Performances take place June 13 and 14 at St. Paul’s History Theatre
Special guests include children’s choirs from Shir Tikvah, Unity Church–Unitarian, Mayflower UCC
Concert highlights contemporary music by St. Paul-based composers
Artistic Director Jane Ramseyer Miller and One Voice Mixed Chorus—Minnesota’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and straight allies choir—close their season with a concert celebrating the environment, Lavender Green: Thinking Globally, Singing Locally. Throughout the program, the chorus blends humor and thoughtfulness to celebrate the grandeur of nature, honor the work of GLBT environmentalists and explore ways we all can be better stewards of our planet.
As part of its commitment to “singing locally,” One Voice highlights a number or works by St. Paul-based composers such as Steve Heitzig, Abbie Betinis and J. David Moore. In a special treat, children’s choirs from Shir Tikvah, Unity Church–Unitarian and Mayflower UCC join One Voice onstage for two selections. The concerts are on June 13, 2009, at 7:30 pm and June 14, 2009, at 3:30 pm at the History Theatre in downtown St. Paul. Ticket prices for the concert range from $18 to $25, or $10 for students and seniors; tickets are available on the chorus’ website, www.ovmc.org or by calling 651-298-1954.
One Voice Artistic Director Jane Ramseyer Miller. Artistic Director Jane Ramseyer Miller explains the importance of the environmental topic: “In recent years the environmental movement has made enormous strides and is now visible in mainstream thought within our homes, schools and communities. Many GLBT individuals honed their activist skills on issues of GLBT rights and social change and now are playing a significant role as leaders in the environmental movement. I’m excited to present this concert, incorporating the innocence of children’s voices and our own trademark humor to celebrate how far we have come and to remember the critical importance of building welcoming—and sustainable—communities .”
Lavender Green features a wide range of musical styles and eras, ranging from the 1700s to today. St. Paul-based composers have a place of honor in the concert; O Colored Earth by Steve Heiztig pays tribute to the sacredness of all life, and Spell of the Elements by Abbie Betinis honors the four elements (fire, air, water and earth) and mirrors the pagan practice of calling the four directions. In addition, local composers J. David Moore and Peter Berryman take a hilarious look at recycling and the state of our environment in their works Be Careful, Don’t Tear the Paper and Why Am I Painting the Living Room?
Joseph Haydn’s Come Lovely Spring is a classical work celebrating the goddesses of spring. Traditional music is featured in I Been in de Strom, a spiritual arranged as a tribute to the survivors of hurricane Katrina and Mi’kmac Honor Song, which incorporates Native American chants in honor of the Creator. Sarah Hopkins’ Many Lives, Many Songs draws on the musical traditions of her native Australia, featuring overtone singing and harmonic “whirlies.” Eric Whitacre’s Cloudburst, a setting a poem by Octavio Paz, uses handbells and percussion to imitate the sound of an approaching storm.
The children’s choirs join in for Heitzig’s O Colored Earth and an inspiring arrangement of the standard What a Wonderful World. Lavender Green concludes with To Make a Prairie, a simple setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson, and An Exhortation, a brand-new composition by David Conte based on President Obama’s acceptance speech on November 4, 2008.
As concert teasers, One Voice performs in several free community events across the Twin Cities between April and June. In honor of Earth Day, One Voice brings its music and message into three St. Paul schools (Wellstone Elementary, Humboldt Junior High and Community of Peace Academy) on April 24. On May 3, One Voice sings at church services at Unity Church–Unitarian in St. Paul at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, before joining In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre at 3:30 pm at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis in a celebration of May Day.
In addition, One Voice performs in the Queer Music Consortiums’ annual Pride concert at the Como Park Pavilion at 7:00 pm on June 1.
One Voice Mixed Chorus. For 20 years One Voice Mixed Chorus has united gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people and straight allies in working for social change. One Voice is known for its musical excellence, diverse repertoire, humor and strong commitment to community outreach. One Voice’s 90 singing members span ages 16 to 70, and its “Fifth Section” boasts more than 50 non-singing volunteers. Together, they dedicate their time and energy to the One Voice mission: “Building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song.” One Voice is the largest GLBT mixed chorus in North America, and has performed for thousands of people in the Twin Cities, Greater Minnesota and beyond. For more info: www.ovmc.org.
One Voice Mixed Chorus in concert. Lavender Green: Thinking Globally, Singing Locally
June 13 • 7:30 PM…………History Theatre
June 14 • 3:30 PM………… History Theatre
Address: 30 E 10th St, St. Paul
Tickets: 651-298-1954
Information: www.ovmc.org
Cost: $25 – $18; $10 seniors and students
