Gloria
Choir Concert Performances Fill Sanctuary and Hearts With Joy!
This past December, two gray winter afternoons were made glorious Christmas by songs of joy. On December 14th and 21st, 2024, nearly 600 choral music fans attended, then rose to cheer and applaud the Sanctuary Choir’s concert. When they left they glowed with a joy brought by our choir who once again gave more than the audience expected. It was no simple thing.
Building success takes time. Although much has changed at church since COVID, the choir has persisted, even grown stronger, thanks to the efforts of our faithful music coordinators. Soon after the successful Mozart’s Requiem concert last spring, plans began. Niké and Shawn set two dates for performances of an ambitious concert that would include Kirchner’s Behold New Joy: Ancient Carols of Christmas and Rutter’s Gloria.
It also takes work, so choir volunteers and staff made plans, created schedules, wrote press releases, emails, and created flyers, invitations and posters. Personal visits and sales calls were made to find advertisers and patrons.
It takes talent. Both works required percussion and brass, a total of ten instrumentalists. Niké began lining up brass and percussion players. Shawn honed his arrangement. Niké selected other appropriate works to add to the program. Then, fortune paid a visit.
A new LVCoB member and fellow chorister, Mary Jean Konkel-White presented her composition, Joy to the World- Festival Variations. With her remarkable education and background as a composer, she created an intriguing blend of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and Issac Watts’ Joy to the World. Niké and Shawn were impressed. They immediately added it to the program. Time was growing short.
Weeks flew by. Press releases to area churches were sent. Sales calls were made. Thursday night rehearsals grew intense and were extended an hour. Wanting faster progress, Niké sent digital files home with choir members for practice on their own. Some even practiced as they commuted to and from work. October ended.
November arrived. Slides were created for the song lyrics, choir members sent friends written invitations to the concert. Posters and flyers were distributed from San Dimas to Upland. Suddenly, it was December.
The first Sunday in Advent, all were thrilled by the return of the traditional Hanging of the Greens. It also encouraged the choir. Singers donated funds for poinsettias to decorate the chancel. They baked cookies for the concert receptions, brought their spouses to usher.
The volunteers and staff spruced up the sanctuary. Repairs were made. Lighting improved. Ceiling mics were added to the church’s sound system. The final week before the concert, the program was finalized and sent to the printer. Shawn and Niké held optional yet well attended rehearsals every day to fine-tune the choir.
And then, the first performance opened. Every musician shined when an audience of over 240 rose and cheered. At the reception, complements flowed while cookies were downed. A week later, the second concert was even more successful with 354 in the pews. Afterwards, over more plates filled with cookies, more complements were expressed: not just for our outstanding soprano soloists or the beautiful sanctuary. People remarked about the great joy they experienced through the entire performance. One work, Who Are You O Child of Wonder, moved many to tears. When the last guest left, every plate at the reception tables was empty but hearts were filled with joy.
What remains with those memories is the fact that the persistent, combined efforts of a dedicated staff and volunteers can accomplish great things. What one must acknowledge is that a vibrant music program raises the visibility of our church and brings in new members. To tweak a famous movie line- ‘If we build it, they will come.’ There is an idea floating around that a yearlong concert series at LVCoB would go a long way to build a stronger church. It’s an idea that should be considered.
A sincere thank you to all the church staff for their work and to the congregation and others for their donations and support. To everyone, it was our pleasure to bring some Christmas joy. God bless us, everyone! And God bless the next concert! – Doug Bro
Mozart’s Requiem at the La Verne Church of the Brethren: Update
Requiem Concert a ‘Mass-ive’ Success!
A rousing performance of Mozart’s Requiem was held in our sanctuary April 21st, 2024 thanks to the combined efforts of both choirs of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, our Sanctuary Choir, and a professional chamber orchestra.
When the last movement ended, an estimated audience of 420 people responded with cheers and applause. Ushers reported that a tangible felling of joy filled the narthex as audience members filed out. Out on the courtyard at the well-attended cookie reception, ample servings of cookies and more high praise were served. Some of the comments heard included- “The entire work just keep moving me forward, swelling with feeling.”, “It was sung perfectly. Every word carried true and clear!”, “It’s remarkable that an amateur choir can perform this work so magnificently.” and “I enjoyed it so much! I wanted to be singing with you!”
Sanctuary Choir members expressed their delight at performing such a beautiful work before such a full house with so well-prepared CPP students. Especially noteworthy were the phenomenal performances of two of our sanctuary choir members: soprano Elizabeth (Lizzy) Blandino and bass David Tkach.
Director Niké St. Clair has worked on this concert since the end of the Christmas season. She rehearsed each choir separately for months, recruited a professional chamber orchestra of 26 instrumentalists and provided a videographer to record the concert. In the not-too-distant future, a professional recording of this concert will be available on YouTube. Please look for an announcement in future church publications.
All the effort paid off as Niké confirmed in her comments afterwards. “I would like to thank our choir for your outstanding work. You were magnificent, and I couldn’t be prouder!”
She also shared her appreciation for the help of the church staff, ushers and all other volunteers. “You provided elegance, decorum, and a very warm first impression of our beloved church. Thank you for your time and effort!”
Director Niké St. Clair expressed her gratitude as she closed her remarks to all those involved. “I appreciate and treasure you all! My heart is full today.” – Doug Bro
