Musica Sacra

An exciting Music Ministry!

Concept:

Musica Sacra is to be a vocal chamber ensemble focusing on (but not limited to) great sacred Renaissance music, not only as concert literature but also its use in ancient and modern worship contexts.

Musica Sacra is to provide an avenue for serious choral singers from around the mid-peninsula area interested in the great music of the Church an opportunity to learn, perform and experience this music on both a musical and spiritual level in a Christian environment. 

Musica Sacra will perform this music with the highest level of musical proficiency, the most sophisticated level of the choral artistry and with appropriate historic performance practices.

Musica Sacra is to be a vehicle for community outreach by providing a visible (aural) Christian artistic and spiritual presence in the mid-peninsula area.

Musica Sacra prepares three sets of music per year for three primary concerts. Multiple performances of any or all of those concerts are possible. The 2009-2010 performing season will be announced in July of 2009.

 

Sponsorship

Musica Sacra is sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame. It is an outreach project of the music ministry of that congregation. Singers are not required or expected to be members or attendees of that congregation. The group has no regular duties related to the FPCB worship services. Christian diversity is encouraged. Our hope is to  encourage and inspire singers of other congregations and denominations.

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Musica Sacra in Concert
Sunday, November 28, 4:00 p.m. - "Wolcum Yole!"

On November 28 the first Sunday of Advent, Musica Sacra will present a concert at 4:00 p.m. of ancient and modern Advent and Christmas music culminating with the beloved “Ceremony of Carols” of Benjamin Britten.

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Auditions—by Appointment

Informal auditions are held in late August and early September, and at other times through out the year as needed. 
2010 Informal Audition Times - Wednesday Sept 1-Sunday Sept 5
& as needed at other times.

For an audition appointment contact:

Jackie Gainer at jgainer@burlpres.org , (650) 342-0875, ext 226

Rick Smith at rsmith@burlpres.org , (650) 342-0875, ext 225

Audition requirements:

[A] Written (approx 10 minutes)

Test - scales, intervals, time signatures, notation

Resume - Briefly list related singing experience you have had.

[B] Vocal (approx 10 minutes)

Vocalize - vocal range, quality, vowel placement

Pitch memory exercises - intonation, memory

Sight reading – accompanied

Other Information

Music Fees

Each singer is responsible for the cost of newly purchased music. This fee will vary from concert to concert and will be collected on the first rehearsal after every break. Cost for each set of concert set of music is estimated at $20.00 or less.

Performance Attire

Each singer is responsible for the proper attire for each concert. At present, this consists of an all black ensemble that is comfortable for singing.

Registration

An annual fee of $50.00 will be used to support the cost of publicity, instrumentalists as needed, incidental production costs, etc. Checks should be made to First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame (Music Sacra registration) and are to be paid at any rehearsal during the first two months of the season (September & October).

Leadership

Conductor & Musical Director: Rick L Smith

Rick is the Director of Music Ministry at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame, CA. He is a native of the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. He earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Michigan State University, where he studied with composer and conductor Dr. Robert A. Harris, now at Northwestern University in the Chicago area.  Rick earned the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Tennessee, where he studied with conductor Donald Neuen, now at UCLA. Rick has additional graduate study in Church Music Education.

Photo: CP Larson Photography

For more than 30 years he has worked professionally as a church musician in the Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist traditions. Before coming to California He served churches in Tennessee, the Atlanta Metro area, and St. Petersburg, FL. His choirs have toured the U.S., England, Italy, Spain, and Scotland, leading worship in such places as Westminster Abbey and St. Peter’s Basilica. Rick has also conducted community choruses in Georgia and Florida. Throughout his career and education he has championed early sacred music and its impact on the modern listener. Rick is also an accomplished composer/arranger and a teacher, both privately and in workshops and classes.

For more information about

Musica Sacra

or to schedule an audition

please contact Jackie Gainer

jgainer@burlpres.org

or (650) 342-0875, ext. 226.