Relive the amazing events of our 50th anniversary season, including the fall 2015 retrospective concert and our spring 2016 journey with Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.
Reports on the 50th Anniversary celebration:
BCCO War Requiem receives Best of the Bay award - BCCO’s commanding performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at UC Berkeley’s Hertz Hall last June earned a top spot in the 2015-16 Best of the Bay reader poll by San Francisco Classical Voice.
We Shall All Be Changed - 3 December 2003, dress rehearsal at St. Joseph’s: The evening light in the church is rose, mysterious and evocative. It is December, month of short dark days. These days, I have been darkly musing. Deficient in my accomplishments, strivings incomplete, relationship faltering. Worst, world-worry heavy around my shoulders. Sorrow. We are on the risers, standing […]
Livestream: of Benjamin Britten’ War Requiem - On Saturday, June 4, 2016, we streamed our performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, with Ming Luke conducting the orchestra and chorus; Eric Choate conducted the chamber orchestra and soloists, and Anne Hegge conducted the San Francisco Girls Chorus. The pre-concert talk was given by Marika Kuzma (you can also listen to the audio from […]
The War Requiem Post-it Project - In the lobby, at BCCO's spring 2016 performance of the War Requiem, people left messages on post-it notes as tributes.
how a war requiem demolished (and rebuilt) a cathedral - it’s almost midnight and even so there are people in the streets coming from parties or going to parties, a cheerful bustle typical of summer. i myself just came from a concert benjamin britten’s war requiem performed by local orchestra and chorus. there was artwork set up in the lobby ehren’s cups and a poem […]
Futility, by Wilfred Owen - Futility by Wilfred Owen Move him into the sun— Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown. Always it awoke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. Think how it wakes the seeds— Woke, once, the […]
The Legacy of Wilfred Owen: Poets on War and the Search for Peace - An evening of readings and art by Drew Cameron, Susan Griffin, Amber Hoy, Aaron Hughes, Martin Lesinski, Aimee Phan, Ted Sexauer, Ehren Tool, Julie Thi Underhill, and Nancy Sue Brink.
Singing the War Requiem: “on behalf of…” - Singing Britten’s War Requiem has me working harder than ever on my music. but also feeling more deeply about the power of music in transforming human experience.
Jon Bailey on Benjamin Britten and the War Requiem - Jon Bailey speaks on Britten and the War Requiem at a BCCO rehearsal, to help prepare for the upcoming performances.
“The Pity of War” Lecture Series: C.D. Blanton on Wilfred Owen and the “War Poets” - UC Berkeley professor of English C.D. Blanton discusses the poetry of the War Requiem and the importance of the WWI “War Poets” to modern poetry.
The Cost of War - The emotional cost of War lasts a lifetime, for the soldier and for his family. This story relates childhood memories of living with my stepfather, WWII Veteran.
Letter To My Father - My father was killed in WWII, 10 weeks after I was born. We never know each other. I treasure this one photo, of him as a young soldier.
Co-Facilitating the Writing Through War workshops - As co-facilitator of the Writing Through War workshops, I had the privilege of creating an opportunity to bring together veterans, family, friends, and community.
Eric Falci, on Wilfred Owen - Eric Falci, Professor of English at UC Berkeley, spoke to the chorus about Wilfred Owen, on Monday, March 21, 2016, as part of ongoing education about Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem and the Owen’s poetry, which Britten interspersed with the traditional Requiem text. 
Aaron Hughes, featured reader, Writing through War #4 - Aaron Hughes is an artist, activist/organizer, teacher, and Iraq War veteran, whose work seeks out poetics, connections, and moments of beauty, in order to construct new languages and meanings out of personal and collective traumas.
Martin Lesinski, featured reader for Writing through War #2 - Martin Lesinski's writings and photography are first-hand reports of shaping a life of healing. They articulate the experiences of veterans and offer families and non-veterans insights into not the blood and guts of war, but the difficulties veterans encounter navigating a world shaped by PTSD.
The Sockettes, World Premiere Performance - The World Premiere of the Sockettes at the 2016 Untalent Show, March 5, 2016, a BCCO retreat tradition. Costumes: Linda Morris, Direction: Pam Miller, un-talent: evenly distributed! note – it took a bit for the cameraman to realize that dead-center perspective was needed and reposition himself. So keep watching to get the better visuals.
Joe Lamb, featured reader, Writing through War workshop #1 - We recorded Joe Lamb's reading at the first of four "Writing through War" workshops, a community collaboration leading up to our performance of Britten's War Requiem. Why the War Requiem is an important work for me - Thoughts on the War Requiem as we begin rehearsing this fantastic work.
Spirit of BCCO: celebrating three generations of music for everyone - The Spirit of BCCO premiered at Fall 2015 concert celebrating the history of BCCO and its three music directors.
Concert Video: A Celebration of 50 Years of BCCO - Video of the January 16, 2016 concert celebrating our 50th anniversary.
Wish BCCO a Happy Birthday! - An online guest book for our 50th anniversary concerts! Wish BCCO a happy 50th birthday, and share your thoughts and memories about singing, the chorus, and the concert.
Ming Luke on 50th Anniversary Repertoire - Video recording of Ming talking to chorus at November 30 rehearsal about the 50th anniversary repertoire and how it reflects the history and spirit of BCCO.
Ceremony of Carols: photo report on the community sing - What a wonderful event and such beautiful music! It was the first time I’d sung or heard the Ceremony of Carols. The San Francisco Girls Chorus was also spectacular, singing Britten’s setting of the Psalm. I’ve posted some of the photos that Patti and I took in a slide show. If you have more, add […]
Kickoff Picnic for BCCO’s 50th Anniversary Year! - BCCO's 50th Anniversary Kickoff Picnic brought chorus members together for food and music under the redwoods. The event honored the late Connie Reyes, alto.
The “B” in BCCO: Berkeley - As we sang our response to the city's proclamation, we were tied to the "B" in BCCO, to our origins as the Berkeley Community chorus & Orchestra.
Berkeley City Council honors BCCO - BCCO was honored by the Berkeley City Council on October 27, 2015 — and responded by leading all in the chambers in Finlandia.
Memories - Singing with BCCO under Eugene Jones remained one of the highlights of my life, a memory with a glow about it that I yearned to get back to.
A year of special events for the 50th! - BCCO remains true to its traditions of free concerts and of welcoming singers of all levels and experience, with no auditions. We firmly believe, as we have for 50 years, that everyone should make music!
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