CHORAL MUSIC FOR THE ALAMEDA/EAST BAY COMMUNITIES
Who we are
Alameda Community Chorus is a 501 (c) (3) non profit dedicated to advancing the love of choral music through education, performance and collaboration. For further information regarding our organization and for bookings, volunteerism, or general information, please contact (510) 219-6862.
Mission Statement
The mission of the chorus is to engage the community in advancing the love of choral music through education, performance, and collaboration.
History
Back in late 1981, an idea was forming in the minds of two very special Alameda citizens--wouldn't it be wonderful to have a chorus in Alameda to perform at special functions and city events? These two people, Bonnie Horlbeck and Charles Rhode, continued to formulate their plan, which came to fruition in 1982, and the Alameda Oratorio Society was created.
The purpose of the Society was to benefit the community of Alameda, and to encourage Alameda residents to participate in the performance of choral compositions. At first, the chorus was under the direction of Al Price, and performed with the Alameda Mozart Festival, in which a celebration of Mozart’s birthday took place with presentations of his glorious music.
After three years, the chorus came under the jurisdiction of the Alameda Adult School, and has been a regular class since 1985. The Alameda Community Chorus (ACC), as it became known, performs at least two concerts per year, one in December with the Alameda Community Band, and one concert in the spring. In addition, they performed for various clubs or other groups. The chorus was led by Bonnie Horlbeck, Nyla Barrett and Carole Vetter.
In 2016 ACC became a non profit dedicated to chorale music education and performance throughout the Bay Area. ACC's fall and spring registrations are through Alameda Recreation and Park Department. Alameda Community Chorus is now dba Alameda Sings! We continue to welcome singing enthusiasts and local talent and enjoy chorale leadership through our current Artistic Director is Kathryn Neale Manalo.
Kathryn Neale Manalo, Artistic Director
A multifaceted performer, teacher, and conductor, Kathryn Neale Manalo has been a vocal instructor and coach for over 40 years. She was adjunct faculty at Sonoma State University and has performed in California, New York, Washington, D.C., and Europe. Opera News (1987) described her voice as "crystalline...powerful ...stunning..." Her collaboration with choreographer Vicki Gunter and study of body orchestration and the evolutionary roots of movement with ORCHES inform Ms. Neale Manalo's work as a vocal performance artist, teacher, and conductor. Highlighted performances in the Bay Area include soprano solos at the Diablo Symphony in 1995, Catalani’s “Ebben, ne andro lontano” from La Wally, Countess in Marriage of Figaro, and the First Lady in Magic Flute to name a few. She has served as Artistic Director/Conductor of the Alameda Community Chorus since Fall 2007. Ms. Neale's entity "somavoce" seeks to integrate movement and classical voice in performance art. She maintains the Kathryn Neale Manalo Vocal Studio at her East Bay home in Alameda and is currently contracted through the Alameda Recreation and Park Department.
ALAMEDA SINGS! welcomes vocal enthusiasts ages 13 and up.
Learn and perform in a fun-filled choral environment.
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