Choral Tours, Choral Music: Berkshire Choral Festival

A Chorus Line...


Laura Babcock, Alto West Milford, NJ	Member of the New Jersey Choral Society, West Side Oratorio Choir, Lakeland Chorale Alumni Chorus Retired executive assistant; independent business owner. 11-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: The magical weeks with Joe Colaneri and Bob Page – including two Verdi Requiems Favorite Choral Work: Brahms German Requiem Favorite Venue: Sheffield – Love the Berkshires! “No matter where I travel, I love to ‘come home’ to the Berkshires and BCF. My week there always refuels me musically for the year ahead and whatever adventures it may hold.”


Glenn and Claudia Broman, Bass and Alto Pittsburgh, PA	Members of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh He, a retired American history teacher; she, a business analyst Coming to BCF for 26 and 22 years respectively; met at BCF in 1992 and married in 1994 Their favorite musical week: “Dream of Gerontius” conducted by Nicholas Cleobury (Glenn) and Jane Glover (Claudia) Favorite venue: Sheffield Favorite choral work: Berlioz Requiem (Glenn) and Mozart Requiem (Claudia) Claudia says, “BCF is like my very own private Brigadoon. It rises out of the mist one week each year just for me. It’s a magical place where I leave my cares and worries outside the gate and rejuvenate my heart, my soul, my spirit.” Glen agrees.


Stephanie Cabell, Alto Alexandria, VA	Member of Cantate Chamber Chorus and Cathedral Choral Society Employed by the federal government 3-year BCF alumni “I was a bit skeptical when I first arrived at Sheffield, but ended up enjoying the week immensely. The entire staff was welcoming and incredibly respectful of all the singers. Conductor Gary Thor Wedow was a joy to work with, and I met so many interesting people. Plus, it was great to be back in the Berkshires.”


Dick and Mary Dolson, Tenor and Soprano Vienna, VA	Members of the New Dominion Chorale of Northern Virginia. He's a retired engineer and naval officer; she’s a retired teacher. 13-year BCF alumnis Their favorite musical week: Scheggino, Italy Favorite Venue: Scheggino (Mary), Mondsee-Salzburg, Austria (Dick) Favorite choral work: Orff’s Carmina Burana (Dick) and "Anything that we are singing now at BCF” (Mary) “I plan to do BCF every year until I can’t sing anymore,” says Dick.


Rebecca Freedman, soprano Boulder, CO	Member of the Philadelphia Singers Chorale Writer & Singer 8-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: Mozart Requiem in Canterbury, conducted by Frank Nemhauser Favorite Venue: Canterbury Favorite Choral Work: Tie between Mozart and Brahms Requiems “BCF entered my life at a critical moment, and will therefore likely remain a part of me for a long time.”


Joanne Freyer, soprano Leeds, MA	Member of Hampshire Choral Society Retired elementary school secretary 18-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: Dvorak Requiem, conducted by Robert de Cormier Favorite Venue: Salzburg Favorite Choral Work: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion “While singing in NYC, I never heard of BCF. A chorister in Massachusetts told me about it and I’ve been coming ever since. It makes my year!”


Patricia Frizelle, Alto Amherst, NY and South Pasedena, FL	Member of St. Petersburg College Community Chorus, the Pasadena Community Church choir, and the Anna Maria Island Community Chorus Retired educator Favorite Musical Week: Craig Jessop week in Sheffield. Favorite Venue: “Canterbury and Salzburg both rated return trips and were lovely." Favorite Choral Work: Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem ,“I am so grateful for having found BCF and for all that it has brought to my life.”


Cheri Fry, alto Peterborough, NH	Member of Monadnock Chorus 12-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: Prague 2009 Favorite Venue: Sheffield Favorite Choral Work: Tie between Brahms and Verdi Requiems “I feel so lucky to be able to come to BCF. It renews me and fills my heart with joy.”


Sibyl Mierley, alto Hollidaysburg, PA	Member of Johnstown Symphony Choir Flutist 4-year BCF alumni Favorite Venue: Italy Favorite Choral Work: Faure Requiem “From the moment I made contact with the BCF staff, I was welcomed into the warm and loving BCF family. The dedication, enthusiasm, and work ethic of the choristers who attend blows me away. My practice and rehearsal techniques became more efficient with both my flute and voice work as a result of my pre-practice work for BCF.”


John Rindlaub, Tenor Riverside, CT	Member of Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut Retired advertising creative director 19-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: Any conducted by Jane Glover Favorite Venue: Sheffield Favorite Choral Work: Brahms Requiem “This place (BCF) is as close as you can get to heaven on earth.”


Gloria Strait, Soprano Olympia, WA	Member of Masterworks Choral Ensemble Retired financial advisor 8-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: Prague (Verdi Defiant Requiem) because of the special venue; “Gospel to Gershwin” in Sheffield Favorite Venue: Sheffield “This place (BCF) is as close as you can get to heaven on earth.”


April Vuono, Alto Westerly, RI	Member of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus and Schola Cantorum of St. Michael Financial Analyst 31-year BCF alumni “By chance, I discovered BCF in 1982; by choice, I’ve been back every year since. I recall seeing several advertisements that conveyed a very simple message: Come spend a singing vacation with us. ‘What a perfect idea,’ I remember thinking. Little did I know that I would feel the same way all these years later. I’ve been to almost all of the BCF venues and have thoroughly enjoyed each experience. However, when I drive up to Sheffield and see the Berkshire School nestled in those gorgeous, rolling Berkshire Hills, I know that I’m in my happy place.”


Jeff Vuono, Non-singer Westerly, RI	24-year BCF alumni “As someone who never sings a note, I’m well qualified to attend BCF as a non-singing spouse. For years, I’ve accompanied my wife, April, to BCF venues both near and far. No matter which BCF venue we attend, there are always plenty of things for me to see and do while April is in rehearsals and classes. I’ve had many memorable experiences, like participating in an archeological dig outside the Close of Canterbury Cathedral in England and encountering a bear while bicycling in Vancouver, British Columbia. BCF offers a wonderful opportunity to meet interesting people, experience great music, and see the world – what could be better?”

Karlyn Ward, Alto Mill Valley, CA	Member of Marin Symphony Chorus Psychotherapist/Jungian analyst 6-year BCF alumni Favorite Musical Week: I can’t limit this to one, but here are my three favorites, not necessarily in order: Defiant Requiem:Verdi at Terezin; Verdi Requiem with Bob Page, Missa Solemnis with Craig Hella Johnson. Favorite Venue: Sheffield because it’s “home”; Santa Fe for its beauty; Canterbury for the thrill of living in the Cathedral close; soon Sonoma and brand new, exciting concert hall. Favorite Choral Work: Verdi’s Requiem and Brahms’ Requiem. “In 1990 a dear friend and singer called from Baltimore and told me she’d heard about this thing called the Berkshire Choral Institute, and it sounded like fun. We lived far apart, so this sounded like a good way to be together, and to sing! We lucked out, or it was destiny, and got accepted to sing the Berlioz Requiem with Bob Page. What a privilege, and I was hooked on: 1. the idea of spending a week immersed in music, and with others who loved it as much as I, 2. the idea of a singing vacation (heaven for a singer) that was so well run, and with high standards for performance, 3. Bob Page and his high standards 4. the high quality and friendliness of all the staff, faculty, and interns 5. the learning possibilities.”

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