Voices of Musica Sacra Launches “Music Mentors” Program

Choral music participation and appreciation is a vital part of our heritage as Americans. Children in generations past had opportunities to learn and participate in vocal music through the public schools, once the source of “free” music lessons for all. However, as public school music budgets continue to be cut, these opportunities slip away. Our children grow up unacquainted with significant historical works such as The Battle Hymn of the Republic and are culturally impoverished as the result. First generation American students in particular lack familiarity with this country’s musical history, a deficit not made up for by the development of their own musical abilities through choral music instruction. With no traditional choral music exposure, these students do not pursue participation or attend performances offered by local groups such as Voices of Musica Sacra. This is a disturbing trend which Voices of Musica Sacra seeks to change through the implementation of its Music Mentors program. Voices of Musica Sacra is reaching out to students in local high schools, offering a chance to participate in classical instrumental and choral music through the personal experience of the concert venue. Through mentoring by Voices of Musica Sacra, we hope to inspire students to continue their musical lives beyond the high school level.

“Centenary Tribute to Jehan Alain” -- October 22 & 23, 2011 

As part of Voices of Musica Sacra‘s mission to collaborate and provide opportunities for young musicians, our Jehan Alain concerts included a string ensemble of high school musicians from the Oakland Youth Orchestra (where our music director, John Kendall Bailey is Associate Conductor). They performed chamber music works, and joined with our chorus to present the Messe Modale en Septuor (Modal Mass Septet). These talented young musicians were a vital part of the performance and added immensely to the overall scope of the concert.

“French Bon-Bons” -- May 5 & 6, 2012

Voices of Musica Sacra’s spring program of French music by Debussy, Ravel, Françaix, Villette, and others, will feature choral students from College Park High School in Pleasant Hill. Our Music Director will work closely with the students, presenting several in-class workshops prior to the performance in May, at which the CPHS choir will perform one selection on their own, and join with Voices of Musica Sacra to sing another piece.

“America’s Musical Roots” – November 17 & 18, 2012

In 2010, Voices of Musica Sacra began a biennial “Give Thanks” series of concerts which focus on American choral music. Our 2012 program will outline some of the indigenous American musical forms, and how they were incorporated into our own “classical” music, including Native American and African-American music, folk music from the Appalachian region, ballads and minstrelsy, and early American psalmody/hymnody and shape-note singing. We will collaborate with an East Bay high school chorus for these performances, providing a fascinating and informative look at a part of our past which is unknown to a large portion of our population. It is our hope that we will share this part of our country's legacy not just with audiences of adults, but also with students who are currently studying American history.

“Noye’s Fludde” -- February 2013 

Benjamin Britten wrote many works for young performers, but the culmination of this part of his career is his setting of the Chester Miracle play which tells the Bible story of Noah’s Flood. He designed the opera specifically to be performed by a combination of children and adults, providing an opportunity for members of the community to join together - regardless of age, sex, social/cultural background, income level, or even musical ability - to produce a heartwarming and inspired piece of musical drama. Voices of Musica Sacra plans to collaborate with singers and instrumentalists from local middle and high schools to give talented young musicians a chance to perform in an opera, in celebration of the centenary of one of the most famous and important 20th century composers.