Jewish works to be featured in Kansas City choral performance

KANSAS CITY JEWISH CHRONICLE - 11 APRIL 2024

The William Baker Festival Singers & Chamber Orchestra will perform a concert of five masterworks, including William W. Dreyfoos’ “Songs of the Holocaust” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms.”

The concert will be held on Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (1307 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO 64106). Music Director William O. Baker, Associate Music Director Christine Freeman and Choral Intern Kelsey Emmanuel will lead the 50 voice, semi-professional choral.

Tickets and more information are available at festivalsingers.org/concerts or at the door.

“Songs for the Holocaust” by William W. Dreyfoos is a centerpiece of the concert. Dreyfoos, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has been a composer and performer with the William Baker Choral Foundation’s Jewish ensemble, Zimria Festivale Atlanta. His setting of “Songs of The Holocaust,” which will be sung in Yiddish, is based on tunes and writings of youth and young adults who were trapped in ghettos in Poland during the Holocaust years.

The songs are scored for soprano soloist, choir, piano, gypsy violin and cello. Dreyfoos will be in Kansas City for the April 14 performance.

“Chichester Psalms” is one of Leonard Bernstein’s best-known compositions and most famous choral work. It is a setting in Hebrew of psalms including the Psalm 23, Psalm 100, Psalm 108, and Psalms 130 and 133. The work will be performed by the Festival Singers with Organist Geoffrey Wilcken, percussionist Mark Lowry and former Kansas City Symphony principal harpist Deborah Wells Clark.

In addition to Dreyfoos’ and Bernstein’s works, Benjamin Britten’s “Festival Te Deum,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem” and Ed Frazier Davis’ “At Our Last Awakening” will also be performed.

The William Baker Festival Singers is the flagship ensemble of the Choral Foundation, a national arts organization based in Kansas City that sponsors 12 performing ensembles in four states, in addition to the Institute for Healthy Singing and Voice Research. The ensemble has produced two dozen nationally-released recordings and has been featured in numerous national broadcasts and publications.

The Festival Singers have toured to 14 states and the District of Columbia, including performances in the Washington National Cathedral, Helzberg Hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Trinity Wall Street Church in New York City, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston and The Temple on Peachtree in Atlanta.

The Choral Foundation has long had a commitment to music of the Jewish tradition, from the founding of a dedicated Jewish choral ensemble, Zimria Festivale Atlanta in 2014, to performances of the Donald McCullough “Holocaust Cantata” in Lee’s Summit in 2023 and in Marietta, Georgia, in 2024; previous performances, broadcasts and recordings of “Songs of the Holocaust;” and a 2012 performance and Kansas Public Radio broadcast of Ernst Bloch’s “Avodath HaKodesh (Sacred Service).”

The Choral Foundation’s 130-voice Summer Singers of Kansas City will perform Bloch’s “Avodath HaKodesh (Sacred Service)” on Aug. 25 in Helzberg Hall of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Additional information on the April 14 performance is available by emailing mail@festivalsingers.org or calling (913) 488-7524.

Area choir sings the music of Latin America - Dos Mundos Bilingual Newspaper

Coro local da vida a la música de Latinoamérica
By Tere Siqueira Un conjunto vocal del área de Kansas City celebra la música hispana destacando música tradicional de varios países de habla hispana. Y están en búsqueda de más cantantes. Llamado Voces Festivas, el grupo fue lanzado en 2021 por la Fundación Coral William Baker. Interpretando música que varía desde boleros cubanos hasta joropos venezolanos y canciones folklóricas mexicanas, el ensamble combina las melodías clásicas del canto coral con los ritmos de la música en español y el acompañamiento de instrumentos tradicionales. Voces Festivas nació del sueño compartido de Baker y Leilani Velasco Vaughn, una joven directora musical latina de Armourdale-Argentine, un barrio de Kansas City, Kansas. Reconociendo la creciente población hispana en el área y la ausencia de representación de coros para la comunidad, ambos comenzaron a crear un coro para celebrar la herencia musical de los países de habla hispana. “Creo que Kansas City ha estado esperando un coro en español desde hace tiempo”, dijo Velasco Vaughn. “William Baker siempre soñó con tener un coro para la comunidad más grande y menos representada en Kansas City: la población hispana. Después de que audicioné para los Festival Singers de William Baker en 2020, él me preguntó si estaría interesada en trabajar con él ¡y estaba emocionada! Estaba muy entusiasmada con las posibilidades que esto podría ofrecer. Mis dos pasiones en un solo lugar: la música de coro y mi herencia. ¡Por supuesto, dije que sí y comenzamos a planear!” Parte de la planificación incluyó encontrar música para interpretar. Escoger la música adecuada para el coro no fue fácil, reconoció Velasco Vaughn. Pasó incontables horas buscando piezas que se alinearan con la identidad y misión del coro. Esas horas de búsqueda y las horas de ensayo resultaron en presentaciones destacadas, como una que tuvo lugar durante una celebración del Cinco de Mayo en Guadalupe Centers Inc. en Kansas City, Misuri. Para los amantes de la música que quieran escuchar de qué se trató todo ese revuelo, Voces Festivas se presentará en la Celebración del Mes de la Herencia Hispana de JOCO el 4 de octubre en el Johnson County (Kansas) Arts and Heritage Center. Velasco Vaughn promete un repertorio de canciones de países hispanos, ofreciendo al público una muestra de todo. El coro no solo se enfoca en la diversidad musical, sino también en la diversidad comunitaria. El conjunto busca cantantes de todos los ámbitos de la vida, ya que tiene el objetivo de crear un espacio para los hispanohablantes y cantantes en la comunidad. De igual manera, Velasco Vaughn anima a todos los músicos a ser dueños de sus historias y creer en sus talentos. “El mundo te necesita… nos necesita a nosotros”, dijo. “Necesita nuestra música y nadie más puede tocarla como nosotros. Esta es nuestra historia para contar y nuestra historia para escribir. No dejes que nadie te diga que no eres lo suficientemente bueno o que no encajas. Eres un músico poderoso y el mundo debería conocer tu nombre algún día. ¡Sí se puede!” Para aquellos que quieran unirse a Voces Festivas y ser dueños de sus historias, el coro ensaya de 7 a 8:30 p.m. los miércoles en la iglesia Countryside Christian Church en Mission, Kansas. Los próximos ensayos comenzarán el 6 de septiembre. No se requieren audiciones ni experiencia previa. Los ensayos, comunicaciones y otras operaciones se llevan a cabo en español. Para más detalles y para inscribirse, visiten festivalsingers.org/vocesfestivas.

Dr. William Baker - 2nd Prize National Winner 2023 Dale Warland Award

Congratulations to Dr. William O. Baker, creator of the Choral Foundation and music director of the William Baker Festival Singers, Kansas City Bronze and the Summer Singers of Kansas City, who has been named 2nd Prize National Winner of the 2023 Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting.

Dr. Baker responded to the news, saying, "I am humbled by this announcement, especially for a prize named in honor of Dr. Dale Warland, one of the great choral leaders of our generation. It is my privilege to, in small part, continue the legacy of beautiful choral music his long career has served so nobly." Dr. Baker also expressed appreciation to the music staff, Board of Trustees, and generous supporters of the Choral Foundation and its many performing ensembles and educational institutions for their industry, professionalism and encouragement.

The 1st Prize National Winner of the 2023 Dale Warland Award is Richard Sparks, director of the San Francisco-based Benedict XVI Singers. The 3rd Prize National Winner is Dr. Alyssa J. Cossey, for her work with the University Community Chorus in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. William Baker's career began at the age of 18 on his appointment as Music Director of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in suburban Atlanta, and his 1978 creation of The DeKalb Choral Guild, an organization that continues today as Harmonia Atlanta. His first Festival Singers chorus was created as Gwinnett Festival Singers in 1985 and was known for decades as William Baker Festival Singers/Atlanta. The William Baker Festival Singers in Kansas City, created in 1998, has become one of the region's most significant choral ensembles with numerous recordings, national broadcasts performances, and tour concerts in 14 states and the District of Columbia, including the Washington National Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine, Trinity Wall Street Church in New York City, and many others. He has served significant church music positions over a 45 year career in ministry, and he is the author of two devotional books. The William Baker Choral Foundation, based in Kansas City and active in Chicago and Atlanta, has created over a dozen performing ensembles, two internationally focused educational institutions, the Jane Sullivan Choral Resource Library, and the Choral Conversations Podcast.

The Atlanta native holds the Doctor of Musical Arts from the American Conservatory of Music, following study at Mercer University and the University of Georgia. His accomplishments have been recognized in his home states by two Georgia Governors, Joe Frank Harris and Sonny Perdue, by Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, by US Congressman Phil Gingrey, by official recognitions from the City of Kansas City, Missouri, the City of Roeland Park Kansas, and the County Commission of Johnson County, Kansas, along with a 2015 proclamation by the Georgia House of Representatives. He was honored for service to the Atlanta region in 2012 by the Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta, and by being named Conductor Emeritus of The DeKalb Choral Guild in 2015. In 2023 he was named a National Arts Associate by Sigma Alpha Iota.

‘Beautiful, captivating and compelling’: Kansas City chorus presents a masterwork - Kansas City Star →

BY PATRICK NEAS SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Haydn’s “The Creation” rivals Handel’s “Messiah” for its splendid solo writing and majestic choruses. However, live concert performances of “The Creation” are much more infrequent. That’s why it’s a special treat that the Summer Singers, with four outstanding soloists, will perform “The Creation” Aug. 20 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. William Baker is the founder and director of the Summer Singers, one of the many choruses that are part of Baker’s Choral Foundation. He has extensive experience with Haydn’s “The Creation. Read more at https://www.kansascity.com/kc-city-guides/things-to-do/article277959353.html#storylink=cpy

Summer Singers of Lee's Summit, Director Jennifer Lahasky - Lee's Summit Tribune →

The Summer Singers of Lee's Summit performance of McCullough's "Holocaust Cantata" is featured in an article by the Lee's Summit Tribune.

Music Director Jennifer Lahasky leads the Summer Singers of Lee's Summit, soprano Megan Moore, baritone Joshua Markley and guest artists in Donald McCullough's deeply moving "Holocaust Cantata." The program also includes musicologist and composer Amy Thropp's Kaddish for the Six Million. Ms. Thropp will be present to conduct her composition and give a brief pre-concert talk about the works. There will be an exhibition from students from the Hyman Brand Academy in Overland Park, Kansas. A wine and cookie reception will follow the concert presented by the Friends of St. Paul's Music. This concert is sponsored, in part, by the Arts Council of Lee's Summit and the Louis and Frances Swinken Supportng Foundation.

Congratulations to Carl Chinnery, New WBCF Board of Trustees Member →

In July of 2023, Mr. Carl Chinnery was welcomed to the William Baker Choral Foundation Board of Trustees. We now extend congratulations to Carl who has been named Lee's Summit 2023 Missouri Citizen of the Year for his service to the community, civic activities and legal work for nonprofits.

The City of Lee’s Summit and Mayor Bill Baird join the City of Lake Lotawana and Mayor Tracy Rasmussen in the selection of Carl Chinnery as the 2023 Citizen of the Year. Chinnery is recognized for his service to the communities, civic activities and legal work for nonprofits. He will be honored at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Annual Citizen’s Reception in early September and its “Toast to Our Towns” Gala on September 23.

‘The music is emotionally intense.’ Summer Singers rise to challenge of this cantata - Kansas City Star →

Some musical experiences are unforgettable — and meant to be experienced again.

That’s the case with “Holocaust Cantata.”

Jennifer Lahasky is music director and conductor of the Summer Singers of Lee’s Summit. Donald McCullough’s cantata is among the pieces Lahasky will conduct in concerts scheduled for July 30 and 31 in Lee’s Summit.

Summer Singers to perform ‘Holocaust Cantata’ - The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle →

The Summer Singers of Lee's Summit, a community chorus active only during June and July, is recruiting members for its 2023 performance of music commemorating the Holocaust. The central work will be the "Holocaust Cantata" by Donald McCullough, a work that has seen hundreds of performances across the nation since it was premiered in Washington's Kennedy Center in March 1998.

https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/community-news/8852-summer-singers-of-lee-s-summit-to-perform-holocaust-cantata
https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/community-news/8976-summer-singers-of-lee-s-summit-present-holocaust-cantata-and-commemoration