San Francisco Girl's Chorus

Since its founding in 1978, the SFGC has been a pioneer in the field of choral music for young women's voices. The organization has shown the world that a chorus of young women is capable of remarkable beauty, flexibility, tonal warmth, and expressive power. Chorissima and Virtuose, the Girls Chorus' acclaimed concert, touring and recording ensembles, under the leadership of Artistic Director Susan McMane, perform a full range of traditional works for treble voice, sung in over 12 different languages and 16 parts, with an emphasis on music composed specifically for young female voices. The Girls Chorus is a regional center for music education and choral training for girls and young women ages 7-18. More than 325 singers from 160 schools in 47 Bay Area cities participate in this internationally renowned program, called "a model in the country for training girls' voices" by the California Arts Council. The organization comprises six choruses: Chorissima and Virtuose (the acclaimed concert and touring ensembles) and the four-level Chorus School program. It is hoped that the discipline and concentration learned by each student-artist in rehearsal and performance will instill in her the values necessary to succeed in music and in life.

Susan McMane, Artistic Director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, conducts Chorissima and Virtuose, the organization's acclaimed concert, touring, and recording ensembles. Before coming to SFGC in 2001, Dr. McMane served on the music faculties the University of North Dakota and Saint Louis University, and was Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the St. Louis Women's Chorale. She has extensive experience training the female voice and has won numerous awards for her work, including the 1999 University of Missouri-Kansas City Women's Council Fellowship Award with Outstanding Merit. Dr. McMane was also named Music Educator of the Year by the St. Louis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists in 1998. Her choirs have achieved great acclaim in Europe and the United States, including honors at the International Eisteddfod Competition in Llangollen, Wales. She has conducted many Festival Honor Choirs and is highly regarded as a choral clinician and adjudicator.

She earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she studied under renowned conductor Eph Ehly. She also holds two degrees in Vocal Performance: a Bachelor's degree from Tulane University and a Master's degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. McMane has prepared Chorissima for performance with such prestigious conductors as Michael Tilson Thomas, Kurt Masur and Helmut Rilling. She has commissioned and premiered works by American composers Libby Larsen, Linda Tutas Haugen, Kurt Erickson and James Meredith, and Venezuelan composer, Alberto Grau. In collaboration with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, she prepared the Chorus for a performance and recording of works by Bay Area composer Andrew Imbrie and for a solo CD, Christmas. Under her leadership, the Chorus has sung at the Oregon Bach Festival, the 6th World Symposia on Choral Music in Minneapolis, and on international tours to Latvia, Estonia and Finland. In 2005, Chorissima will represent the United States as Headliner at the 7th World Symposia on Choral Music held in Kyoto, Japan.

Discography

Voices of Hope and Peace

Vivios Voco - Szymko A Hope Carol - Conte Echo - La Rocca Nada Te Turbe - Szymko I Shall Keep Singing - Holmes The Womanly Song Of God - Larsen Sunshine and Clouds Sing Me To Heaven - Gawthrop Anne Frank: A Living Voice - Haugen Hebrew Rounds For Peace

Beginning in 2004 with their desire to record "Anne Frank, A Living Voice," written for Chorissima's 25th Anniversary, "Voices" is the result of their search for work by women writers like Frank, who were longing for change in their situations. Joan Szymko's powerful "Vivos Voco" and "Nada Te Turbe" (with text by St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82), "A Hope Carol," and "Echo," which feature wonderful poems by Christina Rossetti (1830-94), and "I Shall Keep Singing," with text by Emily Dickinson, are fine examples. Libby Larsen's "The Womanly Song of God" and "Sing Me to Heaven," with text by Jane Griner, lead us into the lovely, haunting 7-part "Anne Frank, A Living Voice," which touches and moves us on many levels. "Hebrew Rounds for Peace" is an apt choice for the final tune. Light accompaniment throughout, and extensive, colorful liner notes. "Voices" is another beautiful, powerful, well-chosen collection by Susan McMane's talented San Francisco Girls Chorus.

Listen to "Sunshine and Clouds" in Real Audio

Crossroads

Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia Nigra Sum Como Tu Schlof Main Kind Heaven Bound Train Deep River J'entend Le Moulin My Lagan Love Bellbird Rainbird Niska Banja Taivas On Sininen Picking The Seedpods Of Lotus The Cataract Of Mount Lu Queen Jane Sachaki,Sachaki Las Amarillas

Founded in 1978, the San Francisco Girls Chorus, for girls 11-16, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Technically, this CD is by Chorissima, the 41-strong acclaimed concert and touring ensemble of the SFGC. This is a powerful, impressive, internationally-flavored CD of 17 songs most lightly accompanied, from David Brunner's "Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia," and Pablo Casals' "Nigra Sum," to the Mexican folk song "Las Amarillas." The beautiful, extensive liner notes have all the words. Marvelous!

6643 CD $15.98

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

It All Depends On How You Look At It Man Proposes, God Disposes Terezin The Butterfly The Garden The Little Mouse On A Sunny Evening Yes, That's The Way Things Are Birdsong ComoTu Nigra Sum In Paradisum Seven Songs From The Medea Of Euripides Aglepta "Suite" De Lorca The Wendigo Tavaszi Kantata

The San Francisco Girls Chorus, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, was founded in 1978. The 11 to 16 years old, 45-strong chorus has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts, festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Subtitled "Songs Of The 20th Century," is from 20th century composers such as Charles Davidson, who put the poetry and artwork of young Holocaust victims into "I Never Saw Another Butterfly," the first 9 songs of this CD. Then come works by Grau, Pablo Casals, Ernst Krenek, Virgil Thompson, Arne Mellnas, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Judith Shatin and Laszlo Halmos, all sung by the girls1 beautiful soprano voices. Dwight Okamura accompanies on piano and Todd Manley on percussion.

Listen to "In Paradisium" or "Tavaszi Kantata" in Real Audio

Music From The Venetian Ospedali

GLORIA IN D MAJOR, RV 589 (c. 1716) ANTONIO VIVALDI Gloria In Excelsis Deo, Et In Terra PaxHominibus, Laudamus Te, Gratias Agimus Tibi, Domine Deus, Rex Coelestis, Domine Fili Unigenite, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Qui Tollis Peccata Mundi, Qui Sedes Ad Dexteram Patris, Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus, Cum Sancto Spritu PANGE LINGUA NO.2 (c. 1727) GIOVANNI PORTA Pange Lingua Gloriosi, In Supremae Nacte Coenae, Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, MAGNIFICANT (between 1724-1739) NICOLA PORORA, Magnificant Anima Mea, Dominum, Et Exultavit, Et Misericordia, Fecit Potentiam, Gloria Patri, Sicut Erat In Principio MISSA PRO DEFUNCTIS (1767) FRANCESCO BRUSA Introitus: Requiem, Kyrie: Maestoso, Christe: Andantino, Kyrie: Capella, Sequentia : Dies Irae, Mors Stupebit. Judex Ergo um Sedebit, Quid Sum Mister Tunc Dicturus, Rex Tremendae Majestatis, Sanctus, Adoramus Te, Agnus Dei

The 11 to 16 years old members of San Francisco Girls Chorus, led by conductor Sharon J. Paul, have established an international reputation, since their founding in 1978, through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. This is actually Chorissima, the 41-member concert and touring ensemble of the Chorus, and this is a tour-de-force CD of 17th century Italian sacred music. The angelic voices perform 32 classic, soaring songs by such composers as Vivaldi, Porta, Porpora and Brusa. Accompanied by various strings, oboe, trumpet and organ. Beautiful!

6646 CD $15.98

Christmas

What Sweeter Music (Eleanor Daley) Ding Dong! Merrily on High (Tableaux de Noel, arr. Stephen Mager) Hodie (Joan Szymko) Magnificat (Johann Michael Haydn) Duo Seraphim clamabant (Tomas Luis Victoria) The First Nowell (English carol, arr. David Willcocks) Veni, veni Emmanuel / O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (French processional, arr. David Willcocks) How Far Is It To Bethlehem? (English carol, arr. David Willcocks) Fum, Fum, Fum (Spanish carol, arr. Kirke Meehem) Tota pulchra es (Maurice Durufle) Laudate pueri Dominum (Johann MIchael Haydn) O frondens virga (Hildegard von Bingen) Noel des enfants ui n'ont plus de maisons (Claude Debussy) Nada te turbe (Joan Szymko) Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (English carol, arr. John Rutter) Go Where I Send Thee (Spiritual, arr. Stephen Hatfield) Winter Wonderland (Smith and Bernard, arr. Scott Farthing)

The outstanding San Francisco Girls Chorus sings some of the most treasured carols and contemporary Christmas music. An exciting program, this recording includes Michael Haydn's "Magnificat" for chorus and orchestra, "Fum, Fum, Fum!" arranged for chorus and harp by Kirke Mechem as well as a beautiful interpretation of "O frondens virga," by Hildegard von Bingen. This CD features performances by Chorissima and the smaller chamber ensemble Virtuose. Led by Susan McMane, this recording is a gift of song for the holidays.

Listen to "How Far Is It To Bethlehem?" in Real Audio.

San Francisco Christmas

Procession Wolcum Yole There Is No Rose That Yonge Child Balulalow As Dew In Aprille This Little Babe Interlude In Freezing Winter Night Spring Carol Deo Gracias Recession Personent Hodie Joy To The World Away In A Manager Good King Wenceslas Dime El Camino Ave Maria More I Cannot Wish You Silent Night

The 11 to 16 years old, 41-strong San Francisco Girls Chorus, conducted by Sharon J. Paul, was founded in 1978 and has established an international reputation through appearances at concerts,festivals and competitions, and radio programs such as NPR. Dwight Okamura accompanies on piano and Sarah Voynow on harp. "A San Francisco Christmas" features Britten’s "A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28," "Personent Hodie," arranged by John Rutter, "Joy To The World," "Away In A Manger," "Good King Wenceslas," "Dime el Camino," "Ave Maria," "More I Cannot Wish You," and "Silent Night." The angelic voices of these young women soar as if in a cathedral, singing difficult classical music effortlessly and perfectly. A triumph!

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