A chorus of a cappella and jazz musicians come together last night to support the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus and what a joyful noise it was! The walls of the Marjorie Luke Theatre–named after a favorite theater teacher, which is itself a powerful testament to the importance of arts education–seemed to resonate with a shared loved of song, as musicians of all ages came together to support the youth chorus and further its goal of bringing music education and vocal training to children throughout the county.
VocalMotion, UCSB’s all-female a cappella group, opened the show with a sassy rendition of It’s Raining Men, keeping an upbeat mood throughout their set, which segued nicely into UCSB’s highly-entertaining, all-male a capella group, Brothas From Otha Mothas. BFOM, as they like to be called, did an unforgettable cover of Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance, along with several other radio-friendly tunes.
Ellen Rockne, founder of Santa Barbara Wonder Choir, also performed, along with Santa Barbara Jazz Collective and Pacific Sound Chorus, the award-winning tri-county barbershop quartet style group which also performed doo wop, jazz and contemporary classics to delight the crowd.
In addition, the Naked Voices, UCSB’s co-ed–and first and oldest–a cappella group also came out to support the young members of the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus, a music education and performing group designed to provide children ages 8-14 with the opportunity for musical training and performing in a fun and challenging environment.
The finale was definitely a highlight, as members of all of the groups came together to perform an original song, It’s Up to You and Me, which the VocalMotion performers had workshopped with the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus kids.
In addition to its performing group and upcoming summer camp, the nonprofit Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus will soon launch a vocal music program reaching several hundred students in local elementary schools and providing a music education curriculum and instruction to schools that cannot afford their own programs. For more information click here.
–Leslie Dinaberg
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This was NOT your mother’s a cappella concert – not with two Lady Gaga medley’s! It was so much fun – Each group brought a new and different way of interpreting their song repertoire. When the SB Children’s Chorus kids went up for the sound check and sang “The Lion Sleeps tonigth” audible oohs and aahs came from the adults chorus members. It was a terrific experience for the kids too! The Pacific Sound showed its strength as the men showed everyone how to do it up right. The 50s doo-wop medley was especially fine. When all 80 voices crammed on stage at the end to sing, it was so cool. Thanks to Paul Freeman, Executive Director for coming up with such a fine vocal program.