Past concert archives
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Music and Sweet Poetry, April 29 & 30, 2017
Our spring 2017 concerts brought our audiences a delightful blend of romantic poetry, the wit of Shakespeare, and the whimsy of Lewis Carroll and Dr. Seuss, all set to music. The highlights ranged from madrigals such as “Sing We and Chant It”, to musical renditions of poems such as Mary Coleridge’s “The Bluebird”, Robert Frost’s “The Pasture”, Dr. Suess’s “Green Eggs and Ham”, and Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky”. Two middle-school-aged guest choirs—Eckstein Middle School Choir (Saturday) and the Endolyne Children’s Choir (Sunday)—also presented impressive performances of their own before joining the Chorale for “It Takes a Village” by Joan Szymko. We were also gratified by the support of our audience and Chorale members, who donated about 275 new or slightly used children’s books for Childhaven, a nonprofit that encourages children to read. |
Peace in a Time of War, December 3 & 4, 2016
Our Winter Concerts offered the opportunity to rise above the challenges of the day and take inspiration from beautiful music. We sang both classic and fresh music providing healing and solace in difficult times.
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The Radio Hour, April 30 & May 1, 2016
The Magnolia Chorale celebrated "Love in the Pops" through the decades. We presented a selection of popular favorites from the 1930s to the 1990s, awakening memories as we sang the eternal truths of hope and love, loss and joy that make us human. Chorale members chose attire that reflected one of those decades, resulting in a look rather different from our usual. Heather Thomas on drums and Dune Butler on bass accompanied the performances. Last Call, an ensemble of singers and rhythm section directed by local jazz artist Kelly Kunz, presented intimate numbers after intermission. 1930s Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love) Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off 1950s Rockin’ Robin (1958) Bye Bye, Love (1957) 1960s Stand By Me (1961) Best of the Beach Boys The Beatles in Revue 1970s Disco Fever Medley I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (1971) 1980s ABBA Forever medley 1990s and beyond Arrangement by E. Norberg Passenger – Scare Away the Dark with Last Call |
Merrily Sing, December 5 & 6, 2015
For the 2015 holiday season, the Magnolia Chorale presented "Merrily Sing." This potpourri of familiar favorites and delightful new songs challenged us while proving to be highly enjoyable. We opened with "O Magnum Mysterium" and "In Dulci Jubilo." The repertoire included John Rutter's treatment of "Somerset Wassail," as well as a lovely medley entitled "A 'Soalin'." The chance to sing of home and inspiration, three jolly songs about adult beverages, and three sleighing songs finished up the program. We were privileged to present the major content of this program to the Mirabella Seattle retirement community, giving us an opportunity to lift our voices yet again for another wonderful audience. The participation of the Lawton Elementary Choir on Saturday and Seattle Girls' Choir, Vivissimi, on Sunday added to the joy and richness of our concert. Everyone was amazed and delighted at the professionalism, musicality and verve of these young children. Special thanks to Elaine Cooper, director of the Lawton choir, and all the folks at Seattle Girls' Choir for their assistance. Read more in the blog: From Flying Reindeer to Wiggling Snickelways - What a Ride! |
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Songs at an Exhibition May 2 & 3, 2015
“Songs at an Exhibition” melded visual arts and music. This lively blend of joyous singing with imaginative art presented a remarkable synergy that proved to be gorgeous and fun, as well as visually stunning. We celebrated Seattle's incredible natural beauty and its unique population of coffee-charged citizens who are willing to get stuck in traffic on their way to mile-high bowls of home-grown butter clams. Our Music Director Dr. Jean-Marie Kent selected choral pieces that are snapshots of the Seattle lifestyle and experience such as rain, trees, the Native American influence, coffee, traffic, and even peace of mind. The participating artists chose one of the songs to create new works of art inspired by the music. We invited artists who work in a variety of media… painting, watercolor, ceramics, sculpture, fiber and photography. Each work was displayed at the concerts for our audience members to further visualize and appreciate the connection between the music and the art. Read John Keliher's Facebook review, republished on our blog, for details. |