Bellevue Chamber Chorus: Finding Home – The Sense of Belonging
Free (registration required)
- Erika Pierson, cello
- Megan McElroy, piano
- Teddy Wiggins, violin
- Bob Rees, percussion
- Sophia Parker, soprano
Johannes Brahms — An die Heimat, Op. 64, No. 1
Ola Gjeilo — Roots
Ēriks Ešenvalds — Tikai Miegā ("Only In Sleep") (Sophia Parker, soprano)
Eric Whitacre — The Sacred Veil ("III. Home")
Wang Liping — Da Hai A Gu Xiang ("The Ocean is My Homeland") (arr. Yang Hong-Nian)
Craig Courtney — There Will I Be (Teddy Wiggins, violin, Erika Piersen, cello; Soloists: Jim Leininger, David Tummons, Karin Swenson-Moore, Kris Bryan)
Giselle Wyers — The Waking
Andrew Lloyd Webber — "Already Home" from The Wizard of Oz (arr. Jay Althouse; Bob Rees, percussion; Pratha Muthiah, soloist)
Joan Szymko — It Takes a Village (Bob Rees, percussion; Larry Richardson, tenor; additional solos: Tori Force, David Varner, Kristen Wright)
Srul Irving Glick — The Hour Has Come
Welcome to a musical and spiritual journey that takes a deeper look at what it means to “belong.” In search of “home” we examine our role in the larger global family (“It Takes a Whole Village”) and we take an intimate look at our identity as supported by those whom we love. After grappling with our frailty and fear of isolation, the concert closes with several pieces that challenge our sense of belonging by offering various ideas on how to live one’s life, re-envisioning “home” not as a place or a group of people, but rather “home” as a state of mind. Featuring works by Brahms, Whitacre, Esenvalds, Gjeilo, and Hagenberg, with violin, cello, and percussion. Everyone will find something to love in this concert!
COVID-19 Protocols: Following current mandates from King County & WA State public health officials, all performers on this concert are vaccinated, and all audience members at this performance must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry. Additionally, all audience members will be required to wear masks. Chair seating will be arranged to maintain social distancing; people who live together may group chairs accordingly.
About Bellevue Chamber Chorus
Bellevue Chamber Chorus, founded in 1984, performs a minimum of three major concerts each season, encompassing a variety of choral literature from the classical standards and contemporary works to world music, Broadway hits, and vocal jazz. The Chorus often joins other ensembles in performances of major choral/orchestral works, such as Mozart’s Vespers and Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Brahms’ Requiem, Rutter's Mass of the Children, and Ariel Ramirez' Misa por la Paz y la Justicia. The ensemble has premiered works by regional composers, including commissioned works for the Washington State Centennial Celebration, the grand opening of the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, a special 20th anniversary season commissioned piece, That Music Always Round Me, by Seattle composer, John Muehleisen, and co-commissions of pieces by Andre Thomas and Eric Whitacre. The Chorus has released three CDs, “Timeframes”, “Retrospective”, and our 2013 holiday CD, “Christmas Visions, Winter Dreams”. Bellevue Chamber Chorus tours often and has performed in Carnegie Hall, various locations in Europe, the International Music Festival (2000) in Sydney, Australia, and twice at the invitational Kathaumixw International Choral Festival in Powell River, British Columbia, where they won first place in 2008 in the adult mixed chorus category. Other performances include the Leavenworth International Choral Festival, the international “Rolling Requiem” in memory of September 11th, as one of the regional choruses in the NEA sponsored American Masterpieces Choral Festival in Seattle, and in Kelowna, B.C. as part of the Okanogan Choral Society Series. The Chorus toured the south of France in the summer of 2017 and participated in the 22nd International Choir Festival in Provence, and the 9th International Choir Festival in Aveyron. The Chorus has been selected as one of only six choirs to perform in a special GSCC event “Welcome Home Morten Lauridsen” in October 2019. Bellevue Chamber Chorus has active memberships in the Bellevue Downtown Association, Greater Seattle Choral Consortium (GSCC) and Chorus America. The Chorus is supported in part by the Bellevue Arts Commission and 4Culture.
http://bellevuechamberchorus.org/About Erika Pierson, cello
Erika Pierson, cellist, grew up in the Seattle area, beginning cello at age 7. Her cello studies have taken her to Bloomington, Indiana, Berlin, Germany, London, England and Ann Arbor, Michigan under teachers including Richard Aaron, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Markus Nyikos, Eileen Croxford and Erling Blöndal Bengtsson. Erika has performed as a soloist in England, Germany, Spain and the United States. Currently, she spends her time teaching, freelancing in local orchestras, performing in chamber concerts and raising two daughters, two large dogs and chickens with her husband in Kirkland, WA.
About Megan McElroy, piano
Megan McElroy is an active freelance pianist in the Seattle area. Ever since completing a Masters degree in Collaborative Piano at University of Colorado/Boulder, she enjoys collaborating with others, whether it's Suzuki violin music for little ones, or classical repertoire with other professional musicians in concert settings. She has served as accompanist at University of Washington and as a staff pianist at Seattle Pacific University, and performed at most of Seattle's major concert halls, including Benaroya Hall, Meany Hall, and live on Classical KING FM and King5 TV. She describes herself as one that "loves to say 'yes' to many projects," and the Bellevue Chamber Chorus is grateful she accepted our call for a guest pianist.
About Teddy Wiggins, violin
Teddy Wiggins, violinist, is an alumnus of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. He has performed with some of the world’s most celebrated ensembles, such as the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Grant Park Orchestra of Chicago, where he has played under the batons of Roberto Abbado, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Williams, and others. Mr. Wiggins is a founding member of The Annex Quartet, and he continues to be an in demand performer in view of his enthusiasm and talents for chamber music and community engagement.
http://www.willystreetchamberplayers.org/teddy-wiggins.htmlAbout Bob Rees, percussion
Bob Rees, percussionist, graduated from Eastern Washington University with degrees in Music Education and Percussion Performance and a Master’s degree in Music and Music Education from Anderson University. Originally from Spokane, Bob relocated to Seattle where he’s been an integral part of the area’s music community for more than twenty years. Bob is a Yamaha national soloist winner and a Jack Straw Artist Support grant recipient. Bob is an educator and elementary music specialist at Chestnut Hill Academy in Bellevue, WA.
About Sophia Parker, soprano
Sophia Parker, soprano, is currently studying voice at UW, and has performed in musical theatre and classical productions in the Puget Sound area. Recent roles include the “Sandman” from Hansel and Gretel in a scene showcase with Music On Site, as well as the witch in Into the Woods with Ballyhoo Theatre, a non-profit theatre company. She is grateful for the opportunity to sing this beautiful piece with a fantastic choir.