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The Festival Chorale: Christmas Through the Ages
Sunday, December 3, 3:00 PM PST
$25
The Festival Chorale will present its first concert under the direction of Matthew Evans, including music by Praetorious, J.S. Bach, and Vaughan Williams, followed by a selection of carols, both familiar and unusual. After the concert we’ll celebrate the season and each other next door in Preston Hall, with hot cider and homemade Christmas cookies.
“Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” – Michael Praetorius
Jesu bleibet meine Freude – J.S. Bach
Gloria sei dir gesungen – J.S. Bach
“There is No Rose of Such Virtue” – John Joubert
“This Christmastide (Jessye’s Carol)” – Donald Fraser
Fantasia on Christmas Carols – Ralph Vaughan Williams
“Good King Wenceslas” – arranged by Reginald Jacques
Gaudete! – traditional
Riu, Riu, Chiu – Mateo Flecha the Elder
“The Boar’s Head Carol” – traditional
“Past Three O’Clock” – traditional
“Ding Dong Merrily on High” – arranged by Mack Wilberg
Matthew Evans, Director; Robin Knutson, piano
Festival Chorale members are:
- Soprano: Cynthia Frank, Robin Knutson, Katharine O’Shea, Laura Vague
- Alto: Cathy Boxell, Deborah Farmar, Evelyn Harris
- Tenor: Marius Constantin, Pamela Hudson
- Bass: James Blanton, Randy Knutson
The Mendocino Music Festival Chorale was formed in 2018 as an offshoot of the much larger Festival Chorus, whose members were invited to audition.
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.”
Invitation from Matthew Evans: “Are you a good singer looking for a group? Why not consider the Festival Chamber Chorale! We hope to double our numbers for the Spring 2024 season. Auditions will take place in early 2024. Do not worry; it is a simple process you will actually enjoy! And no memorization required for this group.” Contact .
We’re pleased to introduce Matthew Evans as the new *Director of the Mendocino Music Festival Chorale! (*Jenny Matteucci continues as Chorus Director.) A resident of Mendocino since 2020, Matthew holds BA and MA degrees in Vocal Performance from CSU East Bay (Hayward). Music Director at Good Shepherd Lutheran, Hayward, from 1995–2018, he was also a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for over twenty years, and was part of two Grammy Award-winning recordings: Johannes Brahms’ Requiem (1995) and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 (2010).