Peninsula Women's Chorus

The Peninsula Women's Chorus is an award-winning women's choir based at Palo Alto, California.

History

In 1966, after a decade of involvement with local musical ensembles, Marjorie Rawlins of Palo Alto founded the American Association of University Women Midpeninsula Chorus, with 17 members. She soon recognised the limitations of working within the AAUW graduates' organisation, and abandoned the affiliation; the choir was subsequently renamed the University Women’s Chorus. The principles established from the outset were that, although the choir was informal, its aims would be ambitious. In particular, members were expected to sing all pieces from memory, and the repertoire was to be ambitious, with many pieces sung in foreign languages.

When Mrs Rawlins left in 1975, the members, by then increased to over 50, appointed 25-year-old Patricia (Patty) Hennings as their new director. Under her leadership the choir, soon rechristened the Peninsula Women's Chorus to emphasize its inclusive recruiting policy (though it maintained an association with Foothill College), continued to increase its standards, and[1] in 1982 was selected by Stanford University for a project to record vocal scores written from memory in a Second World War prison camp on Sumatra by Margaret Dryburgh and Norah Chambers, as recorded in the TV documentary Song of Survival.[2] This was such a success that the Chorus performed in Europe in 1984.

Patricia Hennings, after suffering for several years from cancer, died in December 2001;[3] for a short time her place was taken by Karen Robinson, until the current director, Argentinian-born Martín Benvenuto, was appointed in fall 2003.

Unusual repertoire

The Peninsula Women's Chorus adopted a policy of commissioning new works to suit the Chorus, in addition to scouring the musical histories of cultures throughout the world.[4] In both 1999 and 2003, the Chorus received ASCAP awards for adventurous programming- the first group to receive the award twice,[5] and between 1987 and 2001, they performed three times for the national convention of the American Choral Directors' Association. In 1996, the Chorus released a CD, and several others have followed since.

Grants, honors and awards
  • In 2011, the PWC won second place in the American Prize for Choral Performance for its 2010 CD.[6]
  • In 2011, the PWC was selected to participate in the Seghizzi International Competition of Choral Singing in Gorizia, Italy.
  • PWC was awarded a grant in 2009 from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, which recognizes performing organizations "whose artistic excellence encourages and improves public knowledge and appreciation of serious contemporary American music."
  • In 2006, the PWC was awarded third place in the Béla Bartók 22nd International Choir Competition and Folklore Festival, women's division. * Twice the PWC has received the prestigious ASCAP award for adventurous programming, most recently in June 2003, reflecting the excitement of performing challenging contemporary music from around the world.

Premieres by Peninsula Women's Chorus

World premieres, unless indicated otherwise.

  • 2012
    • Ripple, by Ted Hearne
  • 2011
    • Face and Heart, by Pablo Ortiz (co-premiered with Volti, Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir, Cantabile Youth Singers, and Crystal Children's Choir)
  • 2010
    • The Jumblies, by Judith Shatin
    • Viento, by Leonardo Lebas
    • What's This?, by Frank Ferko
    • Little man in a hurry, by Eric Whitacre (co-premiered with Golden Gate Men’s Chorus)
  • 2009
    • Martes, by Joseph Gregorio
  • 2008
    • The Big, Shy Moon, by Miriam Helmy (student composer)
    • The Nickel Moon, by Laura Wise (student composer)
    • Nature, by Tal Peleg (student composer)
    • Wind Songs, by Karen Linford
  • 2007
    • Acrostic, by Marta Lambertini
    • Looking at the Sea, by Chen Yi
    • Otherwise, by Brian Holmes
    • Thou Famished Grave, by Stacy Garrop
  • 2006
    • Briefly it enters, and briefly speaks, by Brian Holmes
  • 2004
    • The Snow Lay on the Ground, by David Conte
  • 2003
    • Fanfare of Praise, by Sandra Milliken
  • 2002
    • Jabberwocky, by Ron Jeffers
    • I Shall Keep Singing, by Brian Holmes
    • Mila Begi, by Javier Busto
  • 2000
    • Psalm 121, by Libby Larsen
    • Aphorisms, by Ron Jeffers
    • Dos Cantos, by Ron Jeffers
    • I Am Dice, by Ron Jeffers
    • Falling Rain, by Brian Holmes
    • Rabbit Skunk, by Brian Holmes
    • Wish Song, by Brian Holmes
    • This wonderful feeling, three compositions by Joan Szymko
    • Bright Love, by David Meckler
    • Take Up the Song, by Ron Jeffers (U.S. Premiere)
  • 1999
    • When You Are Old, by Peter Tryggvi Bjerring
    • Oh Great Spirit, by Michael Cleveland
  • 1997
    • Christmas Intrada, by David Conte
  • 1996
    • Two Songs of Love, by Michael Cleveland
    • Jesu dulcis memoria, by Michael Cleveland
  • 1995
    • Requiem for the Earth, by Nancy Telfer
    • Indian Singing, by Ron Jeffers
  • 1993
    • Miss Rumphius, by Victoria Ebel-Sabo
  • 1991
    • In Praise of Music, by David Conte
  • 1989
    • Refuge, by Libby Larsen

References
  1. Peninsula Women's Chorus Turns 40! Archived 2009-03-20 at the Wayback Machine Palo Alto CA, Peninsula Women's Chorus newsletter (Fall 2006)
  2. Roger Emanuels Song of Survival KUSP Review, vol.4, no.5 (Dec. 1983)
  3. Suzanne Herel Obituary: Patricia Hennings -- Women's Chorus head, San Francisco Chronicle (2002-01-04)
  4. Elaine Larsen Ms. Maestro, San Francisco Examiner (2000-05-19)
  5. Cicero A. Estrella Chorus wins national award San Francisco Chronicle (2003-11-14)
  6. Nature Pictures
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