Join us as we travel, virtually, to the other continents to explore how they celebrate the holiday season. We’ll be joining in song, forming virtual choirs with each of them, as we share their music and culture. Then we’ll join together in one global performance of a treasured Christmas carol. Once again, as with our Virtually Elijah from last season, we’ll be offering this concert for free to a world-wide audience.
The idea for Schola Around the World came about when we received a Facebook comment from Schola Cantorum Akto in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We exchanged messages about our mutual situations regarding the pandemic. After some discussion about our course through these uncharted waters, the idea of a world-wide collaborative concert came up. Subsequently, we found three other partners: Coro Normalista de Puebla from Mexico, Vilnius Pro Musica from Lithuania, and the Asan Civic Choir (아산시립합창단) from South Korea.
Update! We have allied with another fine musical organization: Coral Cantares from Brazil has joined our partnership. Welcome! Additionally, Schola’s talented Assistant Artistic Director, Dawn Reyen, has arranged the famous carol Silent Night to include verses from our partner choirs, plus sounds from the ice of Antarctica! So, the tally is now six countries on six continents!
Along with everyone else, we are disappointed that we can’t present live music to live audiences at the moment. We will resume our tradition of presenting outstanding live choral music as soon as we can do so safely, but in the meantime we must protect the health of our members and our audience. However, when one door closes, another one opens: our audience has expanded from the Bay Area to the world!
In the Fall of 2019 we began an exciting new era in Bay Area choral performance! Dr. Buddy James, our new Artistic Director and a long-time fan of Schola, brought fresh and exciting ideas to our 2019–2020 season. He’s continuing on that path this season as we meet the challenges presented by the pandemic. Schola will offer its second virtual concert in December 2020, to a world-wide audience.
Normally, Schola sells tickets and subscriptions for its live performances to defray a portion of our expenses. Our goal this season is to provide the wonders of choral music through online free offerings. We just want the music to continue! Of course, we welcome your support. If you would like to make a donation to Schola, simply click the Donate button at the top of the page.