Written by Mary Dan Eades on November 10, 2013
November 10, 2013 – The Santa Barbara Choral Society and the Westmont Orchestra, Dr. Michael Shasberger conductor, joined forces on Sunday, November 10 in a moving tribute, honoring our nation’s military veterans. The event, sponsored by the Pierre Claeysson’s Veteran’s Library and Museum, and produced by Marilyn Gilbert, paid special honor to our Korean War veterans on the 60th anniversary of the Armistice ending that conflict. A program of inspiring and nostalgic music and words filled every patriotic heart with pride. State Sen. Hannah Beth Jackson and a representative of the office of US Rep. Lois Capps (himself a veteran) were on hand to present awards to two of our local wartime heroes: Lt. Col. Jack Harris, USMC (ret) and Maj. Gen. Philip Conley, USAF. The program gave ample reason for all present to reflect on the sacrifices made by our men and women in military service, throughout our nation’s history, and to remind us all that our freedom doesn’t come without a price.
The music of the afternoon was appropriately patriotic, including singing of the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful”. The chorus and orchestra also performed “Homeland”, under the baton of SBCS conductor JoAnne Wasserman. A trio of Westmont singers delighted the audience with their Andrews Sisters’ medley of tunes: “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree”, “Sincerely”, and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. A special arrangement made for the Westmont Orchestra and Santa Barbara Choral Society, by Daniel Gee, of the popular ballad, “I Believe”, of particular significance as an anthem of hope during the Korean War era, featured soloists Celeste Tavera and Emile Cristescu. Particularly poignant, was the piece titled ‘Two Brothers’, a haunting work by James Stevenson, for orchestra and narrative reading, commissioned by Westmont and based on letters written to each other and to their families from brothers who fought on opposite sides during our nation’s Civil War. SBCS singers were proud to have been asked to participate in this beautiful community tribute.
Sunday, November 10 at 2:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
State at Constance Streets
Santa Barbara
American baritone, Ralph Cato has travelled the world extensively, telling stories in song with his warm, clarion baritone voice.
Tenor, Benjamin Brecher has performed over fifty operatic roles with many of the world’s most prestigious opera companies, specializing in the high lying lyric tenor repertoire. He has performed 16 roles with New York City Opera alone. Career highlights include performances with Opera Orchestra of New York, L’Opera de Nice, Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, L’Opera de Montreal, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, among many others. His orchestral solo repertoire includes Mozart, Handel, Orff, Bach, Haydn, as well as many performances of Britten. In 2000 he began performing the great Irish Tenor songs in a concert produced for him entitled A Celtic Celebration, Twenty years later, the show has become a North American hit with performances with 45 Symphonies in North America. Ben continues his discography having added his twelfth recording in 2016 Forgotten Liszt, with pianist Robert Koenig, and will record a new release in 2022 entitled “Three Centuries of Thomas Moore” including the music of Britten, Berlioz, and Sarah Gibson on MSR Classics. He is a Professor of Voice at University of California Santa Barbara, where he has served as the Head of Voice.
Tracy Van Fleet is pleased to return to the Santa Barbara Choral Society. As a soloist, she has performed with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Lüneburg Symphony in Germany, Orquesta Filarmónica de Boca del Río in Mexico, Pasadena Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Los Angeles Bach Festival, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Philharmonic, USC Symphony and Chorus, and others. She has had many appearances with the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Opera Pacific, San Diego Opera and Opera Colorado.
Born and raised in Southern California, April Amante is a versatile soprano with expertise and facility in repertoire spanning from early music to contemporary musical theater.