BCCO StoryChorus

Community Storytelling for the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra

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Music Directors

BCCO has had only three music directors in 50 years: founder Eugene Jones (1966-1988), Arlene Sagan (1988-2011), and our current music director, Ming Luke (2011-present). Each of our music directors has brought a unique personal perspective and a deep commitment to BCCO’s mission.

Stories about our music directors:

Ming Luke prepares BCCO for performance. Photo by Bill Hocker. On Dvořák and The Spectre’s Bride - Recorded at a Monday night rehearsal of the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra, as we prepare for this exciting concert!
Inside the Bolshoi Theater Rehearsing the Bolshoi Orchestra - A few years ago, I was invited to rehearse the Bolshoi Orchestra, an amazing opportunity to experience the rich musical heritage of Russia.
Ming Luke prepares BCCO for performance. Photo by Bill Hocker. On singing Russian music with BCCO at this time in history - Music Director Ming Luke talks about the challenges and importance of singing Russian choral works in our current season.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jeff Mertens on Singing with the Trees - BCCO trombone player Jeff Mertens tells of a magical moment with former music director Eugene Jones.
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.
Eugene Jones at BCCO rehearsal A Tribute to Gene Jones - Gene Jones: the spirit of BCCO
Ming’s Musings: Rehearsals - Ming muses on the rehearsal process as he leaves the chorus in the hands of guest conductors during his trip to China with the San Francisco Ballet.
Eugene Jones Honored - On Saturday, October 17, 2015, Eugene Jones was awarded a Heritage Keeper Award by the Friends of Negro Spirituals.
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.
Ming Luke at dress rehearsal. Photo by Bill Hocker BCCO Embodies Music for Everyone - BCCO Music Director Ming Luke reflects on BCCO's commitment to music for everyone.
Ming Luke conducts Elijah during BCCO's Spring 2014 season. Photo by Bill Hocker. Verdi’s Requiem as singer and conductor - BCCO Music Director Ming Luke reflects on singing and conducting Verdi's Requiem.
Ming Luke at dress rehearsal. Photo by Bill Hocker My First Rehearsal with BCCO - Music Director Ming Luke remembers his first rehearsal with BCCO.
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.
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.
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
    • Ming Luke
    • Arlene Sagan
    • Eugene Jones
  • Guest Conductors
  • Conductor Mentoring
  • Accompanists
  • Composers
  • Soloists

Recent Stories

  • Music in Troubled Times: Haydn’s Nelson Mass
  • Brahms, Ein Deutsches Requiem: performance video
  • Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Ein deutsches Requiem — An Appreciation
  • A Painting inspired by The Spectre’s Bride

Recent Comments

  • Robin Raine Overcash on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Anne A Lewenhaupt on My Grandmother and Mendelssohn
  • Catherine Atcheson on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Jan Murota on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Linda Ward on A Painting inspired by The Spectre’s Bride

Recent Comments

  • Robin Raine Overcash on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Anne A Lewenhaupt on My Grandmother and Mendelssohn
  • Catherine Atcheson on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Jan Murota on Beautiful Postcard for the Brahms!
  • Linda Ward on A Painting inspired by The Spectre’s Bride
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Upcoming Events

  1. Mass in Troubled Times

    January 10, 2020 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
  2. Mass in Troubled Times

    January 11, 2020 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
  3. Mass in Troubled Times

    January 12, 2020 @ 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

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