Past performances

Here are examples of some of the works that we have performed in the past.

December 2011

Handel's Messiah

The Taos Community Chorus with conductor Tina Sandoval presents Handel’s magnificent oratorio Messiah. Handel’s Messiah is much a part of the holiday season for many and TCC’s music & artistic director Sandoval is bringing forth a near full-length rendition of this work with seldom heard solos and choruses in Parts II & III. Many new singers have joined the chorus this season to participate in this event and the community is buzzing about the upcoming performances. The Taos Community Chorus brings the music to their audiences...with four performances in Dixon, Arroyo Seco, and Taos.

Soloists include sopranos Esther Fichtelberg and Sarah Moser, mezzo soprano Elizabeth Calvert, contralto Julia Lacy Armstrong, countertenor Paul Fowler (December 10 & 11), tenor Mark Jackson, baritone Christopher Wyndham, and bass baritone William Waugh.  Mary Gates is pianist and Jan McDonald of Santa Fe is trumpet soloist.

TCC historian Anna Mae Patterson writes of George Frideric Handel:  “He was a stubborn man. He had a quick, explosive and often violent temper. He harangued and abused his employees mercilessly, once threatening to throw one of them out the window of a room several stories above the street. A large tall man physically, prone to consuming bountiful food and drink, he insisted on repeating a business strategy, long after the time it was successful. In his mid-50’s he saw his fortunes crumble – long-time patronage withdrew, employers rejected his products, society left him alone, he sank deeper into debt and physical illness. He seriously debated moving to another country and giving up his profession all together. The world, his and ours, is grateful he did not give up his profession. Rather he returned to a waiting project. The man was George Frideric Handel and the project was music for a libretto by Charles Jennens called Messiah."

The Taos Community Chorus continues with its 33rd season of “bringing people together through choral music.”  Forty to fifty women and men, ages 14-83, gather as volunteers each Monday evening for rehearsal.  Choristers come from all parts of Taos County and many different occupations and life experiences. TCC is a non-profit organization, funded by the singers, ticket sales and individual and business donations. The chorus is also supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Tickets to the Taos Community Chorus concerts are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, $8 seniors and students.  Advance tickets are available at Que Pasa (338 Paseo del Pueblo Sur).  For information, call 575.758.6966 or visit taoschorus.com.

 

May 2011 Program

Mendelssohn’s Elijah

“Never was there a more complete triumph—never a more thorough and speedy recognition of a great work of art.”  So reported The Times of London after Elijah’s premiere on August 26, 1846.  The Taos Community Chorus presents Mendelssohn’s vividly dramatic masterwork Elijah, with conductor Tina Sandoval, pianist Allan Armstrong, and principal soloists; baritone Mark Jackson (Elijah), soprano Isabella Draper (an Angel), mezzo soprano Elizabeth Calvert (an Angel), tenors Sam Shepperson (Obadiah, May 7) and Paul Fowler (Obadiah, May 8, 14 & 15), and 12-year-old soprano Sarah Moser (The Youth).  Performances of this great oratorio promise to be exciting and uplifting with exquisite solo and ensemble movements, and beautiful, vibrant and fiery choruses.

The concerts will take place at 7:00 Saturday May 7 at St. James Episcopal Church, 5:30 Sunday May 8 (Mother’s Day) at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 7:00 Saturday May 14 at St. James Episcopal Church, and ending the season 5:30 May 15 at San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos.  Performed in some of the most resonant and beautiful churches in Taos, the concerts will create an inspiring evening...perhaps a great mother’s day gift...a day in the park and an evening in a beautiful Taos church listening to elegant and majestic classical vocal music. “The churches are acoustically and artistically heavenly.  Elijah will be glorious, with the strong unified voices of the chorus, the dramatic interpretation, and the exceptional soloists,” states conductor and musical director Tina Sandoval.  A reception will follow the final performance at San Francisco de Asis on May 15.

 

December 2010 Program

The Taos Community Chorus, under the direction of Tina Sandoval, begins its 32nd season with Tesoros de España y Argentina...four concerts of choral works by composers and poets from Spain and Argentina.  These musical treasures express deep connections to the history, tradition and religion of the land, and the love, sorrows and joys of her people. 

One of the highlights of this diverse program is Romancero Gitano, a unique suite of pieces for choir and solo guitar by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, set to Federico García Lorca’s Poema del Cante Jondo (Poem of Deep Song, a type of flamenco singing).  Guitarist Roberto Capocchi of Santa Fe joins us on beautiful work.

Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez, is a folk Mass composed for choir, tenor, guitar, percussion and harpsichord.  It is a synthesis of popular and liturgical styles based on South American folk music, particularly the rhythms and melodies of Argentina.  This Mass is considered one of the utmost expressions of popular music in Argentina and has transcended borders to become appealing to audiences worldwide.  Mark Jackson, tenor soloist, leads us in this energetic and moving composition.  Other well-known Spanish composers included in the program are Joaquín Rodrigo, Rodolfo Halffter, Javier Busto, and Jesús Guridi.  Audiences will be captivated by the passion, color and depth of this music.

Tesoros

de España y Argentina

choral works by

Joaquín Rodrigo

Jo Tinc Un Burro

 

Jesús Guridi

Soy de Mieres

 

Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco

Romancero Gitano

for choir & solo guitar

text by Federico García Lorca

Roberto Capocchi, guitar

 

Javier Busto

Esta Tierra

 

Rodolfo Halffter

Tres Epitafios

 

and

 

Ariel Ramírez

Misa Criolla

 for mixed voices, tenor, and orchestra

Mark Jackson, tenor

Performances

Saturday December  4, 2010

Embudo Presbyterian Church, Dixon

Sunday December 5, 2010

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Taos

Saturday December 11, 2010

La Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco

Sunday, December 12, 2010

St. James Episcopal Church, Taos

All concerts are at 3:00 PM

Tickets $12 adults, $10 in advance (available at Que Pasa on November 20), $8 seniors & students. For more information 575.758.6966

Conductor - Tina Sandoval

Accompanist - Kathleen Mills

Roberto Capocchi, Guitarist

Guitarist Roberto Capocchi accompanied the Santa Fe Desert Chorale on Romancero Gitano last August. He is a very expressive classical guitarist with a varied color palette and wide dynamic range, who captivates his audiences with an unusually beautiful tone and rare musical refinement. Described as "one really fine classical guitarist with a sound to die for," Mr. Capocchi has performed to critical acclaim throughout the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Belgium. Mr. Capocchi was born in Brazil, where he received music degrees from the Lins de Vasconcelos Conservatory and Carlos Gomes College. From the University of Arizona, he holds a Master of Music Degree in Music Performance, and a doctorate, (D. M. A. - abd) in Performance and Music Theory.

Mark Jackson, Soloist

Tenor Mark Jackson’s formal training was at Boston Conservatory and his career has taken him to several places in the world where he has given concerts and opera performances in such exotic places as Islamabad, Pakistan, Maputo, Mozambique, Pretoria, South Africa, Brasilia, Brazil and throughout Switzerland. He has sung with many of the opera companies in the United States notably New York City Opera, Boston Opera Company, Boston Lyric Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Kansas City Opera, Central City Opera, Mid West Opera Theater and The Minnesota Opera. Since coming to Taos Mr. Jackson has given many concerts for the Harwood Museum of Art, performed with The Taos Chamber Music Group, is a soloist with the Taos Community Chorus, gives vocal recitals and master classes, and teaches private voice out of his Taos Institute of Vocal Arts studio.

Messiah Sing-Along

The Taos Community Chorus hosts a Messiah Sing-Along, Friday, December 17, 6:30 PM, First Presbyterian Church of Taos, 215 Paseo del Pueblo Norte (next to Kit Carson Park).  Join in this joyful singing event with Conductor Mark Jackson, Kathleen J. Mills, pianist, Neil Jenkinson, organist and favorite Taos soloists.  Bring your own score and booklight, or borrow a score at the door.  Admission is free, donations to TCC appreciated.  For more information 575.758.6966 or taoschorus.com.

Conductor - Tina Sandoval

Accompanist - Kathleen Mills

 

May 2010 Program

Sure On This Shining Night

a program of contemporary choral music

Conductor - Tina Sandoval

Accompanist - Kathleen Mills

click here to download our concert flier

Performances

Saturday May 1, 7:30 PM, Embudo Presbyterian Church, Dixon

Sunday May 2, 5:30 PM, St. James Episcopal Church, Taos

Saturday May 8, 7:30 PM, La Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco

Sunday, May 9, 5:30 PM, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Ranchos de Taos

 

 

Taos Community Chorus
P. O. Box 2422
Taos, NM 87571


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