Chorus Information
San Francisco Girls Chorus
Susan McMane, Artistic Director
Information last updated: 2008-06-01
Status:
Archived
Basic Information
| Asst Conductor : | Elizabeth Avakian, Chorus School Director |
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| Description: | This is an amateur chorus, open to the general public. It includes four different groups: Concert and Touring Chorus: Chorissima (44 voices) reauditioned annually. Graduate Ensemble: Virtuose (14 voices) members are paid. Chorus School: (Elizabeth Avakian, Director). School includes four levels of increasing choral and vocal ability. Each one of these levels is based in San Francisco and Oakland, and each level has its own director and accompanist. Opera Arts Training Program: (Blanche Thebom, Director): Three week summer program for singers 12-17 interested in a career in opera, but too young for available programs. |
| Web Address: | http://www.sfgirlschorus.org |
| Year Estab: | 1978 |
| Mission: | The San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) is a performance and music education institution. It offers Bay Area girls 7-16 the opportunity to study and perform classical, contemporary, folk and musical theater and opera in a professional-level choral curriculum and program. The chorus consists of a Chorus School of four groups of ascending musical ability, each with its own director. This program provides trained singers for the concert and tour chorus, Chorissima, and for Virtuose, the 14-voice graduate ensemble. The SFGC's mission is to make excellent music using the compelling quality of the young female voice and to provide leadership in the emerging art form of girls choral music. |
| Emphasis: | Classical, contemporary, operatic, and fine folk choral music compositions or choral arrangements; special dedication to reviving and performing choral music composed specifically for girls' voices. |
| Size: | More than 325 members in six levels. |
| Concerts/Year: | 45 (includes 5 Chorissima Concert Season performan |
| Auditions: | Audition evaluates natural tone quality of voice and ability to match pitch and respond to simple musical direction. Auditions are held in San Francisco and Oakland in August, January, and May. |
| Dues: | $1050 per year. Tuition scholarships are availabl |
| Dress: | Chorus School: blouse and jumper. Chorissima: red skirt and jacket with vest or cummerbund and berets. (Rented to Members) |
| Rehearsals: | Tuesday; Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sacred Heart College Prep School, 1100 Ellis Street , San Francisco |
Categories
| Type of Music: | Classical Church/Sacred Contemporary Early Music Opera Musicals/Theater Popular Christmas |
Type of Chorus: | Girl's Teens Singalong Holiday |
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| Rehearse City: | San Francisco; Oakland | ||
| Region: | San Francisco | ||
| Audition Req'd: | Y | ||
Chorus Contact Information
| Mailing Address: | 44 Page St Suite 200, San Francisco, 94102-5986 |
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| Phone: | (415) 863-1752 |
| Fax: | (415) 934-0302 |
| Email: | info@sfgirlschorus.org |
Other Information
| Related Groups: | In addition to the four training program groups and the professional-level Chorissima, there is a fourteen member group called Virtuose. Members of Virtuose are selected from Chorissima graduates. |
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| Discography: | I Never Saw Another Butterfly. Children's poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, set to music by Charles Davidson. 1982. Phonorecord. Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas. Live recordings of 1985 production, an historical reproduction of the work, performed at Herbst Theater, San Francisco. 1985. Audiocassette. Phonorecord and audiocassette. Reviewed by Charles Shere, Oakland Tribune, December 13, 1987. Jubilate, including Radio Budapest live recordings from the 13th International Bela Bartok Choir Competition. July 1988. Mother Goose and the Other Nursery Songs. The San Francisco Girls Chorus was the featured perfomer on this Francine Lancaster Keepsake series recording. 1987. Carl Orff. Carmina Burana. The San Francisco Girls Chorus sang the children's part in the San Francisco Symphony's recording of this work. 1992. Chorissima has produced three records and appeared on recordings with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, and Kronos Quartet. I Never Saw Another Butterfly, by Charles Davidson, conducted by Sharon J. Paul. 1996. Compact Disc. A San Francisco Christmas, conducted by Sharon J. Paul. Compact Disc. 1996. |
| Bibliography: | Beach, Scott, "Girls Chorus has come a long way, " San Francisco Examiner, June 5, 1984. Shere, Charles, "Baroque opera 'Dido' by S.F. Girls Chorus is a remarkable presentation, " Oakland Tribune, Friday, March 22, 1985, p. B-5. Tucker, Marilyn, "S.F. Girls Chorus excels in 300-year-old opera, " San Francisco Chronicle, March 22, 1985. Livingstone, Janet, "Girls Chorus rouses audiences, " The Montclarion, May, 1985. Campbell, Gillian, "Choir with punch galore, " Gloucestershire newspaper reviewing performance at the Cheltenham International Festival of Music, 1985. Aguiar, William, review of San Francisco Opera production of 'Werther, " Hokubei Mainichi, October 25, 1985. Bernheimer, Martin, "Ho hum, another 'Tosca' by San Francisco Opera, " Times, October 31, 1985. Mentions San Francisco Girls Chorus member which was the offstage voice of the shepherd boy. "Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, " The Tribune Calendar, November 17, 1985. Livingstone, Janet, "Powerful paganism from Carl Orff, " The Montclarion, May 20, 1986. Livingstone, Janet, "A spring ceremony in song, " The Montclarion, June 24, 1986. Vogt, Barbara, "Taking note of Girls Chorus, " Foster City Progress, December 17, 1986. Tircuit, Heuwell, "Symphony's Hungarian spree, " San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 1987. Livingstone, Janet, "Lack of funds but soaring songs in '86, " The Montclarion, January 18, 1987. "Shank sings solo in chorus gala, " Foster City Progress, January 14, 1987. Mentions solo by San Francisco Girls Chorus alumna. Tircuit, Heuwell, "You can call it 'Baghdad, "San Francisco Chronicle Datebook, June 22, 1987. Bean, Joseph W., "S.F. Girls Chorus, " Golden Gate, May-June, 1987. Tucker, Marilyn, "A sure-footed opener by Berkeley Symphony, " San Francisco Chronicle, September 14, l987. Von Buchau, Stephanie, "Berkeley Symphony's adventurous program, " San Francisco Examiner, September 15, 1987. Performance included the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Bladen, Barbara, "SF Opera unveils new production of 'Tosca, " San Mateo Times, October 5, 1987, p. A11. Bladen, Barbara, "Director has high hopes for SF Girls Chorus, " San Mateo Times, October 9, 1987, p. B7. Regan, Kate, "Move over, boys, for a new angelic sound, "San Francisco Chronicle Datebook, November 8, 1987, p. 2. Bean, Joseph W., "Making 'miracles' with young voices, " San Francisco Progress, December 18, 1987. Shere, Charles, "S.F. Girls Chorus' hard work shows, " Oakland Tribune, December 24, 1987, p. B-7. "Live from San Francisco: it's 'West Coast Weekend, " San Francisco Chronicle: Image , January 3, 1988. Mentions San Francisco Girls Chorus singing anthem to Saint Cecilia. Hertelendy, Paul, Super girls; fabulous female singers are making boys' choirs rethink their work, " San Jose Mercury News, January 10, l988. Frank, Phil , "Farley " cartoon, San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1988, p. A12. |
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