BCCO StoryChorus

Community Storytelling for the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra

  • Events
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Ideas & Inquiries
    • Privacy
    • Terms of Use
  • Community
    • Audience
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Chamber Singers
    • Collaborations
    • Humor
    • Orchestra
    • Singers
    • Women’s Chorus
  • History
    • Seasons
    • Retreats
    • Tours
  • Music Staff
    • Ming’s Musings
    • Music Directors
      • Ming Luke
      • Arlene Sagan
      • Eugene Jones
    • Accompanists
    • Composers
    • Conductor Mentoring
    • Guest Conductors
    • Soloists
  • Media Gallery
    • Videos
    • Photography
    • StoryCorps

Music Staff

 

Stories about our music staff and associates:

Julia Morris, Assistant Conductor- Julia Morris is our always smiling, energetic new assistant conductor, who joined our Conductor Mentoring Program in fall of 2018.
Eric Choate conducts Verdi's Requiem in Ypres. Photo by Bill Hocker. Learning Dvorak’s Stabat Mater- Some reflections on my first encounter with the Stabat Matar with BCCO this semester.
Ming Luke at Hertz Hall. Photo by Bill Hocker On Dvorák and the Stabat Mater- Reflections on learning Dvorak's Stabat Mater, and how it relates to other Dvorak symphonic choral works.
Jason Sherbundy, BCCO accompanist. Photo by Nancy Brink Jason Sherbundy, Portrait of our Accompanist- A portrait of our accompanist, Jason Sherbundy
Eric Choate conducts Verdi's Requiem in Ypres. Photo by Bill Hocker. Three Years of BCCO: reflections from Eric Choate- Eric Choate reflects on three years as Assistant Conductor for BCCO, as he begins his final season with the chorus.
Ming Luke at rehearsal in Brugges. Photo by Bill Hocker Community, brain science, and the power of music- Some reflections on the ways music benefits us and brings us together in challenging times.
Ming Luke prepares BCCO for performance. Photo by Bill Hocker. Two Requiems — singing in the new year with Cherubini and Mozart- Reflections on our two works for this week's concert: Mozart's Requiem and Cherubini's Requiem in C minor.
Brian Thorsett and Efraín Solís rehearse for the War Requiem War Requiem soloists: an interview with Brian Thorsett, Carrie Hennessey, and Efraín Solís- Carrie Hennessey, Brian Thorsett, and Efraín Solís discuss singing the solos in Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, at BCCO's June 2016 performances.
BCCO conductor Ming Luke rehearses before a performance. Photo by Bill Hocker. Preparing to conduct Britten’s War Requiem- Performances are just a week away; some reflections on conducting Britten’s masterwork.  
Brian Thorsett, Efraín Solís, and Carrie Hennessey, soloists for BCCO performance of Britten's War Requiem Our Soloists for Britten’s War Requiem- About our soloists: Carrie Hennessey, Brian Thorsett, and Efraín Solis.
Poster for BCCO performance of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, by Kris Kargo The Power of Music in our Human Experience- As we’ve talked about, Britten’s War Requiem is difficult music, and not just because of the notes, but also the subject.
Collin Whitfield leads a singalong at BCCO retreat. Singing Collin’s Praise- As BCCO members we have witnessed Collin’s extraordinary accompanist abilities. Recently, a small group of us enjoyed a wonderful concert at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music showcasing his talents as a composer and conductor. All the music he created, using texts of Pablo Neruda, e.e.cummings, Emily Dickinson and Christina Rossetti, was beautiful and showed […]
San Francisco Girls Chorus. Photo by Kristin Vorhies Collaborating with the San Francisco Girls Chorus- Why a girl's chorus instead of the traditional boy's choir for Britten's Requiem? Here are some thoughts.
Farewell to Collin, an extraordinary musician- A farewell to Collin Whitfied, our extraordinary accompanist, as he heads off to the next phase of his life.
Ming Luke at Hertz Hall. Photo by Bill Hocker Libera Me, my favorite part of Britten’s War Requiem- Reflections on the Libera Me, the final movement, which we have been rehearsing very hard in the past couple of weeks.
Arlene Sagan conducting at St. Joseph the Worker Church Arlene Sagan on teaching Tritones- Benjamin Britten's War Requiem is not the first piece that has challenged us with tritones!
Ming Luke at Hertz Hall. Photo by Bill Hocker The Voice Jury- A tale from my student days.
Ming Luke at Hertz Hall. Photo by Bill Hocker The Power of a Musical Ensemble- Realizing the power of a musical ensemble during a tour, while at Westminster Choir College, led me to want to explore being a conductor.
Poster for BCCO Performance of Dvorak Requiem in Prague Musical Magic working with BCCO- There have been many magical music moments in working with BCCO but these two stand out for me: St. John Passion in the Berkeley Community Theater and Dvorak's Requiem in Prague.
Fabulous BCCO fingernails! Beautiful Nails- A photo quiz.
Kurt Erickson, Heidi Moss, and Ming Luke. Photo by Bill Hocker Gratitude (I think I shall praise you)- THANK YOU for such an incredible premiere performance experience!
Cover of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem Score Why the War Requiem is an important work for me- Thoughts on the War Requiem as we begin rehearsing this fantastic work.
Eric Choate leads a warm up Sketch of Eric Choate- Providing a fuller sense of Eric than we can get from his rehearsal presence alone
Photo of Collin Whitfield Accompanist Extraordinaire: Collin Whitfield- When Collin Whitfield was seven, his Dad’s friend needed to get rid of a beat-up, 90-year-old upright piano, chipped ivory keys and all.
Ming Luke prepares BCCO for concert. Photo by Bill Hocker Conducting Symphonic Choral Masterworks: how do you keep track of everything?- One of the chorus members asked me how I keep track of everything when I'm conducting symphonic choral masterworks. Here's the basics!
Eugene Jones rehearses the BCCO, 1979. Photo by Dewey Livingston Eugene Jones: our first music director- Gene Jones founded the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra in 1966. Gene loved Handel's Messiah, and the group's first concerts were December performances of this oratorio.
Conducting Apprentice Janelle on the Podium My amazing BCCO journey from observer to apprentice conductor- Janelle relates her journey from singer to apprentice conductor.
The chorus prepares for the spring 2015 performance of Verdi's Requiem. Photo by Bill Hocker My philosophy of choral singing- A bit about my philosophy of choral singing, on what it means to sing as a chorus, in community
Score of Bach's St. John Passion and honey crisp apples Bach, Honey Crisp Apples and Eric Choate- A music lesson from Eric Choate derived from a history of an apple
Eugene Jones Honored- On Saturday, October 17, 2015, Eugene Jones was awarded a Heritage Keeper Award by the Friends of Negro Spirituals.
Deb Golata and author Arianna Commyns Reflections on Deb Golata- Reflections on Deb Golata's musical accomplishments and rich association with BCCO and BWCC by her voice student and friend, Arianna Comyns
Arlene Sagan at her piano Arlene the Piano Teacher- Arlene, who embodied a Mary Poppins personality but was dressed in sagging pants and an oversized, rumpled shirt, would draw my daughter away to the musical world of Beethoven and Mozart.
Maestro Joe Liebling prepares the chorus at a 2011 dress rehearsal. Joseph Liebling- While Joe Liebling has never, with the exception of the year he was guest conductor, held a formal post with BCCO, he has had a profound influence on our music-making for many years.
Kurt Erickson, composer, original score for BCCO commission, I Think I Shall Praise It Commission Update – Photo- Photo of handwritten score
BCCO 50th anniversary logo and StoryChorus Meet Kurt Erickson & his New Work, I Think I Shall Praise It- Introducing composer Kurt Erickson's new commissioned piece for BCCO's 50th Anniverary: I Think I Shall Praise It
Joe Liebling demonstrates a hearty Ladamus Te Ode to Joe- Ode to Joe , with lyrics by Mary Rogier, celebrates the special relationship between Maestro Joe Liebling and the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra.
Aspire to the Stars: the Gifts of Arlene Sagan- Arlene always encouraged us to "aspire to the stars," the inspiration for this video's title.
Young Composers Competition video, 2013 Young Composer Competition- A video about BCCO's Spring 2013 Young Composer Competition, in which composers age 40 and under to submit a short piece for chorus and orchestra.
Arlene Sagan in her house in 2005 Arlene’s House- Arlene Sagan is rightly praised for her true musical brilliance, knowledge, and insight. Yet I’ve admired how she shares her sheer delight in music and encourages people who are just now entering the world of sublime musical works which she inhabits full time.

Music Staff

  • Ming's Musings
  • Music Directors
  • Guest Conductors
  • Conductor Mentoring
  • Accompanists
  • Composers
  • Soloists

Recent Stories

  • Concert Video: Antonín Dvořák, The Spectre’s Bride
  • On Dvořák and The Spectre’s Bride
  • Julia Morris, Assistant Conductor
  • Dvořák, The Spectre’s Bride: A Border Crossing
  • The Spectre Groom is Everywhere

Recent Comments

  • Stan Dewey on Arlene Sagan as Richard Nixon
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre Groom is Everywhere
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre’s Wedding Shirts, by Karel Jaromir Erben
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre’s Bride, X-Rated
  • Ann Goldman on The Spectre’s Bride, X-Rated

Recent Comments

  • Stan Dewey on Arlene Sagan as Richard Nixon
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre Groom is Everywhere
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre’s Wedding Shirts, by Karel Jaromir Erben
  • Rita Bral on The Spectre’s Bride, X-Rated
  • Ann Goldman on The Spectre’s Bride, X-Rated
  • BCCO Chorus Members Website
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • About StoryChorus
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact StoryChorus

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Copyright © 2019 · Modern Portfolio Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in