SAN FRANCISCO, CA. (Top40 Charts/ San Francisco Boys Chorus/ The San Francisco Girls Chorus) - The stage of President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration will glitter with some of the world's top performers on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, and two of the nation's top choral music groups will share the limelight with Aretha Franklin, Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman: the San Francisco Boys Chorus, Ian Robertson, Artistic Director; and the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Susan McMane, Artistic Director. The Choruses were invited to join forces for the inauguration by Senator Dianne Feinstein and the joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to be part of the swearing in ceremonies in Washington, DC.
The two choruses were selected for their high level of artistic excellence, embodiment of the American spirit and promise for the future, according to Sen. Feinstein. A combined chorus of 86 (43 members of the San Francisco Boys Chorus, ages 8 to 12 and 43 of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, ages 15-18) will travel to Washington to perform.
Ian Robertson, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus, and Susan McMane, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, said: "This is the highest honor we could imagine. The impacts of our two organizations travel far beyond the concert stage - we are active agents for positive community change, youth empowerment and education. Performing for President Obama's inauguration focuses a major spotlight on the power of music and the arts to affect positive change in our country and the world, and puts the arts at their rightful place at the epicenter of American civic and cultural life."
Inauguration Chorus Program Features Patriotic Fare and World Premiere to Words of Barack Obama
The combined San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus will perform a program of patriotic music in keeping with the theme of President-Elect Obama's inauguration: "A New Birth of Freedom". A highlight will be the world premiere of a new work by San Francisco composer David Conte. Entitled An Exhortation, it is set to words from Barack Obama's speech upon his election on November 6, 2008 that concluded with the now signature words, "Yes we can!" The complete Choral program for the inauguration is as follows, with the combined Choruses scheduled to perform from 9:50 to 10:10 a.m. EST:
Inauguration Program
San Francisco Boys Chorus, Ian Robertson, Artistic Director
San Francisco Girls Chorus, Susan McMane, Artistic Director
America the Beautiful by Samuel Ward, arranged by Nancy Grundahl
An American Hymn by Holdridge, arranged by Ian Robertson
Conducted by Ian Robertson
Hymn to Freedom by Oscar Peterson
Conducted by Susan McMane
An Exhortation by San Francisco Composer David Conte WORLD PREMIERE
written for the combined San Francisco Boys Chorus and San Francisco
Girls Chorus to words by Barack Obama
Conducted by Ian Robertson
Give us Hope by Jim Papoulis
I Hear America Singing by S. Albrecht and J. Althouse
Conducted by Susan McMane
In addition to performing at the inauguration itself, members of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus will perform at Sen. Feinstein's pre-inauguration reception at the Library of Congress.
Singing Their Way to the Inauguration
The road to the inauguration has been a long and prestigious one for these two internationally recognized performing groups, both known for a signature sound that is powerful, unmistakably youthful yet masterfully professional well beyond the years of the young singers. The San Francisco Boys Chorus celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2008-2009 and the San Francisco Girls Chorus commemorates its 30th the same year.
Planning and logistics for the Choruses' 86 singers plus the various chaperones and staff that will travel to the inauguration has been intricate. Funding has come from many generous donations of individuals, foundations and corporations across the country, and both organizations quickly met their fundraising goals to attend. While in Washington, the Boys Chorus will be hosted by the US Marine Corps, staying on-base not far from the Capitol and gaining a unique perspective on Washington life in the process. The Girls Chorus will be guests of the Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA, a girls boarding and day high school where the Choristers will meet young women their ages and give a special concert on campus. While in DC, both Choruses plan to take in some of the sights of the nation's capitol.
Although separate organizations, both the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus were created decades ago to fill the need for professionally trained young singers to appear in productions of the San Francisco Opera, the nation's second largest opera company and still a frequent collaborator with both Choruses. Each Chorus has grown far beyond its opera engagements to embody its own concert seasons, regular international tours, recordings that have garnered awards including several Grammies and motion picture soundtrack work. As a result, millions of audience members and listeners are familiar with the burnished, energetic sounds of these Choruses.
Members of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus come from all over the Bay Area, some traveling up to two hours to participate in the two to three weekly rehearsals, classes and performances. Training is rigorous and thorough, with Choristers studying for many years with professional instructors before the chance to audition into the top performing ensembles of each Chorus.
Hundreds of children a year audition for coveted spots in the Choruses' training programs. Once accepted, talented young singers study performance and learn music, and also receive college-level training in music theory, music history, movement and stage skills to make them well-rounded artists. The intellectual and musical self-discipline instilled in the Choristers as a result makes them exemplary students and gives a high level of team-spirit, self-reliance and esteem; all excellent preparation for whatever academic, professional and personal challenges they face in their lives. As a result, the Choruses have achieved status with San Francisco and the nation's top performing arts organizations. At home they frequently collaborate with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony and other organizations in the City's concert halls and recording studios.
"The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus embody the artistic excellence our city is known around the world for," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "They are the sound of San Francisco and as our international ambassadors, they will represent the best of San Francisco and the nation at this historic inauguration."
About the San Francisco Boys Chorus
The Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Boys Chorus (SFBC) was founded by Gaetano Merola and Madi Bacon in 1948 to provide trained boy singers for the San Francisco Opera, and is today led by Artistic Director, Ian Robertson who also serves as Chorus Director for the San Francisco Opera. The San Francisco Boys Chorus is regarded as a leading music organization that provides transformational life experiences for boys age 5 to 18 through education, performances, and international tours. Over 200 singers receive world-class music education at three training sites in the Bay Area, and the San Francisco Boys Chorus appears at numerous civic engagements. The San Francisco Boys Chorus will participate in the Pacific International Children's Choir Festival in Eugene, OR in June 2009. For information about the Boys Chorus, visit https://www.sfbc.org
About the San Francisco Girls Chorus
Celebrating 30 years of extraordinary music with its 2008-2009 season, the three-time Grammy Award-winning San Francisco Girls Chorus is recognized as one of the world's most respected vocal ensembles. Its level of training, performance, quality and range, passion and leadership in commissioning music for treble voices are lauded by musicians, critics and audiences. Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus has become a regional center for choral music education and performance for girls and young women ages 7-18. More than 300 singers from 160 schools in 44 Bay Area cities participate in this internationally recognized program. The San Francisco Girls Chorus will make its New York debut at Lincoln Center April 13, 2009. For information about the Girls Chorus, visit https://www.sfgirlschorus.org
Please direct all media inquiries about the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus to Scott Horton, 510-735-9200 [email protected]
For more information about the San Francisco Boys Chorus, visit https://www.sfbc.org
For more information about the San Francisco Girls Chorus, visit https://www.sfgirlschorus.org
