CHANTICLEER OPENS SEASON WITH THE GYPSY IN MY SOUL



BAY AREA PERFORMANCES September 19-28

Chanticleer, the Bay Area’s multiple Grammy® award-winning male vocal ensemble, begins its 2014-15 season with The Gypsy in My Soul, exploring wanderlust, curiosity, nature and nostalgia in a program displaying the group’s renowned virtuosity. 

The Gypsy in My Soul, under the musical direction of William Fred Scott, will be performed in five Bay Area cities as Chanticleer begins its season-long tour to 22 states. Wanderlust, curiosity, nostalgia, reverence for the natural world and the gypsy spirit in us all: The Gypsy in My Soul depicts all these human states in choral music from the Renaissance to today and from all over the world. The profound influence of the gypsy culture is presented in music by Steven Sametz and Carmen Cavallaro, as well as in folk music from Serbia and Romania. The gypsy in the American soul informs classic arrangements by Joseph Jennings and Gene Puerling and modern arrangements from Chanticleer's recent studio album, Someone New. 

Chanticleer’s season appearances include summer festivals in France, Germany and Italy–including a debut at the Ravello Festival, and an October tour to eight cities in Sweden including the Lund Festival. Christmas will see the Ensemble back to the Bay Area for 14 performances in 11 locations of the group’s legendary A Chanticleer Christmas, under the direction of Ragnar Bohlin (Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus). In spring, Chanticleer’s second National Youth Choral Festival: The Singing Life will join together 300 high school choral singers, conductor Ragnar Bohlin and famed mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick for four days of workshops and a concert in Davies Symphony Hall. A return to Chanticleer’s early music roots in June, under the music direction of William Fred Scott, reveals treasures from Spain’s 16th century Golden Age in Spanish Gold. 

In addition to March’s National Youth Choral Festival, Chanticleer’s season in education will include Youth Choral Festivals in the Bay Area and around the country; workshops and clinics for 5,000 students; and performances by the Louis A. Botto (LAB) Choir–an after school honors choir for 14-22 year olds, now in its fourth year. In San Francisco, Chanticleer’s Youth Choral Festival for middle schools will take place on January 12, 2015 at First Unitarian Universalist Church, culminating in an evening performance at 7:30pm.

Chanticleer–based in San Francisco–is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for the seamless blend of its 12 male voices ranging from countertenor to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz, and from gospel to venturesome new music. Recipient of many awards–including several Grammy® awards, Musical America’s Ensemble of the Year, the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, and Chorus America’s Outreach/Education award–Chanticleer was acknowledged this year by the presentation to Music Director Emeritus Joseph Jennings of the inaugural Brazeal Wayne Dennard Award from Chorus America for his life’s work advancing African-American music, realized in large part during his tenure with Chanticleer.

A not-for-profit organization, Chanticleer’s performing, commissioning and education activities are made possible by government, foundation, corporate, and individual supporters.Concert tickets priced $10-$50 and may be purchased online at www.chanticleer.org or by calling 415-392-4400 or 800-407-1400.

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Northern California Calendar for 2014/15

THE GYPSY IN MY SOUL
September 19 – 28, 2014
SF Conservatory of Music, San Francisco • September 19, 2014 • 8PM
Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian • Lafayette • September 20, 2014 • 8PM
St. Francis Church • Sacramento • September 21, 2014 • 5PM
SF Conservatory of Music • San Francisco • September 26, 2014 • 8PM
Mission Santa Clara • Santa Clara • September 27, 2014 • 8PM
Osher Marin Jewish Community Center • San Rafael • September 28, 2014 • 5PM  

A CHRISTMAS CHANTICLEER
December 12-22, 2014
Cathedral of Christ the Light • Oakland • December 12, 2014 • 8PM
St Ignatius Church • San Francisco • December 13, 2014 • 8PM
St Vincent Church • Petaluma • December 14, 2014 • 6 & 8:30PM
First Congregational Church • Berkeley • December 16, 2014 • 8PM
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament • Sacramento • December 17, 2014 • 8PM
Mission Santa Clara • Santa Clara • December 20, 2014 • 6 & 8:30PM
St Ignatius Church • San Francisco • December 21, 2014 • 8PM
Carmel Mission • Carmel • December 22, 2014 • 6 & 8:30PM  

NATIONAL YOUTH CHORAL FESTIVAL
March 30, 2015
Davies Symphony Hall • San Francisco • March 30, 2015 • 8PM  

SPANISH GOLD
June 10– 17, 2015
Mission Santa Clara • Santa Clara • June 10, 2015 • 8PM
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church • Berkeley • June 12, 2015 • 8PM
Mission Dolores • San Francisco • June 13, 2015 • 8PM
St. Francis Church • Sacramento • June 14, 2015 • 5PM
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church • Belvedere • June 17, 2015 • 8PM