Opus One: OCTAVO

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Eric Saylor - a Professor of Music History at Drake University, the He is the author of English Pastoral Music: From Arcadia to Utopia, 1900–1955. His articles and reviews have been published in the Journal of the Royal Musical Association, The Musical Quarterly, The Musical Times, Musik-Konzepte, The Journal of Musicological Research, Music and Letters, the Journal of the Society for Musicology in Ireland, and Nineteenth-Century Music Review. Dr. Saylor is also the author of the Vaughan Williams entry in Oxford Bibliographies Online, contributed a chapter on Vaughan Williams's dramatic works to the Cambridge Companion to Ralph Vaughan Williams, and was a contributor to the second edition of the New Grove Dictionary of American Music. He just recently completed a Life and Works biography of Vaughan Willams for Oxford University Press’s Master Musician. 

Today’s podcast is entitled: RVW 150. This year, 2022, is the 150th anniversary of the birth of renowned English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. To mark this occasion, Opus One will present a monumental concert on Sun, May 22 (4pm) at St John Baptist de la Salle church in Shillington, PA, entitled “A Celebration of Vaughan Williams”. The highlight of the concert will be the American premiere of "The Garden of Proserpine", a rediscovered work composed in 1899, scored for solo soprano, chorus, and a 40 piece orchestra. Other programmed works include: 6 Choral Songs to be Sung in Time of War, 5 Mystical Songs, The Voice out of the Whirlwind, and several familiar hymn tunes. For this performance, Opus One will be joined by CW's Choraliers, under the direction of Sarah McGrory, and Gov. Mifflin's Governors, under the direction of Greg Hill. Maggie Riker will serve as the soprano soloist for Garden of Proserpine and your’s truly will sing the baritone solos in 5 Mystical Songs, conducted by Peter Sunderman. Tickets for the in-person event may be purchased at the door.

The concert will also be available to stream online from May 26 through June 12. Please visit our website for more information - www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com 

Host: Christopher Hoster

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook 

Selections from A Celebration of Vaughan Williams (upcoming concert)

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Skitko, the founder and artistic director of the Theoria Chamber Choir - an a cappella ensemble that performs works of the Slavic sacred choral tradition. Andrew also works with the Ukrainian Art Song Project on the promotion and publication of classical treasures of the Ukrainian art song tradition. We discuss the current war in Ukraine, its impact on the artistic future of the Ukrainian people, and the vibrant history of Ukraine's classical music traditions.

Hosts: Christopher Hoster

Producer: Mikaila Milks 

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook 

Ukrainian National Anthem

* Sung by Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir (March 2022)

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

On this podcast, we discuss "Christmas in Paris" - the upcoming concert event and food drive (benefitting Helping Harvest). In our first segment, we chat with soprano Mary McCormick-Archutowski about her preparation as one of the five professional soloists. We speak with Jay Worrall, the president of Helping Harvest about the organization and their impact in our community. We also highlight upcoming holiday events in our area (Reading Choral Society, Berks Jazz Fest, Berks Youth Chorus, Yocum Institute, Berks Ballet, Reading Pops, Genesius, Reading Civic Theatre).

Hosts: Christopher Hoster, Debbi Silas, Scott Tice

Producer: Mikaila Milks 

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

Selections from Oratorio de Noël by Camille Saint-Saëns

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook 

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

Today, we celebrate the upcoming holiday season in an episode entitled "Thankfulness and Togetherness". In our first segment, we chat with Opus One singers, audience members, and board members and ask them why they are thankful for in-person music making and for community arts organizations like Opus One. Next, we interview Sydney Welch, author of "The Art of Collaboration". She explains the history of artistic cooperation, the Renaissance workshop model, and explains how relinquishing sole proprietorship and working together can produce a better end result. Finally, we talk with Heidi Williamson and Jason Brudereck, representatives of Berks County Community Foundation - a local grant organization that administers over 360 charitable funds and has awarded almost 60 million in grants and scholarships.

Hosts: Christopher Hoster, Debbi Silas, Scott Tice, Mikaila Milks

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

Ein feste Burg, BWV 720 by J.S. Bach

Fantasia, TWV 33, No.3, EM by Telemann

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook 

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

In this episode, we sit down "on location" with some of those involved in Opus One's upcoming Broadway Dinner Concert & Fundraising Event, planned for Sun, October 17 (5pm) at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Reading. The talented Maria Damore and Jonathan Reinhold will be headlining the performance, with Assistant Director Peter Sunderman conducting the choir. Tickets must be ordered online by October 8 [www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com]. We also feature Emily Fredericks, the choral director at Wilson High School, in our "Who's Making Reading Sing?" segment.

Hosts: Christopher Hoster and Scott Tice

Featured Music: 

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

Broadway Selections

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook 

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

In the first episode of our second season, we return to the topic of Covid-19. Together with representatives from Berks Arts and the Reading Musical Foundation, we explore how the pandemic continues to impact the arts in our community. We also talk to Wes Cipolla from the digital newspaper Berks Weekly on the return of music reviews.

Hosts: Christopher Hoster and Scott Tice

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

Op.19, No.1 from Songs Without Words by Felix Mendelssohn

*Played by Geert Ruelens and Diana Cook

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

In this episode, we dive into Opus One's upcoming concert of the same name ('Music of America'). We discuss important pieces that make up our nation's musical heritage including: songs of the Sioux and Cherokee, the Bay Psalm Book (1698), the collection entitled Slave Songs of the United States (1867), music from the Sacred Harp tradition, and more! The concert also includes pictures of our friends and relatives who have served our country in the armed forces. Our guests include Jeffrey Spenner (Assistant Director of the U.S. Coast Guard Band) and Chuck Ebersole (Director of the Ringgold Band).

Our online concert Music of America will be accessible from June 6 - June 20. Tickets are $10. Access the concert through our website: www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com/events or go directly to the TicketSpice portal: https://opusoneberkschamberchoir.ticketspice.com/music-of-america-a-virtual-concert-event.

Hosts: Christopher Hoster, Debbi Silas, Scott Tice

Featured Music: 

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy (OCTAVO's theme)

Selections from Opus One's upcoming concert 'Music of America'

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit: 

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

Music in the News, May 2021

Host: Debbi Silas

In this episode, we will be discussing how ensembles cope with difficult circumstances - whether that be the programming of insensitive repertoire or handling questionable and sometimes illegal activities by leaders in the artistic world. How does perception influence legacy? How does legacy influence perception? Our guests include Tammy Black (Executive Director of Berks Opera / Instructor of Music at Albright College), David Richie (President of Berks Opera), and Dr. Justin Vickers (Associate Professor of Music at Illinois State University).

Hosts: Christopher Hoster & Debbi Silas

Featured Music:

En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Debussy

Brindisi from La Traviata by Verdi

Two Chorales from St. John Passion by Bach

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit:

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com

In this episode, we will be discussing the wide-spread impact of Covid-19 is having on the arts, the ways in which organizations are coping with these challenges, and answering the question ‘where do we go from here?’ Our guests include Keri Shultz (President of Reading Musical Foundation), Meggan Kerber (Exexutive Director of Berks Arts), and Sarah McGrory (Choral Director at Conrad Weiser HS).

Hosts: Christopher Hoster, Debbi Silas, Scott Tice

Featured Music: En Bateau from 'Petite Suite' by Claude Debussy

Geert Ruelens & Diana Cook, piano four-hands

For more information about Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir, visit:

www.OpusOneChamberChoir.com