2009/10 SEASON PRESS RELEASE
Sacramento’s Premier Women’s Vocal Ensemble,
Vox Musica, Launches Its Fourth Season.
Sacramento, September, 2009—Vox Musica, the acclaimed, 12-woman vocal ensemble, announces the launch of its fourth musical season with performances in Sacramento. The new subscription season will focus on contemporary works, including an adventurous concert set which will include Taiko Drums. The opening concert of our fourth season beginning in October, ECLIPSE: Songs of Death, Loss, Life & Hope, will include the premier of composer in-residence, Benny Martinson’s Nitlayocoya and will be accompanied by the Vox String Quartet. The second concert, BIRTH: A Vox Christmas, in December, will once again blend the old with the new. It will feature the US premiere of Bruma by European composer Andrew Smith and a west-coast premiere of Chester Carol by New Zealand born composer, Katherine Dienes. The third concert, THUNDER: Music for Taiko Drums and Women’s Choir will honor the rhythm, spirit and music from Japan, and will feature local Taiko Drummers. To complete the season in June, Vox Musica performs BLOOM: A Recital of Voices. A concert wherein selected members of the ensemble will perform as soloists, singing traditional and contemporary arias and art-songs. See attached calendar listing for full date and venue details.
“Vox Musica’s dedication to new music has been a hallmark of our activities since our inception,” notes Founder/Music Director Daniel Paulson. “The continued vitality of the choral repertoire demands that we support and present the work of a diverse selection of living composers.” The ensemble will perform over 7 concerts across the greater Sacramento area between October 2009 and June 2010.
CONCERT ONE – ECLIPSE: Songs of Death, Loss, Life, & Hope
Vox Musica opens their fourth season on October 3rd and 4th with ECLIPSE: Songs of Death, Loss, Life & Hope a program of extraordinary music written for women’s voices and string quartet. This dynamic concert is an exploration of new choral music by five contemporary composers based on the themes of death, loss, life and hope. The performances of ECLIPSE will take place in Sacramento at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 17th and L Streets. ECLIPSE features the world premier of an aztec influence piece, Nitlayocoya, written by Vox Musica’s composer-in-residence Benny Martinson. Nitlayocoya a work specifically written for our ensemble is a haunting composition that juxtaposes two ancient Aztec poems. Famed British composer John Tavener contributes to our performance with his rare and intensely mesmerizing composition, The World, a setting of verses by Kathleen Raine, the poet and distinguished scholar of Blake and Yeats. Completing our concert is a regional premiere of a multi-movement work Anne Frank: A living Voice by Linda Tutas Haugen. Haugen has crafted a dynamic and awe-inspiring, seven movement setting of excerpts from Anne Frank’ss diary. ECLIPSE opens Vox Musica’s fourth concert season with performances on October 3rd, 2009 – 7:00 pm (6:15 pre-concert talk) and October 4th, 2009 – 5:00 pm both at St. John’s Lutheran Church (1701 L Street, Sacramento, Ca).
LEARN & HEAR: Join us before the concert on Saturday, October 3rd at 6:15 pm for our “Learn & Hear” pre-concert talk which will focus on the musical elements unveiled in our music including a unique meet-the-composer session with two of our featured composers. LEARN & HEAR: Learn about the music then hear it in the concert.
CONCERT TWO – BIRTH: A Vox Christmas
Quickly becoming a beloved Sacramento seasonal tradition, BIRTH: A Vox Christmas once again returns with two performances in our region. From the simplicity of a Gregorian chant to the complexity of a Renaissance motet, Vox Musica celebrates the true mystery and wonder of Christmas with a dynamic program that includes contemporary carols and holiday works written and arranged specifically for the voices of Vox Musica. Featured on this program will be the US premiere of a newly composed piece by european composer Andrew Smith, Bruma, a work that pairs women’s voices with improvisational trumpet. New Zealand born composer, Katherine Dienes and local composer Donna Helmich add to this performance with premieres of two new carols. BIRTH: A Vox Christmas will be performed on December 5th, 2009 – 7:00 pm (6:15 pre-concert talk) and December 6th, 2009 – 5:00 pm both at St. John’s Lutheran Church (1701 L Street, Sacramento, Ca).
LEARN & HEAR: Join us before the concert on Saturday, December 5th at 6:15 pm for our “Learn & Hear” pre-concert talk which will be focused on the history of carols and will include a meet-the-composer session with two of our featured composers. LEARN & HEAR: Learn about the music then hear it in the concert.
CONCERT THREE – THUNDER: Music for Taiko Drums and Women’s Voices
Vox Musica has a tradition of presenting inventive & adventurous concerts to celebrate the yearly anniversary of its inception. Keeping with that tradition, Vox Musica will perform THUNDER: Music for Taiko Drums and Women’s Voices, a concert of music inspired by the rhythm, spirit and music from Japan. THUNDER will truly be an exuberantly dynamic performance that will infuse the voices of Vox Musica with the thunderous playing of Taiko Drums. This adventurous performance will take place on March 27th, 2010 – 7:00 pm (6:15 pre-concert talk) and March 28th, 2010 – 5:00 pm both at St. John’s Lutheran Church (1701 L Street, Sacramento, Ca).
LEARN & HEAR: Join us before the concert on Saturday, March 27th at 6:15 pm for our pre-concert talk which will focus on the music of Japan and will include a special taiko drumming demonstration and discussion. LEARN & HEAR: Learn about the music then hear it in the concert.
CONCERT FOUR – BLOOM: A Recital of Voices
Completing it’s season, Vox Musica performs BLOOM: A Recital of Voices. The members of Vox Musica include some of Sacramento’s most virtuosic, colorful, and dynamic vocalists. They are graduates of music programs at fine colleges and universities and are professional musicians and teachers throughout the Sacramento area. This performance will highlight their individual talents and provide our patrons a rare opportunity to hear selected members perform as soloists, singing Romantic Arias, Baroque duets, German art-songs, Jazz standards, as well as, Folk and Bluegrass pieces. Members of Vox Musica will be accompanied by, classical pianist, Steven Johnson, jazz pianist, Reggie Graham. BLOOM will only be performed on one night in Sacramento on June 5th, 2010 – 7:00 pm (6:15 pre-concert talk) at St. John’s Lutheran Church (1701 L Street, Sacramento, CA).
LEARN & HEAR: Join us before the concert on Saturday, June 5th at 6:15 pm for our pre-concert talk which will focus on the skills and techniques singers use in order to perform in an ensemble verses as a soloist and will include a meet and greet with the ladies of Vox. LEARN & HEAR: Learn about the music then hear it in the concert.
Vox Outreach Programs
While public performances are an important part of Vox Musica’s annual activities, so is our outreach to the community. Along with our 2009/10 season Vox Musica features an enriching educational outreach program that fosters an appreciation and understanding of music, increases exposure to the choral arts, and creates partnerships with High School & University music programs. One highlight of this program is a series of in-school lectures and master classes where members of Vox Musica will work with choirs in our community to help them improve their musical understanding and performance. Another facet of our outreach activities is a resident choral scholar program in which a performer from Vox Musica will hold a residency in a local school’s music program with the goal of enriching that program or mounting a specific musical project with students. In addition to these in-person activities, the group also offers a printed newsletter for high school students that will address important issues in music history and ethnomusicology, and will include interviews with living composers. And finally, Vox Musica will serve as a resource to music students, teachers, and choral directors by providing access to hard-to-find sheet music, particularly music composed for women’s choirs. Included in our Educational Outreach this season is our LEARN&HEAR lecture series. Patrons are provided the unique opportunity to come early to our performance and listen to engaging lectures, discussion, and demonstrations on the music that is to be performed with our Music Director, Guest Composers, and Musicians. It often includes a time to meet-and-greet our guests and performers before the concert. LEARN&HEAR: Learn about the music then hear it in the concert.
Recordings
Vox Musica’s first compact disc, Christmas Colours, which was released in 2007, will again be available at our performances this upcoming season.
Season Passes
Season Passes are available for our 2009/10 season. Passes are good for our performances in Sacramento, and can be used for both Saturday and Sunday performances of any particular concert. Season Passes are $48.00, a 20% discount off of the full price for four concerts. Single ticket prices are $15 for general admission seating. Season Passes are now available and can be purchased on our website, via phone, or through e-mail, and single tickets go on sale one month prior to each performance. To request a brochure, call 916.471.0507 or email Info<at>VoxMusica.net. For group sales of ten or more, contact our Concert Manager, Sojourner Zink at 916.471.0507 or e-mail at Tickets<at>VoxMusica.net.
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CONTACT: Donna Helmich-Agnello, PR Liaison, 916.508.0416; PR<at>VoxMusica.net
CALENDAR LISTING
Vox Musica 2009/10 FOURTH SEASON
CLASSICAL MUSIC SEASON
Vox Musica, the 12-member women’s vocal group, which has been hailed by the Sacramento Bee as an ensemble with “intense color,” a “delicate touch,” and “incandescent performance[s],” will perform a four-concert, 7-performance season across the greater Sacramento area. Their fourth concert season will highlight the LEARN&HEAR lecture series and will once again be saturated with dynamic adventurous contemporary music.
TICKETS
Season Passes are available for our 2009/10 season. Passes are good for our performances in Sacramento, and can be used for both Saturday and Sunday performances of any particular concert. Season Passes are $48.00, a 20% discount off of the full price for four concerts. Single ticket prices are $15 for general admission seating. Season Passes are now available and can be purchased on our website, via phone, or through e-mail, and single tickets go on sale one month prior to each performance. To request a brochure, call 916.471.0507 or email Info<at>VoxMusica.net. For group sales of ten or more, contact our Concert Manager, Sojourner Zink at 916.471.0507 or e-mail at Tickets<at>VoxMusica.net.
ECLIPSE: Songs of Death, Loss, Life & Hope
This dynamic concert is an exploration of new choral music by five contemporary composers based on the themes of death, loss, life and hope. This concert features the world premier of an aztec influence piece, Nitlayocoya, written by Vox Musica’s composer-in-residence Benny Martinson, several John Tavener works and a dynamic and awe-inspiring, seven movement setting of excerpts from Anne Franks diary.
Sacramento
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street; Sacramento, CA 95811
Saturday, October 3, 2009 • 7pm (6:15 pre-concert talk)
Sunday, October 4, 2009 • 5pm
BIRTH: A Vox Christmas
Quickly becoming a beloved Sacramento tradition, A Vox Christmas returns with two performances in our region. From the simplicity of a Gregorian chant to the complexity of a Renaissance motet, Vox Musica celebrates the true mystery and wonder of Christmas with a dynamic program that includes contemporary carols and holiday works written and arranged specifically for the voices of Vox Musica.
Sacramento
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street; Sacramento, CA 95811
Saturday, December 5, 2009 • 7pm (6:15 pre-concert talk)
Sunday, December 6, 2009 • 5pm
THUNDER: Music for Taiko Drums and Women’s Voices
Vox Musica has a tradition of presenting inventive & adventurous concerts to celebrate the yearly anniversary of its inception. Keeping with that tradition, Vox Musica will perform THUNDER: Music for Taiko Drums and Women’s Voices, a concert of music inspired by the rhythm, spirit and music from Japan. THUNDER will truly be an exuberantly dynamic performance that will infuse the voices of Vox Musica with the thunderous playing of Taiko Drums.
Sacramento
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street; Sacramento, CA 95811
Saturday, March 27, 2010 • 7pm (6:15 pre-concert talk)
Sunday, March 28, 2010 • 5pm
BLOOM: A Recital of Voices
Vox Musica reaches yet another creative milestone with the addition of a fourth concert entitled BLOOM: A Recital of Voices. This performance will highlight selected members of Vox Musica by showcasing their talents and will provide our patrons with a rare opportunity to hear them perform as soloists, singing Romantic Arias, Baroque duets, German art-songs, Jazz standards, as well as, Folk and Bluegrass pieces.
Sacramento
St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1701 L Street; Sacramento, CA 95811
Saturday, June 5, 2010 • 7pm (6:15 pre-concert talk)
CONTACT: Donna Helmich-Agnello, PR Liaison, 916.508.0416; PR<at>VoxMusica.net
EDITORS: Digital photos available upon request or are ready for download at http://www.voxmusica.net under the [News] heading and then click on [Press Kit]
CONTACT: Donna Helmich-Agnello, PR Liaison, 916.508.0416; PR<at>VoxMusica.net to schedule interviews.
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