Chor Anno, 22 voice choral group directed by Howard Meharg, returns to St. Stephen's for concert September 18, 7:00 p.m.; St. Stephen's Celebration Concert Series sponsors the event
Chor Anno, the "annual choir," conducted by Howard Meharg, will sing a concert at St. Stephen's on Saturday evening, September 18th at 7:00 p.m. This is Chor Anno
's second season. Member of the group are choral professionals...primarily choral directors from schools and colleges in the northwest.
Meharg has programmed John Rutter's "Gloria" as the featured work. Rutter is a contemporary British composer whose compositions are widely performed...especially his settings of carols. "Gloria" is based on the second major part of the traditional mass, a setting in one form or another that is sung in Episcopal and Catholic churches around the globe. This version for multi-voiced choir and brass will feature seven brass players from the Oregon and Vancouver symphonies.
The concert will present a wide variety of choral literature including a set of songs by contemporary northwest composers that includes a piece called "Tyger, Tyger," by Chor Anno member, Reg Unterseher, based on the poem by William Blake.
Chor Anno also presents, for the first time for mixed voices, a work by Andrea Gabrieli (c. 1580) called "Deus, Deus Meus, Respice Mi Me," (My God, why have you forsaken me), a piece in ten parts lifted from manuscript by Matthew Oltman, musical director of the famous male ensemble, Chanticleer. The work has been recorded by Chanticleer, but may not have been sung by a mixed choir for some 400 years. Meharg contacted Oltman to see if the score was available. Oltman sent a copy and granted permission for its use.
The concert finale includes two spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan, "This Little Light of Mine," and "My Soul's Been Anchored In the Lord."
The St. Stephen's event is free. A freewill offering will presented to Community Home Health and Hospice.
Chor Anno will sing the same concert on Sunday, September 19, at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Vancouver, WA. Trinity Lutheran, Vancouver, is located at 309 W. 39th St., just off of Main Street on the north end of the old business district. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra sponsors this concert. Tickets may be purchased at the door at $12 - $15.
Family Finance Resource Center
A non-profit Regional Housing Counseling Agency offers to help educate and assist future and current homeowners by providing free counseling services specializing in foreclosure intervention and mortgage default counseling.
If you know someone facing possible foreclosure, please encourage them to contact this resource.
Family Finance Resource Center, 1312 Hemlock Street, 360-423-9197
Sue Lane is the coordinator for a ride sharing program now in effect for St. Stephen's parishioners.
Would you be willing to help transport someone to church services and events?
Would you like to share a ride?
Contact Sue at suzolds@comcast.net or by calling 360-261-0658.
Children's choir program adds to strength of music at St. Stephen's
One of our great strengths as a congregation is our fine music program. We are delighted to announce that Alison Askeland has joined our staff as choir director for children and youth.
The children's choir will meet each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Classroom #3 in the education wing. Help us spread the word about the wonderful opportunity for children to receive excellent instruction from an outstanding teacher and musician. The children's choir not only has one of the finest directors in the state, but will also benefit from the highest quality accompanists in Ann Long and Sharon Bolster.
Ann Long is well known at St. Stephen's for her superb musicianship and keyboard skills. She also works as an accompanist for choral groups in the Longview schools during the day.
Sharon Bolster, who will share accompaniment work with the children, teaches elementary music in the public schools of St. Helens, Oregon.
Alison Askeland was born in Montana and attended school there. She has a degree in music education and specializes in choral conducting. Alison teaches choral music at R. A. Long High School and has proven herself as one of the premier choral directors in the state. Her students love her and she works so well with all ages.
Again, we urge you to to tell others about this program. The children's choir is not limited to kids with parents who attend St. Stephen's. Those from the general community who wish to allow their kids to learn how to sing and to have a choral singing experience should be invited to bring their kids for the 9:45 a.m. rehearsal each Sunday. There is no charge. Some larger cities offer privately operated children's choirs, many with steep tuitions.
Howard Meharg, music director at St. Stephen's, says, "I know of a number of private children's choir programs with tuition running several hundred dollars per year. St. Stephen's is offering a program with top level leadership in Alison, Sharon, and Ann that should be attractive for parents...it's just a matter of getting the word out."