SAN DIEGO—Two years after making its debut as part of Balboa Park’s centennial celebrations, the San Diego Sings! Festival will return Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.
San Diego Sings! Festival 2017, planned and presented by the Choral Consortium of San Diego, will feature 22 of the top choral groups in San Diego County performing by turn in a free concert, then joining together (more than 1,000 voices) to perform “The Gift of Singing” by living California composer Kirke Mechem, conducted by San Diego’s legendary choral conductor, Dr. David Chase. (Mr. Mechem may attend the event, schedule permitting.)
The first event, in 2015, presented the largest number of singers performing a choral piece together live on stage in San Diego’s history, and this year’s festival should match that spectacle. Photos from the 2015 event are attached. High-res available.
“Our first San Diego Sings! Festival was very well received and we are excited to bring it back to our own Balboa Park, showcasing the depth and breadth of San
Diego’s choral groups with this one-of-a-kind event,” said Choral Consortium President Carol Manifold, co-chair with Sally Dean, Artistic Director of San Diego North Coast Singers.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for all San Diegans and visitors to hear a wide variety of groups, for free, in a lovely outdoor setting, as well as to hear a delightful piece sung by 1,000 voices. That is not an experience most people will ever get to have in their lifetimes, and we’re delighted to be able to offer it to our community.”
Participating performers range from children’s choruses and barbershop groups to a Renaissance chorus, and from community choirs and women’s groups to a school chorus and a Chinese choral society. Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., each participating group will perform alone on stage for a 12-minute set under its own conductor, in programming of its choice. At approximately 1:00 p.m., the members of all the choruses in attendance will gather on and around the Spreckels Organ Pavilion stage to join their 1,000 voices in performing “The Gift of Singing.”
San Diego Sings! Festival 2017 Participating Choruses:
Escondido Choral Arts Center Children’s Chorus
Escondido Choral Arts Center Chorale
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego Women’s Chorus
La Rondalla De San Diego
Pacificaires/Cedar Center Chorus
San Diego Chinese Choral Society
San Diego North Coast Singers Youth Chorus and Sorelle Women’s Chamber Chorus
San Diego Sun Harbor Barbershop Chorus
Temecula Preparatory School Mixed Choir
Subject to change without notice.
