The Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra (BCCO) is collaborating with the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) to perform the stirring Gloria by Francis Poulenc. The concert will take place the evening of Saturday, January 27, 2024.

Both BCCO and YPSO are long-time Berkeley institutions, so it’s natural that we seek ways to make music together. YPSO is among the finest youth orchestras in the region. Numbering nearly 100 aspiring high school and college age musicians, it is led by Music Director David Ramadanoff.

Francis Poulenc’s Gloria was written in 1960, is scored for soprano solo, large orchestra, and chorus and runs about 25 minutes in performance. On January 27, it will serve as the centerpiece of YPSO’s regular January concert.

There will be four chorus-only rehearsals led by Ming Luke in January, and 2 optional SATB sectionals in December led by former BCCO Assistant Conductor Julia Morris. The full rehearsal and concert schedule is included below.

The January 27 performance will be held at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church – a wonderful venue, close to BART, with plenty of parking available as well. Tuition will be $60 to help defray the cost of the rehearsals.

The majority of the chorus for this performance will be composed of singers from BCCO. But we very much would like to extend this collaboration to singers, of all voice parts, throughout the Bay Area. We’re aiming for a chorus of about 80-90 singers.

We hope you can join us! Working with this wonderful youth orchestra and music directors Ming Luke and David Ramadanoff should be very special indeed.  To register, click here.

Any questions can be addressed to us at the email addresses listed below.  We’d be happy to hear from you!

Warmest regards,

Linda Berti
(bertica1@comcast.net)
Jerry Freiwirth
 (jfreiwirth@sbcglobal.net)

Co-chairs, BCCO Collaborations Committee

Schedule of Rehearsals and Concert

• Sectionals (optional) with Julia Morris
  • Wednesday, December 13, 7-9:30 pm, Piedmont Center for the Arts
  • Wednesday, December 20, 7-9:30 pm, Piedmont Center for the Arts
• Rehearsals with Ming Luke
  • Monday, January 8, 7-9:30 pm, St John’s Presbyterian Church Berkeley
  • Sunday, January 14, 7-9:30 pm, Piedmont Center for the Arts
  • Monday, January 15, 7-9:30 pm, Arlington Community Church
  • Sunday, January 21, 7-9:30 pm, Arlington Community Church
• Rehearsals with YPSO
  • Monday, January 22, 7 pm, First Congregational Church Oakland
  • Friday, January 26, 7 pm, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
• Concert
  • Saturday, January 27, 7:30 pm, Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church

Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA  94611
Presbyterian Church Berkeley, 2727 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Arlington Community Church, 52 Arlington Ave, Kensington, CA 94707
Congregational Church Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland, CA 94612
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94596