Collaborations are always challenging, and usually — in the end — immensely gratifying. Coming off the year of George Regas celebrations and the election of Ed Bacon as the new rector, the music staff decided that a combined adult and children's/youth choirs concert would be the perfect way to cap the year. It was glorious.
What a day that was! The culmination of a full program year of celebrations of the ministry of George Regas, and this final one packed with emotion in overdrive. I remember arriving that morning and the weather was drizzling. "Oh, great! This is just perfect!" I whined. In the end, it was all a grand celebration, and I was excited that Canterbury and Coventry choir premiered my setting of the prayer that George used each week to open his sermon, "Help Us, O God." Anne Peterson and I forged a special bond that year, not only because of the ending of George's tenure as rector, but also because both of us were going through divorces at the time. It was all a little (actually a lot) too much to handle. Anne and I had our picture taken together after the service, and though still smiling, we both look totally beat. Transitions.
They’re moved. They’re entertained. Their understanding is expanded.
James Walker’s handling of the instrument is incredibly powerful. His performance is breath-taking, but there’s more…
Walker’s rapport with the audience is established from the beginning through his entertaining and informal story-telling interspersed throughout the program. >
Concerts in Petaluma and at Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Morning Eucharist at Stanford Memorial Church, and Evensong at Grace Cathedral.
This was a really fun concert, and I'll always remember that it was my public singing debut as a baritone. I was studying voice with Barbara Dyer, my music department colleague at Occidental College. We worked really hard, and I held my own with these four fantastic singers — especially on the Finale!
I remember this concert vividly — from the first conversation that Ed Cansino and I had about the possibility of premiering his cantata (with text by e. e. cummings). It was a huge project for Coventry Choir. Reading the manuscript, in and of itself, was a challenge.
