Celebrate Music

Celebrate Music

Sunday, May 22 at 3:30 pm  at Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College

Concert Sponsor: Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

This is the final concert of the 2021-2022 concert season featuring all of our choirs: the Stockton Chorale, the Stockton Singers, the Master Chorale, Valley Youth A Cappella, the Stockton Youth Chorale. We are also performing our newly commissioned peace, “The Singing Bowl,” by Daniel Hughes.

San Joaquin Delta College requires either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event on campus. Masks must be worn indoors by all attendees age 3 and over. For more information about Delta’s Visitor Policy please visit https://deltacollege.edu/coronavirus/campus-ready/return-campus-visitors.

Program Notes

For this 70th Anniversary celebration of the Stockton Chorale, we have assembled a diverse program about music. These notes will just give you some highlights.

The program begins with the Master Chorale’s performance of My Spirit Sang All Day from Gerald Finzi’s choral collection Seven Poems of Robert Bridges, Op. 17. Though Finzi himself was dissatisfied with the Robert Bridges songs, I think you will find this one delightful. On Ash Wednesday of this year, John Rutter was inspired by Valentin Silvestrov’s setting of the anonymous text, “Good Lord, protect Ukraine. Give her strength, courage, faith, hope. Amen.” He set the text to the music you will hear tonight in response to the events in the Ukraine and as a prayer for the people. Song for Justice comes from a larger work by Kim Arnesen, Tuvayhun – Beatitudes for a Wounded World. The text is based on the biblical text from Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Our concert will include wonderful music from all of our ensembles in the Stockton Chorale organization, which include three adult choirs (Stockton Chorale, Master Chorale and Stockton Singers), as well as the youth ensembles (Stockton Youth Chorale and Valley Youth A Cappella).

A staple of Mid-Twentieth-Century American choral music is Norman Dello Joio’s A Jubilant Song adapted from Walt Whitman’s poem A Song of Joys. With rhythmic flare and a hefty piano part, this song speaks to some of the joys of life.

Germán Aguilar was slated to be the Artistic Director for the Stockton Chorale beginning the fall of 2014, but before he could begin his endeavors he passed away suddenly in the summer of 2014. Several of his former students from Delta College, sing with us today and “make the family proud.” The text to Jake Runestad’s Your Soul Is Song, was written by Germán during a time of turmoil in life and posted on social media. Hope emerging out of hardship…then my soul is song.

You may have noticed the colorful bowl on stage throughout this concert and have heard it sing from time to time. For our 70th Anniversary we have commissioned a work for string quintet, organ and all the choirs in the Stockton Chorale organization (I think our first for everyone). Because we know Daniel Hughes to be a writer of beautiful melodies, he was the first choice and as you will hear, the right choice. Daniel’s The Singing Bowl is truly beautiful! With a text by The Reverend Dr. Malcolm Guite, The Singing Bowl is filled with harmonic and rhythmic interest, along with interesting textures and delightful melodies.

The concert will close with all the choirs singing Peter Lutkin’s The Lord Bless You and Keep You, which was tradition for the Stockton Chorale for many years. If you are a former chorale member or a former chorister who knows the song, please feel free to sing along.

Celebrate Music: Artistic Director Interview

Program

Program Only

Daniel Hughes

A picture of Daniel Hughes wearing a black suit with his right hand placed on his chin while holding a white baton in his hand.

Daniel Hughes is in constant demand as a conductor, accompanist, coach, and choral clinician. He serves as the Artistic Director & Conductor of The Choral Project — an internationally award-winning mixed-voice ensemble specializing in dramatic, conceptual performance of high-level choral music from the medieval period to the contemporary, as well as ethnic and multicultural repertoire. The choir’s vision is “to transform and heal through music and words,” and their mission is “to connect to one another through choral theater, education and musical excellence.” Under his direction The Choral Project has received worldwide recognition, performing to standing ovation crowds in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Wales, and Spain. The ensemble has also received top prizes in international competitions throughout the world. They have recorded nine compact discs available through iTunes, Amazon.com, and CDBaby.

Hughes has directed many sessions in Vocal Pedagogy and Conducting Technique for the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists, the California Music Educators’ Association, and GALA Choruses. He has been a regular adjudicator for the California Golden State Choral Competitions, and has conducted honor choirs and festival choruses throughout the west coast. Collaborations include international performances with well-known ensembles such as renown mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, The King’s Singers, Canadian Brass, Lisa Vroman, Costa Rica’s Café Chorale, The Australian Voices, the critically-acclaimed San José Chamber Orchestra, and creative work with award-winning Broadway composer & lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Hughes’s concert appearances include performances at Lincoln Center (New York City), Caulkins Opera House (Denver), Gusman Concert Hall (Miami), and Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco). He has also conducted world premiere compositions by many respected composers, including Stephen Schwartz, Nico Muhly, Brent Heisinger, Brian Holmes, Mac Huff, Theodore Lucas, Richard Burchard, Eric William Barnum, and Joshua Shank.

Hughes began studying piano and composition at the age of four. He has extensive training in piano and voice, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Conducting. 1st place (Conductor’s Choice Round), 2nd place (Required Pieces Round), and 3rd place (Folk Music Round) at the 2007 California International Choral Competition); 2nd place (Mixed Choir competition) at the 58th annual International Eisteddfod, Wales; 4th place (Small Ensemble Category) at the 35th International Choral Competition, Gorizia, Italy; the 2nd place award (ACDA National Student Conducting Competition); the Christina Cadena Memorial Accompanying Scholarship; and the California Arts Scholar Awards for piano and composition. He is also a recipient of Arts Council Silicon Valley’s 2013 Artist’s Laureate Award (“On Stage” category), The American Prize Award for Choral Direction, and a 2010 Silicon Valley Arts & Business Award for 20+ years of excellence in the arts in the San Francisco Bay Area. An accomplished composer and arranger with a catalogue of nearly 100 works, he has been a 2015 and a 2016 finalist in The American Prize Competition for Choral Composition. His works are published through Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Gentry Publications, National Music Publishing, and earthsongs. Mr. Hughes’s biography is featured in Who’s Who in America. He maintains a private music studio in the Bay Area.

Celebrate Music: Interview with Daniel Hughes

Lyrics and Translations

To view the lyrics and translations for the concert, click on the link below to view the PDF.

Lyrics and Translations

ASL Translators

Cindy Bender wearing a black outfit, smiling with blue glasses.Cindy Bender

Cindy Bender is a Nationally Certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter for the Deaf for over 42 years. Working primarily in three areas –
legal, community and church. Passion is serving the Deaf Ministry at Quail Lakes Baptist Church for over 20 years. She also enjoys singing in the choir at QLBC, camping and all water sports. Married to Jeff Bender and has 11 grandchildren.

 

Diana Callahan wearing a blue top and black coat, smiling.Diana Callahan

Diana Callahan is a child of deaf parents. She is Nationally certified and has been working as a sign language interpreter for over 30 years
Involved in deaf ministry since 1985. Founder of Signing Sisters in the Spirit, a ministry to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities. Married and has 8 grandchildren.

Directors

A picture of Dr. Bruce Southard smiling wearing a black suit jacket, a black vest, a white dress shirt and black bow tie.Dr. Bruce Southard

Bruce Southard is currently the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at San Joaquin Delta College and has more than thirty years of experience working with singers of all ages in California, Kentucky, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. Dr. Southard is also an Estill Master Trainer (EMT) with Estill Voice Training and a sought-after voice instructor.

Teaching is Dr. Southard’s passion, and he was named the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in the College of Arts and Sciences at Dickinson State University in 2013. He regularly serves as guest conductor and clinician throughout the region. In 2019, he made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting John Rutter’s Mass of the Children and has served as the Artistic Director of the Stockton Chorale since 2015.

Dr. Southard studied conducting with William Dehning, Kenneth Davis, Michael Weber and JoAnn Miller. He has also worked directly with Howard Swan, Eph Ehly, Bernard Rubenstein, and Alfred Mann. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of the Pacific, his Master of Music from Western Kentucky University and his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Music from North Dakota State University.

A picture of Ricardo "Ric" Campero wearing a black suit jacket, white dress shirt, and black bow tie smiling with stained glass windows behind him.Ricardo “Ric” Campero

Ricardo (Ric) Campero received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in 1979.

Mr. Campero taught instrumental and choral programs at Ceres High School for 25 years, then decided to apply his talents at the elementary level where he was successful at increasing music participation and further encouraging enrollment in the junior high school and high school music programs. Mr. Campero retired from Ceres Unified School District in 2018 after 38 years.

In 2019, the Ceres Unified School District Board of Directors announced plans to name the first performing arts center in Ceres, the Ricardo “Ric” Campero Performing Arts Center. Construction will be completed January 2023.

Currently, he is a visiting lecturer, conducting the Pacific Singers at the University of the Pacific, conservatory of Music, Stockton. Mr. Campero serves the Stockton community through music as director of The Stockton Singers, and as director of the Central United Methodist Church Chancel Choir.

Mr. Campero is in demand as a choral singer and soloist, as well as a clinician. He will be conducting the San Joaquin and Stanislaus County Jr. High School Honor Choirs in Spring 2022.

A picture of Joan Calonico smiling leaning against a brick wall, wearing a blue tank top and a necklace.Joan Calonico

Joan Calonico graduated from the University of Pacific Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Since then she has been a general music and choral specialist in Lincoln Unified School District. She served the district as mentor teacher and music teacher specialist, coordinating the K-8 music program district wide. She recently retired as principal of Don Riggio School, where visual and performing arts are an integral part of every student’s education.

Active in many music organizations, Mrs. Calonico served as a representative to the California Music Educators Association, a guest lecturer in music education at the University of the Pacific, and a clinician and panelist for the American Choral Directors Association and California Music Educators Association. She has conducted middle school honor choirs throughout the region, including the San Joaquin County Middle School Honor Choir. She has been directing the Stockton Youth Chorale since 2002 and is the founding conductor of Valley Youth A Cappella and the Port City Boys Choir. She sings with the Stockton Chorale, Stockton Master Chorale, and has sung in the opera chorus for the Stockton Opera Association. Making music with kids is her favorite thing to do.