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Festival Chorale: An Afternoon of American Song
Celebrate the richness and resonance of American song in this uplifting spring concert featuring the 24-voice Mendocino Music Festival Chorale. In two performances, May 2 and 3, An Afternoon of American Song weaves together beloved folk melodies, spirituals, protest anthems, and lyrical art songs—from the timeless beauty of “Shenandoah” and “America the Beautiful” to the stirring calls for change in “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Along the way, audiences will be treated to moments of tenderness, joy, and reflection in works like “Peace I Leave With You,” “To Sit and Dream,” and “Sing Gently.” Rooted in a shared musical heritage and brought to life through vibrant choral harmony, this program offers something for every listener—an afternoon of music that speaks to the heart of the American experience in the present moment.
Festival Chorale members are:- Soprano: Claire Armstrong, Barbara Barkovich, Cynthia Frank, Rachel Lahn, Katharine O’Shea, Linda Perry, Kathleen Rzeplinski, Laura Vague
- Alto: Cathy Boxell, Marilou Brewer, Jo Britton, Ann Early, Deborah Farmar, Evelyn Harris, Bessy Krauss, Lisa Phillips
- Tenor: Kom Dixon, Jeff Grant, Pamela Hudson, John Miller, Ernest Witt
- Bass: James Blanton, Paul Friesen, Randy Knutson
Matthew Evans, Chorale Director; Robin Knutson, Collaborating Pianist
Saturday, May 2, 2026 and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
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The Mendocino Music Festival Chorale was formed in 2018 as an offshoot of the much larger Festival Chorus, whose members were invited to audition. The work has been ongoing, even throughout the pandemic, creating heart-warming and memorable concerts. If you’d like to support this excellent singing, please consider joining the Friends of the Chorale.
Festival Artistic Director Allan Pollack: “I’ve been touched by the dedication of the members of the Festival Chorus, and so have wanted to create an opportunity for people who are ready to take their choral singing to the next level.”