Berkshire Choral Festival E-Newsletter February 2007

February is a busy time at BCF…
The 2007 audience brochure is set to go to print, Trudy and Frank are selecting Apprentices, and Ruth is working hard to get the acceptance information out as soon as possible – we know you’re anxious! Those of you who applied for a 2007 singing week will be receiving your notification of placement via email or snail mail by the end of next week. If you haven’t applied yet, but are interested in attending this summer, please visit our website, www.choralfest.org, for information on openings by week and voice part.

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Spotlight On...Kathy Saltzman Romey

Kathy Saltzman Romey is artistic director of the Minnesota Chorale and choral advisor to the Minnesota Orchestra. Founded in 1972, the Minnesota Chorale is Principal Chorus of the Minnesota Orchestra and ranks among the foremost professional choruses in the United States. Led by Kathy since 1995, the Chorale is best known for its work with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, but is equally dedicated to fostering and deepening community through its award-winning BRIDGES outreach initiatives, educational activities, and independent presentations of choral works. A seasoned artistic partner, the Chorale continues to explore new artistic directions and collaborative opportunities, while earning the highest critical acclaim for its work on the concert stage.

Kathy Saltzman Romey has prepared choruses for performances under many of the world’s outstanding conductors. Formerly a student of Helmuth Rilling at the Frankfurt State Conservatory of Music, she is on the conducting staff of the Oregon Bach Festival and prepared its chorus for the 1998 premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Credo. Recently she prepared the Westminster College Symphonic Choir for performances with the New York Philharmonic and Lorin Maazel, and served as chorus master for the 2005 Choral Workshop at Carnegie Hall. A noted teacher, she is director of choral activities at the University of Minnesota, where she also heads the graduate conducting program and leads both the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir. This will be her first appearance with the Berkshire Choral Festival.

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The 2007 Annual Fund as of February 2: Received - $76,022; To Go - $144,478; Goal = $220,500
Your donations to the 2007 Annual Fund have been coming in steadily…
we are currently ahead of where we were at this time last year.
THANK YOU!

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BCF is very pleased to announce the establishment of the President and Music Director Discretionary Endowment Fund (a.k.a. “The Trudy and Frank Discretionary Endowment Fund”) by long-time choristers Beth and Jack Nagle. Made in recognition of Trudy and Frank’s work, this is a permanent endowment fund, the interest from which is to be used at the discretion of the President and the Director of Music to support the special needs and activities that in their judgment will contribute to furthering BCF’s mission. Trudy and Frank are pleased as punch to have been honored this way! Last year they were able to pay the tuition of an apprentice to attend a Chorus America Conducting Master Class in Philadelphia, to give a small stipend to a former apprentice to help with coaching a major opera role, and to buy opera scores for another former apprentice. Thank you Beth and Jack!

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Faculty News!

Several faculty members have upcoming concerts; they would love to see you there!

Catherine McKeever
February 18 – with Lillian Scheirich, violin and viola, and Mary Siciliano, piano, performing Brahms and Debussey, as well as North American premier of songs by Ignatz Waghalter, as part of Windsor Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Music Series
3:00pm at Assumption University Chapel, Windsor, Ontario.

Katherine FitzGibbon
February 10 – conducting “Pardon Our French”, featuring the Durufle Requiem and music from Dufay to Milhaud. Cornell Chorus and Glee Club, orchestra and soloists, including former BCF baritone faculty member Timothy LeFebvre.
8:00pm, Sage Chapel, Cornell University, $5 admission at the door.

February 26 – premiering “English Prophet Borne”, for soprano and piano, by Spencer Lambright.
8:00pm, Barnes hall, Cornell University.

Pam Dellal
February 25 – Dvorak Mass in D with Coro Allegro
3:00pm, Church of the Covenant, Boston, MA.

February 28 – Measure for Measure: Music from the Life and Plays of the Bard
Ensemble Chaconne, Palm Beach Community College Chamber Music Series
3:00pm, Duncan Theatre, 4200 Congress Avenue, Lake Worth, FL

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Whether you’re warm or cold, wherever you are (still no snow in Sheffield!), here’s a thought to keep you going through these winter months…less than six months from now, its BCF time again!

♫

Best,
The BCF Staff