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Bella Voce Hosts Donor Thank-You Tea
    
Oh what fun! Many, many thanks to our donors for their support
this year!
BV to perform with Burlington Chamber Orchestra
Bella Voce is excited to
perform Vivaldi's "Gloria" in the original historical version of treble
voice and strings with the highly acclaimed Burlington Chamber Orchestra.
The concert will be held Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8 pm at the UVM recital
hall.
The Burlington Chamber Orchestra will open with soprano Shyla Nelson
singing a selection of Mozart’s Concert Arias. On the second half of the
concert the BCO and
Shyla Nelson will be joined by mezzo-soprano Evelyn Kwanza and the Bella
Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont for a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Bella Voce rehearsing with Michael
Hopkins,
BCO Music Director
Songs of Joy and Peace
2009 Holiday Concerts
by Frank Whitcomb, President, Vermont Chapter, American Choral
Directors Association
 It
was a great weekend in the Burlington area for performances; indeed the
last two weeks have been filled with opportunities, and the next two
weeks are just a exciting. Choral music is alive and well here, and I am
sure the same is true elsewhere.
I attended the Saturday evening performance of Bella Voce's concert last
night, "Glad Tidings! Songs of Joy and Peace." This performance was over
too soon for my taste! Don't get me wrong though; there was ample music
and it was a beautiful evening as well, but when one finds choral
excellence like this, it is never enough. The music was of the highest
quality and was performed with the finesse and passion seldom
encountered in our area. This is not to slight any other performing
ensemble, for there are many fine ones on our state. But this group 
continues to grow in sophistication and excellence. Dawn Willis has
taken this ensemble and molded them into something quite exquisite. Her
own arrangement of "How Great My Joy" was an appropriate opener and
immediately caught my attention for its' phrasing and intonation, as
well as clear declamation of the text; in fact, there was never a time
during the entire performance when I did not clearly understand the
text. I do believe this was even better than last springs performance!
Clear diction, with beautiful vowels and excellent intonation are not
things that just happen. It takes work from all and knowledgeable
attention from the director. I feel quite confident in stating that this
group is "tight!" Several of their selections were accompanied by
guest harpist Grace Cloutier, and the setting of John Rutter's "Dancing
Day" (consisting of six carol settings and two interludes for the harp)
was a highlight of the evening. The women's artistic performance was
only superceded by the artistic accompanying on the harp. Grace Cloutier
is quite simply put an artist on her instrument, and the combination of
the Bella Voce women and her playing was stunning. Bella Voce now has a
select auditioned group from within the ranks of the chorus, and their
name is "Cantiamo." They performed three selections with the same
attention to detail as the larger group, with beautiful tuning and the
charm and grace that can only be achieved from a chamber ensemble. The
performance ended with some beautiful settings of seasonal music that
had the audience almost immediately on their feet;
I am generally quite reluctant to give standing ovations for anything
but excellence, but I had no problem being one of the first to do so.
Congratulations to Dawn Willis, Director, Glory Reinstein, Assistant
Conductor, Kate McRae, Mentored Conductor, and all soloists for a
beautiful Christmas performance that celebrated the season as I think it
should be celebrated. I could not have asked for anything more.
 December
2009: Choir member Doris Ogden and friend Dot Commo, winner of the raffle
for the Delectable Mountains quilt handmade and generously donated by
Caroline Edmunds.
World Premiere of "East Bay" at May 2009 Concerts
 Bella
Voce celebrates Lake Champlains 400th year with a concert featuring
a number of songs that are based on topics related to water. Of
 special
note is a set of 3 pieces entitled "East Bay" for women's voices and
woodwind quintet which Bella Voce commissioned from
Dr. Michael Hopkins, Director of the
UVM Symphony Orchestra. The texts for these pieces are drawn from poetry
by Anne Spencer Lindbergh (1940-1993) the daughter of Anne Morrow
Lindbergh, who lived in Vermont for many years. These texts reflect
upon meeting the challenges of life with courage and inner serenity .
Dr. Michael Hopkins, Composer
Dr. Michael Hopkins works with Dr. Dawn Willis, Artistic Director,
and the choir in preparing the "East Bay" pieces.
Bella Voce Hosts Festival of World Music
in January 2009
Bella
Voce Women’s Chorus of Vermont and the Essex High School Women’s Chorus -
Kaleidoscope hosted a World Music for Women’s Voices Festival featuring
a performance by “Libana” – the outstanding world music ensemble from
Boston - on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Essex High School in Essex
Junction, VT. Women's choirs from around Vermont joined us for a
workshop culminating in an exciting joint performance that evening.
 Hailed
as "Troubadours of Peace," Libana is a women's world music ensemble
that has been touring nationally and internationally for 29 years, giving
concerts and workshops that celebrate the creativity and spirit of women
around the world. Libana has released seven CD’s including a
trilogy of world rounds and chants (each with an accompanying songbook).
For further information, please visit their website at
www.libana.com.
 Christmas
Joy CD Released
Bella Voce announces the release of our second
commercially available CD – Christmas Joy. The CD
features a selection of twenty Christmas carols; classic selections for
women’s voices which range from Johannes Brahms’
Ave Maria and Benjamin Britten’s
This Little Babe (from A Ceremony of Carols) to arrangements of carols
and spirituals that hold a revered place in the rich tapestry of choral
music. Bella Voce is especially proud to include on this recording
Mary Had A Baby: a new arrangement of Christmas spirituals for
women’s voices, brass, harp, woodwinds and percussion by Vermont composer
and arranger, Robert DeCormier.
Times-Sentinel review of October 2008 concert: Celebrating Life: Five
Great Years and Still Growing!
Bella Voce!
I attended a performance at
the Cathedral Church of St. Paul Oct. 23. The concert featured Bella
Voce under the direction of Dr. Dawn Willis, whose influence has certainly
shaped this group of women into an amazing musical organization that has,
in five years since their first concert, carried the name of Vermont to
festivals outside the state and to Ireland most recently.
The concert was made up of
favorite pieces in several genres, and concluded with a performance of
part of the text from Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "A Gift from the Sea" set by
Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker who was present. Narration for the
piece was read by reeve Lindbergh, the writer's daughter.
Performance standards were high, and the audience responded appropriately
to everything they heard.
--by Dan Wolfe,
Times-Sentinel, 10/29/08
Bella Voce Premieres New
Walker Cantata
Lessons from
the Sea, a new work by the acclaimed Vermont composer, Gwyneth Walker,
premiered in Montpelier, Saint Johnsbury
and Shelburne, Vermont April 4-6, 2008.
The texts Walker selected for this work were drawn from the words of Anne
Morrow Lindbergh’s inspirational book,
Gift from the Sea. Bella Voce was honored to have the author’s
daughter, Reeve Lindbergh, join them for these performances as the
Narrator.
Listen to a segment on VPR.
Watch a video of this performance.
 New
DeCormier Commission Recorded
In January 2008 Bella Voce recorded it's
second CD, featuring a new commission by Vermont composer Robert DeCormier.
In December
2007 Bella Voce premiered his new work “Mary had a Baby – a Suite
of Christmas Spirituals”, a cantata of four spirituals influenced by
African-American and Afro-Caribbean cultures with woodwind instruments and
double bass. The CD will feature a variety of holiday music
accompanied by harp, flute, clarinet, bassoon and French horn.
Bella Voce Performs at
Gwyneth Walkers 60th Birthday Celebration
October 2007 marked the
celebration of Chandler Hall's 100th anniversary and composer Gwyneth
Walker's 60th birthday, when choirs and musicians around the nation joined
to participate in a two-day festival in Randolph, Vt. Bella Voce was
featured singing selections by Gwyneth Walker for women's voices and
joined other area choirs in performing a varied repertoire based on the
composer's works.
Now Let Us Sing! CD Now
Available (read more)
We are excited to produce
our first CD, with brass quintet, percussion and piano. Selections
by composer Gwyneth Walker include:
Now Let Us Sing!
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Peace, I Ask Of Thee O River
Songs for Women's Voices:
Women Should Be Pedestals, Mornings Innocent, The Name is Changeless,
Love is a Rain of Diamonds, In Autumn, I Will Be Earth
I Thank You God
Crossing The Bar
Hebrides Lullaby
Let
Evening Come
The Spirit of Women:
So Many Angels, Walk That Valley, Never
Sit Down
Gifts from the Sea
Reviews from our May, 2007
Concert
The Tenth Muse
Bella Voce's concert: a gift to the community, by Dan
Wolfe, Vermont Times, May 23, 2007
Bella Voce concert Friday
evening:
Songs of strength and Spirit come to St. Albans,
by Tammy Jo Sellers, St. Albans Messenger, May 17, 2007.
New Music for Women's
Voices Commissioned
Bella Voce has engaged
Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker to write a
cantata, “Lessons from the Sea,” based on Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s
inspirational book “Gift from the Sea”.
“Gift from the Sea” is one of the most
beloved classics of inspirational literature. Through these essays,
Lindbergh shares her
meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and
contentment. Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, Lindbergh’s
musings on the shape of a woman’s life bring new understanding to both men
and women at any stage of life. Bringing this
inspirational work to music will reach a new audience for choral music –
lovers of this treasured book. Bella Voce intends to perform this work
April 4-6, 2008. See
the performance schedule for more details.
Bella Voce Performs on
Vermont Public Radio
On December 21 Bella Voce
performed a holiday concert on the air with VPR, featuring a set of French
Carols and other pieces accompanied by a brass quintet. The music of
Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker, including her delightful arrangement
entitled "So Many Angels" was a special highlight. Festive songs of
the season rounded out the concert!
Bella Voce
Performs at Special Birthday Celebration
On June 22, 2006, Bella
Voce was invited to perform at a very special 100th birthday tribute to
author and aviator Anne Morrow Lindbergh at the Athenaeum in St.
Johnsbury. Reeve Lindbergh, daughter of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and famous
aviator Charles Lindbergh, hosted the event.
Charles and Anne Morrow
Lindbergh in 1931
Bella Voce performed a piece by composer Gwyneth Walker based on an
excerpt from Lindbergh's well-known novel "Gift from the Sea". As a
special treat - Gwyneth joined Bella Voce for the performance! What a
great day!
Winner of the 2006 Quilt
Raffle. Thank you Caroline, for crafting such a beautiful quilt!
Bella Voce in NYC!
 On
February 17, 2006 Bella Voce Women's Chorus and Kaleidoscope (Essex
Junction High School's women's chorus) perform at the Eastern Division
American Choral Director's Assoc. Convention held in New York City. The
choirs performed during an Interest Session presented by Dawn Willis and
Glory Douglass.
The
hour-long session entitled DISCOVERING COMMON GROUND THROUGH COMMON
SOUND consisted of the two choirs singing some double choir music for
SSAA choirs. In addition, the conductors and various choir members
talked about building relationships between community and school choirs.
A Visit From
Robert DeCormier
On November 14, 2005, we were honored by a
visit from world-renowned Vermont composer and arranger,
Robert DeCormier.
He stopped by to hear us perform (for the first time!) his newly
commissioned piece written for Bella Voce and Kaleidoscope entitled
"Hold On!" an arrangement of an African-American spiritual. He spent
some time with the combined choruses helping us to understand the
sound he wanted us to achieve for this piece. We were thrilled when he
decided to stay for the entire rehearsal.
Composer/Arranger
Robert DeCormier and
Dawn Willis, Bella Voce
Music Director
And another great Vermont composer,
Gwyneth Walker
stopped by a on October 24 to sit in on a rehearsal and attend an
October 26th fund-raising concert that included Bella Voce and
Kaleidoscope performing several of her pieces including "Let Evening
Come" and "Hebrides Lullaby " at our December 3rd, 2005, concert.
Ms. Walker works directly with Glory Douglass and the women of
Kaleidoscope - Essex High School's women's chorus, as they listen
intently to her artistic interpretation of "Don't Sit Down", a piece
she composed about women's rights. The audience at the October 26,
2005 concert loved every minute and were really excited to have the
composer present. We were too!
Composer Gwyneth Walker and Dawn Willis
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