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Inside the Santa Ynez Valley Magazine Spring 2003 Edition
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Santa Ynez Valley Chorale
by Christine Beebe
When Chris Bowman raises his baton, a sudden hush descends and the excitement in the air at the Solvang Pavilion is palpable. Seventy-five singers feel their adrenaline surge, the members of the orchestra are tensely poised for their first note, and audiences know they are about to experience a musical feast for the senses. They will not be disappointed. Now in its 25th year, the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale has become a first-rate singing group, committed to developing artistic excellence among its members and fostering a greater appreciation of diverse chorale music in the community.
The Chorale was begun in 1978 by the young music teacher Karl Thompson and a small group of friends and family members who simply loved to sing together. Four more conductors came and went over the years, each with a different strength and musical vision. When Artistic Director/Conductor Chris Bowman took over in 1996, however, membership in the Chorale began to grow and the group was catapulted to new levels of professionalism and style.
Chris has had the greatest impact on us out of all the directors, says Chorale Board President Jan Kramer. Others I've worked with were too forceful, and while Chris definitely makes it clear what he expects of us, he has a gentle spirit and sense of humor. He seems to bring out the best among the singers. People absolutely love working with him, she says, because he's so positive and encouraging.
Bass singer Gene Madsen has been with the Chorale for 24 years, and has good reasons to keep coming back. To have a group this talented and this large in our small Valley, singing everything from secular to sacred music, I think that's pretty nice, he says. He feels that Bowman deserves much of the credit for the Chorale's evolution. Chris is a dynamic person, he keeps us focused, and has the musical ability to back up everything he teaches us, Madsen says. He can play the instruments, he can sing the music, he can do it all.
Indeed. Bowman is a one-man medley of musical talents and accomplishments. He has conducted and directed orchestras, choirs and ensembles at many venues throughout the West, including the Los Angeles Music Center. As vocalist, keyboard player, trumpet player and arranger, he toured the country and produced many recordings with various labels. He dazzles audiences with a rarely-seen feat: singing solos while simultaneously conducting the Chorale and orchestra. He has also performed with esteemed vocal ensembles as a tenor soloist at locations including the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall.
Bowman is also an accomplished award-winning composer of many original works written for chorus and orchestra. One of his compositions, Celebrate!, was written to commemorate the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley. Not long ago, he composed a full-length musical called Toad Hall, based on The Wind in the Willows. Bowman's whimsical side becomes fully apparent when he reveals that his home is a geodesic dome which he's also named Toad Hall, based on the toads in his yard who sing nightly serenades of their own.
Here in the Valley, Bowman's acclaimed Gloria is perhaps his best known and loved original composition. Helen Townsend, the Chorale's accompanist for the past 17 years, says it is one of her favorite pieces. He had wanted to do a Gloria for the Chorale's 1998 Christmas concert, but was bored with the various versions available. His wife Cathleen remarked: Why don't you write your own Gloria? The result was an extraordinary six-movement work which was performed by the Chorale at the historic Lobero Theater and in Solvang. Since then, its reputation has spread, and this year Bowman's Gloria will be performed by choirs in Concord, Massachusetts.
The inspiration for most of his creations comes from within. First I hear it in my head, Bowman says, and then I experiment on the piano until I come up with a sound I like. In his studio, a traditional piano is flanked by state-of-the-art electronics which allow his music to be computerized and notated for choir and orchestra. Developing it is quite a process, he says, but it's really exciting.
Members of the Chorale are thrilled to have the unique opportunity to perform music composed by their own director. Not only is it exciting for me as a singer, says Kramer, but I put myself in his shoes, and I can't even imagine what that must feel like to him; it's got to be phenomenal. Bowman couldn't agree more. Even though he has an idea about how his music will sound beforehand, It's a far cry from hearing it performed live, he says. And to be out in front conducting it is an electric experience.
Bowman constantly thinks of ways to make his programs more creative and innovative. Most chorales around the country feature just one group performing a cappella classical music. But Bowman's Chorale is anything but typical. In addition to the Adult Chorale, he has created a Youth Chorale, Chamber Chorale, and School Children's Chorale. We might do an a cappella piece, then orchestra-accompanied singing, he says. Then we'll do the Youth Chorale alone and then integrate them into the Adult Chorale, then the Chamber Singers, and then maybe a few solos. The variations are endless. In addition, he incorporates an eclectic variety of music into the Chorale's repertoire, including classical, popular, show tunes, international music and American folk songs.
Although the Chorale has experienced a metamorphosis in many ways during Bowman's tenure, its members have always maintained close-knit and supportive relationships. First rehearsals seem like a big family reunion where everyone is excited to be together again. The chorale becomes your family at Tuesday night rehearsals, says Kramer. Madsen, thrilled when he was recently voted Most Gifted Chorale Member by his peers, especially enjoys the camaraderie he shares with members of his bass section. We have lots of fun, he says, and although it's exhilarating to be on stage and sing the music, the fellowship we share is also a big part of it.
The Chorale singers also share a common spirit, Kramer believes, even though they represent all walks of life and range in age from 17 to over 80. Without a doubt, music transcends age and culture and language, she says. It creates joy and healing in people. This was especially evident during the Christmas concert that followed September 11. The music and words were already chosen by then, she says, but when we sang, it all took on a new meaning for everybody.
All voices are welcome in the Chorale. You don't have to be an excellent singer to join, Madsen says, but you can achieve excellence by being part of it and learning from Chris. A significant commitment, however, is required. The big classical pieces Chris chooses for us sometimes boggle my mind, Kramer says. Madsen agrees. It takes a long time to get it right, he says, and it really gets hectic as we approach concert time. But there is no denying that the end result is well worth the effort. You can really feel exhausted, but when you get on that stage and you're singing, Madsen says, it's a natural high.
Perhaps the only sour note is the fact that the Valley lacks an appropriate venue for musical concerts. It would be really nice to have a community theater in the Valley, Bowman says wistfully. Most Chorale members agree that a theater with good acoustics and ample seating would really make them sing for joy.
Even without a professional venue, the extensive positive feedback the Chorale receives is proof that it is making a much-appreciated contribution to the community. Some Valley residents, for example, reported that they heard classical music for the first time at the Chorale's holiday concert. Also, many adults and children have been inspired to begin singing because of the Chorale. If you can reach out and touch people with music, Madsen says, it makes a big difference. And making a difference is important to the Chorale. We want the chorale to be one of those special things we have here in the Valley, Kramer says, both for our members and for our audiences. |
