Hi, we're Chromatica!
Welcome to Chromatica Chorale. Since 2011, we've enchanted Contra Costa County with diverse classical and contemporary harmonies. Under the guidance of our talented Musical Director, David Huff, and Principal Accompanist, Julie Baumann Rieth, we're an experienced choir that celebrates the joy of singing together. Join us, sing with us, and be part of our community.
Join our mailing list to receive concert updates and other news!
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Chromatica Chorale Presents:
TRANSfIGURATIONS
Music by
Christopher Tin, Grammy Winning Composer of Baba Yetu.
Lyrics by
Charles Anthony Silvestri.
Composer
Christopher Tin
Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning composer. His music has been performed and premiered in many of the world's most prestigious venues--Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the United Nations--and by ensembles diverse as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, and US Air Force Band. His song "Baba Yetu", originally written for the video game Civilization IV, holds the distinction of being the first piece of music written for a video game ever to win a Grammy Award. He is signed to an exclusive record deal with Universal under their legendary Decca label, published by Concord and Boosey & Hawkes, and is a Yamaha Artist. He works out of his own custom-built studio in Santa Monica, CA.
Lyricist
Charles Anthony Silvestri
Poet, author, composer, and speaker Charles Anthony Silvestri has worked with other artists from all over the world to create texts tailor-made for their commissions and specific artistic needs. He enjoys the challenge of solving these creative problems and has provided custom choral texts, opera libretti, program notes and other writing for composers including Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo, Kim Arnesen, and Dan Forrest, and for ensembles ranging from high schools to the Houston Grand Opera, from the King’s Singers to the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, from Westminster Choir College to Westminster Abbey.
Performer
Chromatica Chorale
Since 2011, we've enchanted Contra Costa County with diverse classical and contemporary harmonies. Under the guidance of our talented Musical Director, David Huff, and Principal Accompanist, Julie Baumann Rieth, we're an experienced choir that celebrates the joy of singing together. Join us, sing with us, and be part of our community!
Join our mailing list!
We'll share exciting news with you.
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Our Directors
David Huff, a native of Fairfield Iowa, received a Bachelor of Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a Master of Music degree with an emphasis on vocal performance and conducting from Northwestern University.Mr. Huff spent two summers with the Aspen Music Festival and a year in the Miami Opera Apprentice Program, sharing the stage with such operatic luminaries as Luciano Pavarotti and famous baritone Sherrill Milnes, the latter with whom Mr. Huff has also studied voice. In addition to Sherrill Milnes, Mr. Huff has also studied voice with Metropolitan Tenor Sam Sakarian. Mr. Huff has sung all over the world–literally–as a performer on the World Cruise of the Queen Elizabeth II and the H.M.S. Sagafjord.Major operatic roles of Mr. Huff include: Roméo (Roméo e Juliette); Alfredo and Nemorino (L’Elisir d’Amore); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Rodolfo (La Boheme); and Fenton (Falstaff), with solo oratorio appearances in Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, and Handel’s Messiah. Mr. Huff has also been tenor soloist in works by Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Gounod, Respighi, Stravinsky and Vaughn Williams.Mr. Huff has been featured on recordings of Sir Paul McCartney’s Standing Stone, Disney’s Fantasia, Gershwin’s Let ‘em Eat Cake and Of Thee I Sing, as well as on numerous recordings with Voices of Ascension in Manhattan. He has performed with such notable conductors as Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson Thomas, James Levine, Sir Colin Davis, Kurt Mazur, Ricardo Muti, Marco Armiliato, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Nicola Luisotti.David has directed adult choruses in Evanston, Manhattan, West Orange (NJ), San Francisco, Danville and Concord, as well as youth choirs in Danville and Palo Alto.
Julie Rieth received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Economics and Music at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University. Her teachers include Jean-David Coen, Carmen Or and Laurence Davis. Pedagogy teachers include Frances Larimer, Marcia Bosits, and Elvina Truman Pearce. Ms. Rieth has twice attended the Aspen Music Festival as a student of Jean-David Coen, where she was fortunate to audit John Perry’s master classes.An active member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California and of the Music Teachers’ National Association, Ms. Rieth has served in branch board positions for over 20 years. Ms. Rieth is currently an independent piano teacher in the Tri-Valley area of Northern California (julierieth.musicteachershelper.com).Her 30 years of teaching experience encompass Kindermusik, classroom music, group and private piano lessons in a variety of settings, including the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC.
About Chromatica
Founded in 2011, Chromatica Chorale is a Contra Costa County based chorale. Comprising men and women, Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass (SATB), Chromatica Chorale is rapidly being recognized as an accomplished and dynamic small chorale. Our focus is on performing challenging vocal music for regional audiences. With an emphasis on classical music, we also present serious music from other genres–to both attract good singers and appeal to audiences. To date, performances have included works sung in French, German, Italian, Latin and Spanish with occasional forays into such others as Czech, Hebrew and Swedish in addition to English. Our first ticketed concerts were held in Clayton and Danville in May and June of 2013.Chromatica Chorale’s performances have included music by a wide variety of composers from many periods – from Hildegard von Bingen in the 12th Century to Andrew Lloyd Webber of modern times. In 2013, Chromatica Chorale was honored to present the world premiere of local composer Don Benham’s “As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” and in 2019, the world premiere of “O Time” by Stacy Garrop, a nationally recognized composer whose music is centered on dramatic and lyrical storytelling.Here we are performing “O Time” virtually during the shutdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oivCUz2dLjwChromatica Chorale’s Musical Director, David Huff, is an outstanding tenor, having sung opera in both New York and San Francisco. David is an accomplished vocal music teacher and directs with a singer-friendly approach. Our Principal Accompanist, Julie Baumann Rieth, is a highly experienced pianist, piano teacher and performer. We are excited and grateful to be working with two such wonderful musicians as David and Julie!Currently numbering about 25 singers, Chromatica Chorale seeks to grow to approximately 40 singers, SATB. We especially welcome singers with classical experience, an ability to read music and the enthusiasm and dedication to perform at Chromatica Chorale’s standard. Prospective singers are encouraged to contact us – see the Join Us tab.Eventual goals for Chromatica Chorale include performances outside the East Bay, as well as touring opportunities both within and outside the United States. Our aim is to build relationships with regional orchestras and choruses with the goal of joint performances. We have already begun to build partnerships with choral composers both here and in Europe. Please contact us if you are interested in exploring collaborative opportunities.Chromatica Chorale rehearses on Monday evenings during the season from 6:45 PM – 9:30 PM at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Orinda. Concerts are typically planned for April and November.Our goal is to have a wonderful time learning and singing great music. So far, it has exceeded the expectations of all of our members!
Our Board
Sandra Banks, Board Member at large. Sandra has sung with many Bay Area choirs including Bay Choral Guild, Chora Nova, First Church Festival Chorus, Soli Deo Gloria, SF Choral Society, and, of course, CHROMATICA CHORALE! She loves singing with CHROMATICA CHORALE for the varied repertoire and the passion for choral singing that is the heart of this chorus. Sandra is a former board member, treasurer and co-music librarian for Chora Nova. When not practicing her CHROMATICA CHORALE music or taking voice lessons from Jennifer Paulino, Sandra works as an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program at Mills College.
Chris Kenber, Board Member, was born in Great Britain where he sang in the Winchester Cathedral Choir as a boy treble. He started piano at the age of 3 (but still plays it poorly). He has played many other instruments including guitar, saxophones and the vibraphone with a similar lack of distinction. Resident in the USA for over 50 years, he retired as a high-tech CEO in 2006 and returned to singing. He co-founded CHROMATICA CHORALE in 2011 with David Huff as its music director to focus on a broad range of classical and contemporary choral music. He was CHROMATICA CHORALE's first board president and is still an active and committed board member and current Board Secretary. Chris has served as a school board trustee in the San Ramon Valley and was a longtime board member and consultant to Planned Parenthood.
Gail Kiyomura, Board Vice President. Gail joined CHROMATICA CHORALE August 2016 and singing with this wonderful choir is feeding her musical soul. She has a BA and an MA from San Jose State University in Music (piano) but got hooked into singing when she started singing in some local pickup choruses - the hunt was on to find a permanent home. Plus, it is much easier to come with your voice than bringing a piano to rehearsal.
Jeff Pennington, board member. Jeff is a native Texan, where they take music education seriously. Originally trained as an oboist and English hornist, Jeff began singing in high school in San Antonio, Texas and then in church choirs in Washington, DC and Szeged, Hungary. Education and work took him to Hungary, Romania, and Japan and a position at Indiana University Bloomington before finally moving to California in 2008 for a position as the executive director of the Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. After a number of years of sitting in the audience enjoying the music, Jeff decided to return to singing and joined CHROMATICA CHORALE in 2018.
A. Wayne Potter, ChFC® Board Member at Large, Concert Booklet Coordinator, Facebook Administrator and Tenor in CHROMATICA CHORALE since the Fall of 2015. Wayne is a lifelong musician with a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University. He has a long history of professional music making as a chorus, band and orchestra member, soloist, choral and instrumental conductor, studio musician, writer, arranger and producer. In addition to his active participation in the music and administration of Chromatica Chorale, Wayne also enjoys performing in churches throughout the Bay Area. When he has time for his day job he enjoys working as the CCO (Chief Compliance Officer) and Financial Advisor for PROXY Wealth Advisors, LLC and the Senior Case Design Specialist for PROXY Freedom, LLC in Walnut Creek.
Dave Sutton, Board Member and Treasurer of CHROMATICA CHORALE. His musical career includes singing in choirs + piano and violin as a youth, 3 years in the Men's Glee Club at the University of Wisconsin, 30 years in barbershop choruses and quartets, 20 years in classical choruses (Contra Costa Chorale and Oakland Symphony Chorus), 10 years in the Blackhawk Chorus and now 10 years in CHROMATICA CHORALE. He's a retired CPA and has served as treasurer of 6 choruses over the years in addition to attempting to sing bass-baritone.
Bob Turner, Board President, is a music enthusiast who retired from Chevron. He brings a wealth of management experience to the board. Perhaps most importantly he is not a singer and provides the outsider perspective that all boards seek to have. Bob is an avid advanced beginner ukulele player. He leads the ukulele club at the Danville Senior Center. Bob's wife Karen is a member of the choir. They enjoy travel and often take their tandem bike on their adventures.
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Support Chromatica Chorale
Since Chromatica Chorale’s founding in 2011, the chorus has been generously supported by our community of appreciative audiences.Philanthropy plays a critical role in providing the excellence of our musical offerings. Ticket sales and chorus member dues alone do not cover the operating expenses of the chorus. Your gifts provide the needed support to ensure performances of challenging vocal music for regional audiences. With an emphasis on classical music, we also present serious music from other genres to provide engaging programs for all our listeners.
Chromatica Chorale also offers the possibility of advertising for your company or events in our concert programs.If you have questions about Chromatica Chorale or the work in which we are engaged, please contact us at any time.
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Join Our Community
Singing with Chromatica Chorale is a joy we share with each other. Can we share it with you? If you’d like to sing with us and have some choral and/or performing experience, can read music (or at least learn it quickly), you are particularly invited to join us. Please contact us if you are interested!
Audition Location
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Contact Us
Chromatica4YOU@comcast.net
(925) 838-2296
Chromatica Chorale
1073 River Rock Lane
Danville, CA 94526
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.
Past Events
In Spring 2024, we premiered a new choral suite, Transfigurations, composed by Christopher Tin, with lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri.
Past Repertoire
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Elaine Hagenberg | O Love When We Love Splendor |
M. E. Valverde | Look Down, Fair Moon |
John Wykoff | Pretty Saro Claddagh Crown I Got a Hog and a Pig |
Michael John Trotta | Who Gave My Soul Spend All You Have on Loveliness Let Me Love |
Christopher Tin | I Shall Not See the Shadows Iphis (from Transfigurations) |
Marques L. A. Garrett | Rise, Shine! Soon I Will Be Done Alleluia Cantate Domino |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Antonin Dvořák | Mass in D Major - Opus 86: Kyrie / Gloria / Credo / Sanctus / Benedictus / Agnus Dei |
Mitchell Grassi / Scott Hoying / Kevin Olusola / Martin Johnson / Sam Hollander / Mark Brymer | Sing |
Brendan Graham / Rolf Lovland / Joseph M. Martin | You Raise Me Up |
Carole Bayer Sager / David Foster / Mark Hayes | The Prayer |
Simon Rhodes / James Hawkins / Peter Boxell | I Miss You |
Andrea Ramsey / Charles Anthony Silvestri | Voces Lucis |
Christopher Tin / Sara Teasdale | All That Could Never Be Said (from “The Lost Birds”) |
Claude-Michel Schönberg / Alain Boublil / Jean-Marc Natel / Herbert Kretzmer / Ed Lojeski | Do You Hear the People Sing? (from “Les Misérables”) |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Steven Sondheim | Our Time from Merrily We Roll Along No One is Alone from Into the Woods |
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal | I'll Be Seeing You from Right This Way |
Leonard Bernstein / Stephen Sondheim | Tonight from West Side Story |
Giuseppi Verdi | The Cauldron Dance from Macbeth Zitti, zitti, moviamo a vendetta from Rigoletto |
Sigmund Romberg | To the Inn We're Marching / Drink, Drink, Drink from The Student Prince |
Bedrich Smetana / Karel Sabina | Opening Chorus from The Bartered Bride |
Leonard Bernstein / Richard Wilbur | Make Our Garden Grow from Candide |
Steven Sondheim | Send in the Clowns and A Weekend in the Country from A Little Night Music |
Jonathan Larson | Seasons of Love from Rent |
Sir Arthur Sullivan / William S. Gilbert | Last Act Finale from The Gondoliers |
Johann Strauss / C. Haffner & Richard Genee | Champagne Chorus from Die Fledermaus |
Lin-Manuel Miranda | Hamilton Highlights |
Christopher Tin / Leonardo Da Vinci | Sogno di Volare |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Coronation Mass – Kyrie |
Johannes Brahms | Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How Lovely is thy Dwelling) (Movement 4 from “A German Requiem”) |
Leonard Bernstein | Psalm 131 (Movement 3 from “Chichester Psalms”) |
Lili Boulanger | Hymne au Soleil (Hymn to the Sun) Renouveau (Spring) |
Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen | I’ve Got the World on a String |
Edward Heyman & Victor Young | When I Fall in Love |
Italian Traditional | Ciao Bella, Ciao |
John McCrae | In Flanders Fields |
Paul Simon | Bridge Over Troubled Water |
Bert Russell & Phil Medley | Twist and Shout |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Knut Nystedt | Cry Out and Shout Be Not Afraid |
Edvard Grieg | Ave Maris Stella (Hail Star of the Sea) |
Ēriks Ešenvalds | Long Road |
Ola Gjeilo | The Rose |
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi | Four Shakespeare Songs |
Jean Sibelius | 10 Pieces for Piano, Op. 58 |
Edvard Grieg | Solveig's Song |
Ēriks Ešenvalds | Amazing Grace |
Ola Gjeilo | Dark Night of the Soul Luminous Night of the Soul |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Samuel Barber | Sunset Late, Late, So Late When Day Is Gone |
Johannes Brahms | O Schöne Nacht (From Vier Quartet, Op. 92, No. 1) Abendlied (From Vier Quartet, Op. 92, No. 3) |
Stacy Garrop | O Time (World Premiere): I. To Enjoy the Coming of Wisdom with Time II. Fly Envious Time III. Time is |
Pietro Mascagni | Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana |
Francesco Sartori, Lucio Quarantotto and Frank Peterson | Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò) |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Sergei Rachmaninoff | Priidite, Poklonimsya (O Come Let Us Worship) Bogoroditse Devo (Rejoice, O Virgin) |
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | Chergog Tvoy (Thy Bridal Chamber) |
Cesar Cui | The Dawn Secret Loveliness Hunger |
Mily Balakirev | Angel vopiyashe (The Angel Cried Out) |
Modest Mussorgsky / Lev Mei | Gopak |
Alexander Borodin | Polovtsian dances from Prince Igor |
George and Ira Gershwin | By Strauss |
Irving Berlin | Love Walked In Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor Let’s Face the Music and Dance |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Ludwig van Beethoven | Kyrie and Credo |
Leonard Bernstein | Mass: Gloria in Excelsis and Trope |
Bob Chilcott | A Little Jazz Mass |
Ola Gjeilo | The Ground |
Josef Haydn | Gloria |
Karl Jenkins | Benedictus |
Andrew Lloyd Webber | Pie Jesu |
Franz Schubert | Sanctus |
Igor Stravinsky | Kyrie |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Dominick Argento | Two or Three Posies from A Nation of Cowslips |
Samuel Barber | The Coolin from Reincarnations |
William Billings | I am the Rose of Sharon |
Harry T. Burleigh | My Lord, What a Mornin' |
William L. Dawson | Ezekiel Saw de Wheel |
R. Nathaniel Dett | Listen to the Lambs |
Stephen Foster | Hard Times, Come Again No More |
Jennifer Higdon | A Quiet Moment |
Moses Hogan | Music Down in my Soul |
Libby Larsen | I Want to Be, Mother from A Young Nun, Singing |
Morten Lauridsen | Io Piango from Madrigali, Six “Fire Songs” |
Stephen Paulis | Pilgrims Hymn |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Johannes Brahms | Zigeunerlieder, Opus 103, 1-11 |
Luigi Cherubini | Requiem in C Minor |
Gabriel Fauré | Cantique de Jean Racine |
Stacy Garrop | Love's Philosophy |
Charles Gounod | Soldiers' Chorus from Faust |
Billy Joel | Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) |
Morten Lauridsen | Soneto de la Noche |
Henry Mancini | Moon River |
Pietro Mascagni | Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana |
Jacques Offenbach | Neighbors' Chorus from La Jolie Parfumeuse |
Francesco Sartori | Time to Say Goodbye |
Frank Ticheli | There Will Be Rest |
Giuseppe Verdi | Va Pensiero from Nabucco |
Eric Whitacre | A Boy and a Girl Animal Crackers, Vol. I Animal Crackers, Vol. II |
Michael Winikoff | The Warmup Song |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Kurt Bestor | Prayer of the Children |
Eric Clapton and Will Jennings | Tears in Heaven |
Charles A. Collins | Mary Had a Little Blues |
Ēriks Ešenvalds | Only in Sleep |
Alberto Ginastera | Rondo on Argentine Children's Folk Tunes |
Carol Hall | Jenny Rebecca |
Billy Joel | Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) |
David V. Montoya | lullaby from a child |
Vincent Persichetti | dominic has a doll |
John Rutter | Five Childhood Lyrics |
Peter Schickele | Three Choruses from e.e. cummings |
C.M. Shearer | Children's Letters to God |
John Tavener | The Lamb |
Steven Weber | Five Nursery Rhymes |
Eric Whitacre | A Boy and a Girl |
Michael Winikoff | The Warmup Song |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Muzio Clementi | Sonata in C Major, Op.4, No. 3 |
Norman Dello Joio | Dreamers Of Crows and Clusters Taxes |
Henry Mancini | Moon River The Pink Panther |
Pietro Mascagni | Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana |
Antonio Salieri | Mass No. 1 in D |
Francesco Sartori | Time to Say Goodbye |
Henry Warren | The Lullaby of Broadway |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Carol Barnett | Eternal Life with Thee |
Amy Beach | Two Short Anthems |
Stacy Garrop | Love's Philosophy |
Fanny Hensel | Gartenlieder |
Libby Larsen | Sweet and Sour Nursery Rhymes |
Cecilia McDowall | Standing as I do Before God |
Alice Parker | An American Kedushah |
Clara Schumann | Drei Gemischte Chöre |
Mary Jeanne Van Appledorn | Two Shakespeare Songs |
Hildegard von Bingen | O Virtus Sapientiae |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Dominick Argento | Dover Beach, Revisited, Gloria |
René Clausen | Jabberwocky One If by Land, Two If by Sea |
Aaron Copland | The Promise of Living |
Stephen Foster | Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming |
Moses Hogan | My Soul's Been Anchored |
Morten Lauridsen | Nocturnes: Sa Nuit d' Été, Soneto de la Noche, Sure on This Shining Night, Voici le Soir |
Frank Ticheli | Earth Song |
Eric Whitacre | The Seal Lullaby Animal Crackers, Vol. I Animal Crackers, Vol. II |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Thomas Arne | Which is the Properest Day to Sing? |
Leonard Bernstein | Make Our Garden Grow from Candide |
Johannes Brahms | Liebeslieder |
Luigi Cherubini | Requiem in C Minor |
Cecilia McDowall | A Red, Red Rose |
Frank Ticheli | There Will Be Rest |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Don Benham | As Kingfishers Catch Fire |
Jean Berger | A Song of Seasons |
Benjamin Britten | Rejoice In the Lamb |
Lois Brownsey | When Autumn Falls |
David Dickau | Spring Carol |
Laura Farnell | The April Rainbow |
Charles Gounod | Soldiers' Chorus from Faust |
Ruth Morris Gray | How Like a Winter |
Brian Lewis | A Red, Red Rose |
Jacques Offenbach | Neighbors' Chorus from La Jolie Parfumeuse |
Ruth E. Schram | Seasons Come, Seasons Go |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Don Benham | As Kingfishers Catch Fire (World Premiere) |
Johannes Brahms | Zigeunerlieder, Opus 103, 1-11 |
John Rutter | What Sweeter Music |
Frank Ticheli | There Will Be Rest |
Giuseppe Verdi | Coro di Schiavi Ebrei from Nabucco |
Ralph Vaughan Williams | Rest |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Geoff Allan | I am the Rose of Sharon |
Edward Elgar | Songs from the Bavarian Highlands: The Dance False Love Lullaby |
Gabriel Fauré | Cantique de Jean Racine |
Charles Villiers Stanford | Quick! We Have but a Second |
Johann Strauss II | Ballet from Die Fledermaus |
Giuseppe Verdi | Libiamo ne'Lieti Calici from La Traviata |
Michael Winikoff | The Warmup Song |
Composers | Works |
---|---|
Gabriel Fauré | Cantique de Jean Racine |
Gustav Holst | Bring Us in Good Ale |
John Ireland | Greater Love Hath No Man |
W. A. Mozart | Kyrie in D Minor (KV341) Kyrie in F (FV 33) |
Franz Schubert | Der Tanz Nächtliches Ständchen (Leise, Leise) |
© Chromatica Chorale 2024. All rights reserved.