Would you want to hitch a choir? A preference for pitch or a desire for harmony? The Bay Area is home to countless chorales of every kind, from Cantare con Vivo to WomenSing to Schola Cantorum and more. Whether you're a singer yourself or simply on the lookout for a musical evening, here's a choice of ensembles so that you can explore.
Bay Area Showcase Chorus
This Milpitas-based group from Sweet Adelines International has been a mainstay within the a cappella style since 1956, playing every thing from barbershop bops to contemporary songs, all arranged in tight four-part harmony. The local group currently has 50 members, but they’re at all times on the lookout for more, no matter age, vocal range or musical background. Join them within the stands or find details of upcoming shows at singharmony.org/
Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra
Founded in 1966 under the auspices of the Berkeley Adult Education Program, this open-access community ensemble provides free concert events and performance opportunities to aspiring singers and musicians. However, the BCCO is amazingly popular, so you will want to hitch the waiting list before you may take the stage. In the meantime, mark your calendars for June 7-9 when the ensemble performs Ernest Bloch's “Avodath Hakodesh.” bcco.org/
Contra Costa Chorale
Founded in 1966 because the Richmond Symphony Chorus, this non-audition group sees choral singing as a community builder. It hosts fundraisers to support local music programs and ensures equity within the programming and performance of music specifically tailored to minority representation. Their spring concert “Make Our Garden Grow” on May eleventh and twelfth in Kensington will feature works by Black, female, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ composers. ccchorale.org/
Diablo women's chorale
One of the longest-running secular choirs within the East Bay, this Pleasant Hill-based ensemble was founded in 1942 to support the war effort and boost morale. Their modern goal is to spread joy and lightweight through an uplifting contemporary repertoire of pop, jazz and folk idioms. Auditions are held twice a yr and the group welcomes women, female-identified, non-binary and genderqueer singers from diverse musical backgrounds. If you're too shy to take the stage, just sit back and revel in the show. Her next performance is “A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening” on May 18th and nineteenth; diablowomenschorale.org/.
Mission Peak Kammersänger
Originally founded within the Eighties because the Ohlone Chamber Singers, Fremont's Mission Peak became an independent nonprofit organization in 2014 after California community colleges ended their support for choral arts. Since then, they’ve made it their mission to succeed in and encourage latest goal groups. This included the formation of an East Bay People's Choir in 2018. While the Mission Peak Chamber singers undergo an audition process, the East Bay People's Choir is open to anything, and every thing is played by ear, no music reading obligatory. If you’re keen on Peak, take a look at their next concert, “Illuminare,” on May 18th. Chambersingers.org/concerts.
Pacific Edge Voices
The peninsulas
This a cappella men's barbershop choir was originally founded in 1948 by the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. The group began in San Carlos but has since migrated to Redwood City, Palo Alto and now Sunnyvale, hence the group's name. The group is at all times on the lookout for latest, enthusiastic music lovers to hitch them for four-part harmonies. Attend a public rehearsal or check the calendar for upcoming concert events thepeninsulaires.com/.
Boys choir
Founded in 1987, this Silicon Valley ensemble is the most important boys choir within the Bay Area with greater than 200 members. The Grammy-winning choir excels in concert alone and in performances with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony and Opera San Jose. Ragazzi has performed in historic venues similar to Carnegie Hall and can make his debut on the Sydney Opera House in July. Near you, you may hear Ragazzi's Young Men's Ensemble at Siblings in Song on May fifth. ragazzi.org/
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