This month in From The Podium:
- Lights, Camera, Action! Ensembles Concert at UNION SQUARE!
- CD of the Month
- CA Freedom Tour - the first leg in review
- RockAria! gets underway at retreat
- Annual chorus awards presented by board of directors
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Ensembles Concert at UNION SQUARE, Saturday, March 6 - 4pm & 8 pm, Marines' Memorial Theatre - The Lollipop Guild & Vocal Minority, with special guest JAN WAHL
Kicking off our 32nd Season, and joined by movie reviewer Jan Wahl, SFGMC's feature ensembles - The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority - will entertain with hit songs made famous in the movies. The program ranges from the Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever to light-hearted favorites from Disney movies. I have to say I've never heard our two ensembles sound better. Under the direction of Paul Saccone and Carl Pantle, their respective of ensembles are truly a showcase for SFGMC. The two groups will perform one their own and also combined, with almost 50 men onstage. They will be supported by a 3-piece band, including myself on bass. We are also thrilled to be partnering with the Academy of Friends, which will benefit from concert proceeds.One of the most exciting this about this concert is the location in UNION SQUARE!
NEW VENUE: I have already fallen in love with the Marines' Memorial Theatre, the venue for this season's ensembles concert. For the first time ever, SFGMC will perform at Union Square's Theatre District. The staff at the Theatre has been extremely welcoming. This is a fully professional theatre with an historic lobby adorned with movie star posters - the perfect setting for Lights, Camera, Action!
GETTING THERE: The theatre is located at 609 Sutter Street at Mason Street.
There are several reasonably priced parking lots within a block of the Theatre, and the Sutter-Stockton Parking Garage is also close by if you want to walk a few minutes and pay even less for parking. And of course public transportation is always an option!
DINING/COCKTAILS: We have timed our two performances so that you can dine out or enjoy a cocktail after the 4 pm performance or before the 8 pm performance. The Marines' Memorial Club has a bar and restaurant right upstairs: Leatherneck Steakhouse & Lounge. I ate there recently and enjoyed not only a wonderful (and reasonably priced) meal, but a great view of the city!
To view a menu, go to: http://www.marineclub.com/images/pages/LSHmenu_AUG2009.pdf
The service was excellent in this classic, refurbished historic building. Happy Hour is 4 - 6 pm daily. To make reservations at the Leatherneck Steakhouse, call (415) 673-6672 ext. 254.
CD OF THE MONTH - COWBOYS, BOAS & BEARS, OH MY!
Featuring our two fabulous ensembles, The Lollipop Guild and Vocal Minority, this CD is an energetic journey of classic and contemporary country and Western favorites. Yep, we got both kinds o' music here!In November, 2005, SFGMC's ensembles presented a remarkable concert of boot-scootin' cowboy music. Not only was it the first time the Chorus had included a concert of ensembles as part of its season, the event at the ODC Theater was an enormous success and audiences begged for a recording. Their wish came true!
The music on this CD includes selections from that concert, along with some special additions. “Truck Drivin' Man” was part of the ensembles’ repertoire on tour to Washington DC in May, 2006, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC (which formed as a result of SFGMC's 1981 National Tour). "Louisiana" was performed by an expanded group including three ensembles–with the Chorus's newest ensemble, del Castro, and soloist Asa DeMatteo – in December 2005 as homage to those who suffered in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing devastating floods of September, 2005.
One of my personal favorites on the CD is the Dixie Chicks' "Cowboy, Take Me Away," arranged by SFGMC's own Tony McIntosh, and including violinist Anne Nesbet (concert master of the Community Women's Orchestra). Another is "The Ballad of Mrs. Nash" from SFGMC's 1996 commission, NakedMan, by Robert Seeley and Philip Littel.
The men of the ensembles – including singers, conductors and pianists – are all members of SFGMC and rehearse year-round with their respective ensembles as well as with the larger Chorus. This CD is a tribute not only to the "Cowboys" concert, but also to the men of the ensembles who give so much of their time and talent.
Track List:
- Cowboy Take Me Away
- That Good Old Country Music
- Country Music!
- San Antonio Rose
- Are You Lonesome Tonight?
- I Can't Stop Loving You
- Rocky Top
- Truck Drivin' Man
- Ghost Riders In The Sky
- Home On The Range
- Lyin' Eyes
- 1878 - The Ballad of Mrs. Nash
- Forever and Ever Amen
- Dedication
- Louisiana 1927
CA FREEDOM TOUR - IN REVIEW
The first leg of our CA Freedom Tour took us to Redding on Saturday, January 30, and Chico on Sunday, January 31. 100 men of the chorus traveled in two buses - along with members of the press - and were received by sold-out houses and standing ovations. The tour exceeded our wildest dreams! In Redding and in Chico, the members mixed with audience after each performance (the pic of me to the right was taken at the reception in Redding with an audience member), and heard heart-warming story after story from the lives of those who were so deeply affected by our concert.
Below are two links where you can experience part of the tour. The first includes video footage from a performance and some behind-the-scenes images. The second is a link to the San Francisco Chronicle's front page article about the tour (published February 1, 2010).
http://www.norcalpride.org/
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/01/MND31BQG14.DTL
We are grateful to everyone who participated in the Tour, and also to those who made it possible through their generous donations. There will be additional costs to defray in the coming months for subsequent legs of the Tour, and also the CD we're producing, so please contact our office or our Donations page online if you would like to make a contribution.
ROCKARIA! GETS UNDERWAY AT RETREAT
February 5 - 7, members of SFGMC attended a rehearsal retreat at Camp Newman, north of Santa Rosa. We rehearsed music for our spring concert, RockAria! The program includes rock music from the '70s through to the present, including a Rockin' Sing-Along that opens with the KISS classic "Rock And Roll All Nite" and ends with Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." A stunning a cappella Michael Jackson medley has the chorus in as many as 12 different vocal parts, and Beyonce's Grammy Award winning "Single Ladies" promises to be a big hit (complete with choreography, of course). RockAria! will be presented at Davies Symphony Hall on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Tickets for the whole 32nd Season are now on sale.
ANNUAL CHORUS AWARDS PRESENTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SFGMC's annual meeting was held on Monday, February 8. Two awards were presented:
The tenth annual John B. McLeod Leadership Award was presented to Thom Vindiola (pictured left, with president Michael Tate). Thom is one of those "behind the scenes" volunteers whose work is essential but is largely invisible to the public. Thom joined as a singing member in September, 1999. A few years later he stepped down as a singing member, and has continued to serve on our Production Committee ever since. In particular, he has served regularly as our Stage Manager, bringing his expertise from his “other” life as a Color Guard Director and Designer. He has also contributed countless bolts of fabric, sewed costumes, helped with choreography... the list goes on and on. When receiving the award, Thom said that the chorus literally saved his life. We are indeed grateful to Thom for his many years of service to SFGMC.
The award is named after former SFGMC member and long-time president, John B. McLeod, and is given to a volunteer who has made outstanding leadership contributions to the organization. Past recipients of the John B. McLeod Leadership Award:
The first leg of our CA Freedom Tour took us to Redding on Saturday, January 30, and Chico on Sunday, January 31. 100 men of the chorus traveled in two buses - along with members of the press - and were received by sold-out houses and standing ovations. The tour exceeded our wildest dreams! In Redding and in Chico, the members mixed with audience after each performance (the pic of me to the right was taken at the reception in Redding with an audience member), and heard heart-warming story after story from the lives of those who were so deeply affected by our concert.Below are two links where you can experience part of the tour. The first includes video footage from a performance and some behind-the-scenes images. The second is a link to the San Francisco Chronicle's front page article about the tour (published February 1, 2010).
http://www.norcalpride.org/
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/01/MND31BQG14.DTL
We are grateful to everyone who participated in the Tour, and also to those who made it possible through their generous donations. There will be additional costs to defray in the coming months for subsequent legs of the Tour, and also the CD we're producing, so please contact our office or our Donations page online if you would like to make a contribution.
ROCKARIA! GETS UNDERWAY AT RETREAT
February 5 - 7, members of SFGMC attended a rehearsal retreat at Camp Newman, north of Santa Rosa. We rehearsed music for our spring concert, RockAria! The program includes rock music from the '70s through to the present, including a Rockin' Sing-Along that opens with the KISS classic "Rock And Roll All Nite" and ends with Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." A stunning a cappella Michael Jackson medley has the chorus in as many as 12 different vocal parts, and Beyonce's Grammy Award winning "Single Ladies" promises to be a big hit (complete with choreography, of course). RockAria! will be presented at Davies Symphony Hall on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Tickets for the whole 32nd Season are now on sale.
ANNUAL CHORUS AWARDS PRESENTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SFGMC's annual meeting was held on Monday, February 8. Two awards were presented:
The tenth annual John B. McLeod Leadership Award was presented to Thom Vindiola (pictured left, with president Michael Tate). Thom is one of those "behind the scenes" volunteers whose work is essential but is largely invisible to the public. Thom joined as a singing member in September, 1999. A few years later he stepped down as a singing member, and has continued to serve on our Production Committee ever since. In particular, he has served regularly as our Stage Manager, bringing his expertise from his “other” life as a Color Guard Director and Designer. He has also contributed countless bolts of fabric, sewed costumes, helped with choreography... the list goes on and on. When receiving the award, Thom said that the chorus literally saved his life. We are indeed grateful to Thom for his many years of service to SFGMC.The award is named after former SFGMC member and long-time president, John B. McLeod, and is given to a volunteer who has made outstanding leadership contributions to the organization. Past recipients of the John B. McLeod Leadership Award:
- 2000: Gary Richards
- 2001: Roy Jenkins
- 2002: Brian Armbrust
- 2003: Bud Dillon
- 2004: Edward John Munoz
- 2005: Steve Valdez
- 2006: Kevin Jones & Kevin Koerner
- 2007: Jim Haungs
- 2008: Tom Burtch
- 2009: Thom Vindiola
Inaugural JON REED SIMS AWARD for Outstanding Artistic Contribution
This award, named after SFGMC founder Jon Reed Sims, was awarded to Paul Saccone (pictured left). As music director of The Lollipop Guild, Paul has taken the group to new heights musically and in representing SFGMC admirably in new and varied milieu. TLG has grown significantly in size and in stature, serving as a showcase for our organization. Paul conducted The Lollipop Guild on two ensemble CDs: Cowboys, Boas and Bears, Oh My! and A Few Licks, and also on other CDs with the full chorus. He has toured with TLG to GALA Choruses Festivals in Montreal and Miami. He led The Lollipop Guild on tour to Various Voices in London, marking SFGMC's European debut in May, 2009.
As assistant conductor, Paul has taken on additional responsibilities, such as directing all three performances of the full chorus on December 24, 2008, during my sabbatical. He has also composed numerous music arrangements for TLG and for the full chorus, also as a volunteer. He has given of his time and talent generously and to great effect. He is a most worthy recipient of this inaugural award.
This award, named after SFGMC founder Jon Reed Sims, was awarded to Paul Saccone (pictured left). As music director of The Lollipop Guild, Paul has taken the group to new heights musically and in representing SFGMC admirably in new and varied milieu. TLG has grown significantly in size and in stature, serving as a showcase for our organization. Paul conducted The Lollipop Guild on two ensemble CDs: Cowboys, Boas and Bears, Oh My! and A Few Licks, and also on other CDs with the full chorus. He has toured with TLG to GALA Choruses Festivals in Montreal and Miami. He led The Lollipop Guild on tour to Various Voices in London, marking SFGMC's European debut in May, 2009.As assistant conductor, Paul has taken on additional responsibilities, such as directing all three performances of the full chorus on December 24, 2008, during my sabbatical. He has also composed numerous music arrangements for TLG and for the full chorus, also as a volunteer. He has given of his time and talent generously and to great effect. He is a most worthy recipient of this inaugural award.
0 comments:
Post a Comment