Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus History
The Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus: a brief history
The Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus was formed when Cabrillo opened its doors in Watsonville High School in 1961. The first director was Ralph Kent, followed by Theodore Toews, Allen Illich, Gene Manners, and Antony Antolini. In the early years, the chorus performed in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the East Coast. In December 1988, Tony Antonlini led the chorus in a tour of the Soviet Union, performing Sergei Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The San Jose Public Television Station, KTEH, accompanied us and produced Rediscovering Rachmaninoff, a one hour documentary which has been shown all over the world.
In the fall of 1991, Cheryl Anderson stepped upon the podium, bringing her bright personality, brilliant musicianship, and a vast choral repertoire.
The Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus was formed when Cabrillo opened its doors in Watsonville High School in 1961. The first director was Ralph Kent, followed by Theodore Toews, Allen Illich, Gene Manners, and Antony Antolini. In the early years, the chorus performed in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and the East Coast. In December 1988, Tony Antonlini led the chorus in a tour of the Soviet Union, performing Sergei Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The San Jose Public Television Station, KTEH, accompanied us and produced Rediscovering Rachmaninoff, a one hour documentary which has been shown all over the world.
In the fall of 1991, Cheryl Anderson stepped upon the podium, bringing her bright personality, brilliant musicianship, and a vast choral repertoire.
- 2020 Season
The Cabrillo Music & Theater Arts Department performed a choral commemorating Matt Shepard in March of 2020. Craig Hella Johnson composed the secular oratorio in conjunction with the Matthew Shepard Foundation and has recently released rights to the work for public use. The Cabrillo Chorus, Cantiamo, and other community members took the stage under the direction of Cheryl Anderson and Joseph Ribeiro. Read a Good Times article about the production here.
2019 Season
INVOCATIONS with Santa Cruz Symphony, Daniel Stewart conducting, in April 2019
- Beethoven's Mass in C
- Salonen's Karawane
- Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243a by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Music of the season, plus sing-along traditional carols
2018 Season
RESURRECTION with Santa Cruz Symphony, Daniel Stewart conducting, in May 2018
- Mahler's Symphony No. 2
- Missa in Angustiis (Lord Nelson Mass by F. Joseph Haydn
- Music of the season, plus sing-along traditional carols
2017 Season
VERDI'S REQUIEM with the Santa Cruz Symphony, Daniel Stewart conducting, in May 2017
Sunset in My Hand, Ancient Voices of the Wild Pacific Coast, a new composition by Ēriks Ešenvalds in June 2017
35th Music for the Feast of Christmas, December 2017
- The Peace of Wild Things by Imant Raminsh,
- Music of the season, plus sing-along traditional carols
2016 Season
Monterey Symphony, Concert IV, March 2016
- Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53, by Johannes Brahms
- Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, Suites 1 and 2
- Beethoven Symphony No. 9
- Symphony No. 9 in D Minor “Choral” Op. 125 (1824)
- Vesperae solones de confessore by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2015 Season
SACRED & PROFANE with the Santa Cruz Symphony, Daniel Stewart conducting, May 2015
- O Magnum Mysterium - Victoria
- Carmina Burana - Orff
33rd Music for the Feast of Christmas, December 2015
- A concert with a Latin flare! The choir subsequently toured in Cuba.
The Music of Morten Lauridsen - February 21st, 2015 -with the composer at the piano, followed by a Gala Reception.
The Cabrillo Choirs were delighted to welcome distinguished composer, Morten Lauridsen, to Cabrillo College the week of February 16-21, 2015. The week-long series of events culminated in a very special concert honoring the exquisite music of this remarkable American composer.
The evening’s program under the fine direction of Cheryl Anderson, featured Lauridsen at the piano, with performances by Cantiamo!, the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Il Dolce Suono, Cabrillo Chorale, Cabrillo Youth Chorus, and the Chancel Choir from Peace United Church of Christ. A Gala Reception with Dr. Lauridsen followed the performance. Described by noted musicologist Nick Strimple as “the only American composer in history who can be called a mystic,” Lauridsen is internationally beloved for his compositions of beauty, intensity, ingenuity, and ability to evoke images and empathy.
From Lauridsen's lush 'Lux Aeterna' with full orchestra to his masterful song cycles: 'Mid-Winter Songs', 'Four Madrigals on Renaissance Texts', the brilliant 'Madrigali: Six “Fire Songs”' and his 'Nocturnes.' Other featured works were the stunning, serene setting of the James Agee poem “Sure On This Shining Night” ,the extraordinarily luminous and moving 'Prayer'to his most unforgettable choral works—'O Magnum Mysterium' and 'Dirait-on', the evening celebrated some of the most beautiful and enduring music the repertoire has to offer.
2014 Season
RENEWAL with the Santa Cruz Symphony, Daniel Stewart conducting, May 2014
- Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein
- Requiem Mass in D Minor, K 626, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Featuring the works of Morten Lauridsen:
- Sing-a-long carols
2013 Season
The War Requiem Op. 66 by Benjamin Britten in April 2013
- with Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Chorale & the Cabrillo Youth Chorus. Soloists Jake Williams, tenor, John Orduna, baritone, Sydney Gorham, Tanya Harris & Erykka Ximone, sopranos.
- Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat in D Major
2012 Season
POETIC SONGS with the Santa Cruz Symphony, John Larry Granger, conducting, May 2012
- Psalm 42 op. 42 "Wie der Hirsch schreit" ("As pants the Hart") - Felix Mendelssohn
- Dona Nobis Pacem, Ralph Vaughan Williams
- A Ceremony of Carols - Benjamin Britten
- O Magnum Mysterium / Jubilate Deo - Giovanni Gabrieli
- Verbum caro factum est - Hans Leo Hassler
- Tu es Petrus - Giovanni da Palestrina
- Gloria Fanfare - Jeffery L. Ames
- Gloria Patri - Cristobal Morales
- Alleluia - Paul Basler
- Sure on This Shining Night - Morten Lauridsen
- Ave Maria - Franz Biebl
- Medieval Gloria - Vijay Singh
- El Desembre Congelat - Valerie Shields
- Psalm 23 - Imant Raminsh
- Adonai Ro-I Lo Echasar -Gerald Cohen
- Gloria Fanfare - Jeffrey L. Ames
- Strike Up Your Instrument of Joy - John Edmunds
2011 Season
Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' with the Santa Cruz Symphony, John Larry Granger, conducting, April/May 2011
- Symphony No. 9. - Ludwig Von Beethoven’s
- Christmas Cantata - Daniel Pinkham
- The Pasture & Choose Something Like a Star - Randall Thompson
- People, Look East - Bruce Neswick
- I Say Three Ships - Mark Reise
- The Song of the Stars (Aloquin), The Sower (Navajo), The Sun is a Luminous Shield (Navajo) & Daybreak Song (Navajo) - Imant Raminsh
- Hands Across the Universe - David N. Childs
- Three Nocturnes - Dan Forrest
- Illumina Tenebre - Joan Szymko
- Veni, Sancte Spiritus - Andrea Ramsey
- O Nata Lux - Morton Luaridsen
- Bashana Haba'ah - Nurit Hirsch