Escondido Choral Arts Foundation
Striving to enrich lives through the study of music
and the sharing of musical experiences
ECAF Wishes You a Very Happy Holiday Season!
Registrations are now open for singers in both The Center Chorale and The Center Children's Chorus. Learn more below. Donations are always appreciated and Thank You!
The Center Chorale
Music Bringing Us Together
The Center Chorale is an ensemble of choral singers, endorsed by the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, performing choral literature of past masterworks and Twentieth and Twenty-first Century compositions in a variety of styles. The ensemble partners with the Center Children's Chorus in promoting vocal music in our community. The Center Chorale is dedicated to excellence in performance and education and also to
preserving the tradition of singing as an expression of art.
The Center Children's Chorus
Sing and Be Inspired
The Center Children’s and Youth Chorus, at the Center for the Arts, Escondido, provides opportunities to learn about music in a friendly and fun environment. Musical literacy and participation in the art of choral singing with their peers, as well as in combination with the Center Chorale are goals of this children's chorus. We perform several times during our season in many different venues in our community including the beautiful California Center for the Arts concert hall and performance theatre.
2024-2025 Season:
Ode to Joy, Two Hundred Years of Great Composers.
Review
The concert, on Nov. 22, 2024 included a performance of Ode to Joy, the Fourth Movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the work being completed. Also performed were selections from works of Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, and Faure performed by the Center Chorale and the Pacific Coast Chorale with four guest soloists including Baritone soloist DeAndre Simmons, Tenor Soloist John Nettles, Mezzo Soprano Maria Caughey, and Soprano Caroline Nelms and full orchestra conducted by John Nettles and Diego Guerro. The sold out performance in the California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s Center Theater appreciated the beautiful sound of the combined singers and orchestra in this lovely hall. Artistic Director, John Nettles, conducted the opening pieces of these great composers leading up to the Beethoven Symphony with musical expertise, joy, and excitement. His selections were meaningful and gave the audience a sense of expectation in historical context.
The Beethoven Ode to Joy, conducted by Diego Guerro, was the concert highlight, beautifully played and sung, and felt by all who participated and experienced it. One singer stated, “The first downbeat landed with precision, and the music unfolded. I could see it immediately: Diego wasn’t just conducting. He was living the Ninth. He seemed to have internalized every note, every turn of phrase, every dynamic shift. Every second was so nuanced. I came to realize, he didn’t need a score because the music was etched into him, as if Beethoven himself had whispered it into his soul…. At moments, I nearly forgot to sing, mesmerized by Diego’s ability to shape the sound, to pull each musician and singer into a shared moment of artistry.” Another singer wrote, “It was an astonishing gift to witness him lead us through this masterpiece of music without using the score”.
Thank you to all who attended this event. We hope to see you at our next concert in the New Year – 2025!
Your contribution helps sustain the Escondido Choral Arts program in fulfilling our mission to enrich lives through the art of choral singing and providing musical opportunities in the community. Sponsoring a concert, contributing to the organization, or becoming a sustaining member are all very much appreciated. We hope you will join us for all our events for the 2024-2025 Choral Season Your support is greatly appreciated.
Thank YOU!
