Steppin' Out
Story
Chorale's concert is both a benefit and a celebration
By Heather Zimmerman
When it comes to marking a milestone it's academic--literally--for the West Valley Masterworks Chorale. The choir celebrates its 30th anniversary with a concert that has some special school ties, from the guest artists to its very purpose.
The chorale's Gala Benefit Concert takes place Dec. 8, 8 p.m. at West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. The performance features opera singers Eilana Lappalainen and Stephen Guggenheim as guest soloists. The concert is a fundraiser for the West Valley College Music Scholarship Fund.
The West Valley College Chamber Singers are also on the bill. Musicians from several West Valley College ensembles and the Winchester Orchestra, currently in residence at the college, will accompany the concert.
The Masterworks Chorale is a community choir based at West Valley College. It includes both students and the public in its membership of about 40-50 singers. Lou De La Rosa, the director of choral activities at West Valley College, and conductor of the West Valley Masterworks Chorale since 2004, says that the "masterworks" of the group's name covers about 500 years' worth of music by master composers. Variety is one of the choir's hallmarks. "We perform great literature," De La Rosa says, "and great literature can be big pieces like the Rutter Magnificat that we're doing, or it can be smaller works."
John Rutter's uplifting Magnificat, sung by the chorale, with Lappalainen performing the soprano solos, is one of the main features of the gala concert. Other highlights include Lappalainen and Guggenheim each performing from their solo repertoire, and singing duets.
Lappalainen is a soprano who has become a regular on Europe's major stages. She is particularly renowned for her skill in the title role of Richard Strauss' Salome. Tenor Guggenheim, a Saratoga resident, has sung many principal roles at San Francisco Opera and has performed at many of the world's top venues.
West Valley College played a part in both singers' early careers. Lappalainen is an alumna and Guggenheim directed music for the school's theater arts department. Additionally, Lappalainen and Guggenheim were friends and classmates with De La Rosa at San Jose State University, where they studied with highly regarded vocal professor Dr. Charlene Archibecque and sang together in SJSU's choir. After graduation, Lappalainen and Guggenheim performed with Opera San José.
Several days before the performance, Lappalainen and Guggenheim will lead a master class for several West Valley College vocal students.
As a scholarship fundraiser, the gala concert provides an educational opportunity for students, too. "One of the things that's needed here is a scholarship fund for our music students," De La Rosa says, noting the expenses of regular training, such as one-on-one sessions with teachers. Currently, students must pay for the individual instruction on their own. "The music scholarship fund is meant to assist the students, our music majors, in becoming successful," De La Rosa says.
The gala concert may also help the public learn more about what West Valley College's music program has to offer. The music department includes a professional jazz band, a community wind ensemble and a resident community orchestra, the Winchester Orchestra, led by nationally known conductor and composer Henry Mollicone. "We've got a really strong program," De La Rosa says.
In fact, singers from the community who have some musical experience are invited to audition with De La Rosa for the West Valley Masterworks Chorale during the second week of December.
Tickets are $20-$25 orchestra seating/Conductor's Circle and VIP tickets are $50-$100 and include a post-concert artist's reception. For concert or audition information, call 408.741.4663 or visit www.westvalleychoirs.org.