chorus. Unusual repertoire The PWC's commitment to performing new and interesting music has produced many works that have expanded women's choral literature and has also prompted the chorus's involvement in projects beyond the scope of the normal concert season. From 1982 to 1987, the PWC was involved in performing unique "vocal orchestra " music from a World War II women's internment camp in Sumatra, resulting in a beautiful documentary film, Song of Survival. In 1995, the PWC and music director Patricia Hennings performed Puccini's opera, Suor Angelica, with Palo Alto's West Bay Opera company. In 2000, a Poetry and Music Project brought together local elementary schoolchildren with the California Poets in the Schools and three composers to produce nine new pieces based on poems written by the children. Collaborations For more than 30 years, the PWC has not only brought outstanding performances to local audiences through its own concerts, but it has also drawn visiting choirs (women's, men's, and mixed) from around the world for joint events. Tours to the British Isles, Eastern and Western Europe, British Columbia, and Newfoundland have extended the PWC's impact beyond the United States and enlarged the chorus members' appreciation and knowledge of the music of other cultures. Awards In 2006, the PWC was awarded third place in the B?©la Bart??k 22nd International Choir Competition and Folklore Festival, women's division. Twice the PWC has received the prestigious ASCAP award for adventurous programming, most recently in June 2003, reflecting the excitement of performing challenging contemporary music from around the world.
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