Dr. Bruce Southard, Stockton Chorale Artistic Director

(Stockcon, CA) In a strategic move that will enable it to apply its financial resources more directly to its artistic mission, the Stockton Chorale has renewed a historical partnership with San Joaquin Delta College. As a result, singers in both the regular large Chorale and the smaller Master Chorale will be able to participate in the 2016-17 season without paying any membership dues. Instead, the Chorale will operate as an evening course sponsored by Delta College’s Department of Music. Participants will register for Music 018/118 Chorale. In addition, the Stockton Singers, the Stockton Chorale’s non-auditioned adult choir, will also be “fee free” for the upcoming season thanks to a generous donation by member-singers Jan and Bruce Adams.

Dr. Bruce Southard, Director of Choral Activities at Delta College, continues as the Chorale’s Artistic Director. Southard was instrumental in working with Delta College administrators to revive the course. During the 1960s and 70s, the Chorale had been offered as an evening course at University of the Pacific before moving to Delta College. However, because of cuts to state funding that resulted from Proposition 13, Delta was forced to discontinue its support for the Chorale class. The Stockton Chorale non-profit organization assumed management of the ensemble and the system of membership dues was initiated.

The mission of the Stockton Chorale is “to inspirejoy and enrich our community through choral music.” The renewed arrangement with Delta College for the 2016-17 season supports that mission by extending the reach of the Chorale into new parts of the greater Stockton community. The large Chorale and Master Chorale class will be visible to the whole of Delta’s student, faculty, and staff. This greater visibility is expected to result in increased interest and participation in both ensembles, while reducing overhead costs for the Chorale organization, which also supports a vibrant youth choir program.

The Chorale has planned an exciting season for 2016-17. The season will begin in collaboration with the University of the Pacific choirs, Delta College choirs, and the Stockton Symphony for a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, followed in early December by a collage concert of holiday favorites. In the spring, the Chorale will perform John Rutter’s Mass of the Children accompanied by a full orchestra, and then finish out the season with “Peace Train,” a celebration of music from the 60s and 70s.

Regular Tuesday evening rehearsals for the Stockton Chorale will begin August 23 at 7 p.m. at Delta College. Regular Monday evening rehearsals for the Master Chorale will begin August 29 at 7 p.m. All rehearsals will be held in Holt 213 (choir room). Auditions to join the ensemble will be held on the following dates and times, in Holt 225:

• August 19: 4 pm – 8 pm
• August 20: 10 am – 4 pm
• August 23: 7 pm – 9:30 pm (following rehearsal)
• August 30: 7 pm – 9:30 pm (following rehearsal)

Complete performance calendar and audition information is available from the Chorale website: www.stocktonchorale.org/sing-with-us/ & Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheStocktonChorale.

The Stockton Chorale, founded in 1952, is an auditioned community chorus of singers from the Central Valley, Contra Costa County and the Sierra Foothills. The Conductor and Artistic Director of the Stockton Chorale is Bruce Southard. The Stockton Chorale organization supports a family of choruses for every age and level of skill and interest. For more information, visit us online at www.stocktonchorale.org or www.facebook.com/thestocktonchorale.

Stockton Chorale Publicity Images

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