Chorus Information

 

The Santa Cruz Chorale

Christian Grube, Conductor & Artistic Director

Information last updated: 2009-05-20
Status: Current

Basic Information

Description: A non-profit organization with a Board of Directors, a Music Director and Conductor, and an accompanist, the Santa Cruz Chorale is composed of 40 singers who live throughout the greater Santa Cruz area and include people of diverse ages, interests, and backgrounds. Although several singers are professional musicians and some direct musical groups of their own, all volunteer their time.
Web Address: http://www.santacruzchorale.org
Year Estab: 1983
Mission: The Chorale's goals are to perform a diverse choral repertoire to the highest possible standard, to make its music accessible to the broadest possible audience, and to enable member-singers to experience the delight and artistic growth inherent in such an experience.
Emphasis: The Chorale performs classical music from the 15th century through music of our time.
Size: 40
Concerts/Year: Three in the season series with various extra projects and holiday gigs.
Auditions: Audition at rehearsal site in September and January. Auditions include singing a prepared piece as well as reading skills. Willingness to improve musical skills.
Dues: $60 per concert set with three sets per year.
Dress: Men: tuxedo. Women: ankle length black dresses
Rehearsals: Monday, September - June, 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 900 High Street, Santa Cruz

Categories

Type of Music: Classical
Church/Sacred
Contemporary
Early Music
Christmas
Messiah
Type of Chorus: Mixed Adult
Singalong
Holiday
Rehearse City: Santa Cruz
Region: Santa Cruz County
Audition Req'd: Y

Chorus Contact Information

Mailing Address: Box 272, Santa Cruz, 95061
Phone: (831) 427-8023

Other Information

Discography:

Love and Joy Come to You: The Santa Cruz Chorale Carols at the Mission (Collection of 22 Christmas carols). Compact disk. November, 1998.
Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Compact disk. 1999.

History:

From the Chorale's website (5/20/09):

The Santa Cruz Chorale, a non-profit organization founded in 1983, performs a wide-ranging repertory including works from the 16th century through music of our time. It was founded and initially directed by Mary Lynn Place Badarak as a community based volunteer adult chorus, as it continues today.

In addition to her work as a Lecturer for the Department of Music at UC Santa Cruz, Ms. Badarak developed the chorus to the point where it was accepted to be part of a nation-wide chorus to sing the Mozart Requiem at Carnegie Hall as part of its Centenary Celebration in 1991. In addition, the Chorale has made two international tours: the first to Northern Italy and Croatia, and the second to Spain, both under the leadership of Paul Vorwerk.

Additional conductors during the chorus's evolution have included Murray Walker, the late Gene Lewis, Paul Vorwerk, and, most recently, Eduardo Mendelievich (2004-2006). The chorus is now led by Christian Grube and performs three full concerts per year from the choral repertoire, using the beautiful acoustics of the Sanctuary of Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz.

Over its existence the Chorale has been able to attract three of Santa Cruz' most able accompanists, Yalenda Listmann, Maria Ezerova, and currently Molly Deich, who will assist the Chorale into its 25th year.

Singers, who live throughout the greater Monterey Bay area, include graduate students, computer mavens, business people, politicians, pastors, attorneys, investigators, consultants, UCSC faculty and staff, high school and grade school teachers, physicians, engineers, and parents of small children. Although several members of the Chorale are professional musicians and some direct musical groups of their own, all volunteer their time, and most are amateurs in the original sense of that word: people who seriously pursue an art for the love of it.

Comments: The Chorale is supported by a grant from the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County.