On Jan. 9 hundreds of people gathered in the main church of the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, Calif. to help Catholic Relief Services raise money to send to the victims of last December’s tsunami. Members of the Cappella Barbara, the Mission’s primary choral ensemble, came up with the idea for a concert, and Dr. Keith Paulson-Thorp, director of music for the Old Mission, coordinated the 90-minute program.
Organizers had just over a week to organize the entire program and secure the performers, calling on local musicians from different organizations, such as the Santa Barbara Symphony and Opera Santa Barbara, to donate their time and talents for the cause.
The program opened with the serene Prayer of St. Gregory by Alan Hovhaness, and introductory remarks by a Mission employee whose sister was killed in the tsunami. The Cappella Barbara sang a beautiful processional, In Memoriam by William Pastille, a piece originally written to commemorate the Sept. 11 tragedy. The Cappella and their chamber component—the Mission Schola—also performed Will MacFarlane’s Open Our Eyes and Hovhaness’ From the Ends of the Earth, plus Threnos by Keith Paulson-Thorp, Exsultate Justi by Lodovico da Viadana, and Justorum Animae by Camille Saint-Saëns. The program closed with works that honored the Mission’s Hispanic heritage, Quem vidistis pastores by Jose Mauricio Nunes Garcia, Pastoreta Ychepe Flauta, attributed to Martin Schmid, SJ, and Laudate Dominum by Manuel Arenzana.
Solo pieces performed included O Divine Redeemer by Charles Gounod, sung by mezzo-soprano Charlene Chi, a member of the Mission Schola. Representing Opera Santa Barbara, mezzo-soprano Tihana Herceg sang Climb Every Mountain by Richard Rogers, and soprano Deborah Bertling sang Rogers’ You’ll Never Walk Alone. Herceg and Bertling also sang Evening Prayer from Englebert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.
During the collection, the small chamber orchestra played Samuel Barber’s Adagio, in an arrangement by the conductor. The congregation sang one hymn: Sebastian Temple’s setting of The Prayer of St. Francis. There were words of remembrance for the victims and a time of silence as the Mission bells tolled once for each of the 12 nations afflicted by the tsunami.
The program has raised more than $11,000, so far. Because of the terrible rainstorm that hit Santa Barbara for several days in a row, many who planned to attend could not and are mailing checks, so the grand total is not yet known.
The members of Cappella Barbara and the Mission Schola (noted with asterisks) are:
Soprano: Gina Bellino*, Tamara Bevard*, Sister Christine Bowman, Claire Dye*, Chantal Evrard, Marie Francine, Jennifer Griffin, Grace Kazali, Eleanore Klein Koritzlus, Christine Milne, Ananilla Norton, Patria Van Tassel, Yvete Treviño, and Marcia Wolfe.
Alto: Mary Ames, Kristin Aylesworth*, Anne Barnhart, Terry Bascombe, Charlene Chi*, Lois Clark Cook, Linda Broderick Elliott, Margaret Douville, Chrissy Gifford, Deborah King, Claudia Kiser, and Y-Quyen Le.
Tenor: Michael Aberle, Enrico Bellomo*, Aaron Brinegar*, Michael Eglin, John Maxwell, Peter Kruse, and Justin Weaver*.
Bass: Eric Gignoux, Dick Kraemer, Anthony Long, Nathan McGovern, and Andre Shillo*.
Instrumentalists: flute: Jane Hahn, oboe: Laura Kling; french horn: Debbie Middleton; trumpet: John Ernest. Violins: Emily Sommermann, Gloria Autry, and Sally Barr; viola: Kirsten Monke; cello: Claudia Kiser; organ: Linda Nager Brandt; guitar: Michael Aberle; and harp: James Garcia.
The concert was publicized with the help of a sponsor, Magellan’s Travel Supplies. Local newspaper and radio announcements helped get the word out and announcements in local churches invited people to attend. Many of the musicians got the word out to friends and family members. In spite of the dreary day, the church was filled.
As a singer, I am blessed with the gift of music, which transports people above and beyond the temporal and mundane. I’m sure I speak for the other musicians involved, as well. It is good to think beyond ourselves, our needs and wants. So much good can come from sharing the talents we have to soothe the hurts, dispel the worries and bring a sense of hope to others.
