FebFest 2023
We Invite YOU to FebFest 2023
with Dr. André Thomas
We Invite YOU to FebFest 2023
Saturday, February 4, 2023 – 9am-5pm (with breaks!) Sing, learn, discuss, grow!
Concert Sunday, February 5, 2023 – 3pm at Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe
Join Coro Lux and the United Church of Santa Fe as we welcome our guest clinician, world-renowned composer and conductor, Dr. André Thomas, for our annual event honoring the contributions of African American composers and conductors, FebFest. Dr. Thomas is currently an associate artist with the London Symphony Orchestra, and has spent his career as one of the most sought-after conductors and choral clinicians in the field. Learn more about Dr. Thomas here.
This event is a non-auditioned choral music festival, open to anyone with a passion for singing, and an interest in learning from Dr. Thomas. You do not need to be enrolled in Coro Lux as a member.
Proof of vaccination will be required for the in-person event, and masks will be worn by all in attendance.
This year’s festival will be from 9am-5pm on Saturday, February 4th at the United Church of Santa Fe. The festival will culminate with an afternoon concert at the historically significant and acoustically fantastic Basilica of St Francis at 3pm on Sunday, February 5th.
The cost is $75, which includes Saturday lunch and copies of the music we’ll sing on Sunday. We will continue to offer this event in a virtual form, for the price of $50.
A free-will offering at Sunday’s concert will benefit Habitat for Humanity.
Carnegie Hall 2023
Carnegie Hall 2023
‘A Place Called Home’
Ellingboe/Silvestri (World Premiere)
Bradley Ellingboe, Composer/Conductor
Charles Anthony Silvestri, Poet-in-Residence
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Coro Lux singers and friends are invited to come take part in the World Premiere of Bradley’s Ellingboe’s new work ‘A Place Called Home,’ at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Libretto by Charles Anthony Silvestri and presented a week after Earth Day, the piece is centered on the themes of protecting the environment and promoting good stewardship of our planet.
To hear Movement 3 from the piece, click here:
The Old Oak Tree by Bradley Ellingboe, performed by Albany Pro Musica
To read the entire libretto by Tony Silvestri, click here to see a PDF:
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions that may help you prepare for this exciting trip:
How much will this trip cost?
The fee for participating in the concert and the accompanying rehearsals and after party will cost $860 per person (unless less than 10 singers from Coro Lux sign up, in which unlikely case the cost will be $910 per person). This does NOT include travel accommodations. See below.
How will travel accommodations be organized?
You have 2 options for making your way to NYC for this event:
- You may figure it out yourself, using your own frequent flier miles or hotel points and simply show up to the rehearsals and the concerts. Or,
- You may opt to travel with the group from ABQ to NYC and back. In this case, we will be working with a NYC based travel company to coordinate flights, hotels, etc. If you’re interested in THIS option, please write to Ashley @ ashley.jonkman@abqcorolux.org so she can start compiling a list of who’ll be in our “travel group.”
What are the dates?
While specific rehearsals haven’t been scheduled *quite* yet, plan on being in NYC at least 3 days before April 29th, and leaving on April 30th or after in order to accommodate concert plans.
Can I bring my significant other/best friend/travel buddy?
Yes! If you’d like to bring a non-singing guest, there will be an option for them to pay to be a part of the event, as a VIP guest. Please stay tuned for more information on the cost of the VIP guest package.
Can I invite other singers to join us at this event?
Yes! This is open to interested singers from around the country, not just Coro Lux members.
How much money do I need to pay to hold my spot today?
Please click the link below to pay $200 to hold your spot in the choir for the concert.
To pay by check, please send your check for $200 (please mark “Carnegie Hall” in the memo line) made out to “ABQ Coro Lux” and send it to ABQ Coro Lux, Box 37081, Albuquerque, NM 87176.
Will Coro Lux be performing this work prior to the DCINY concert?
No, the concert on April 29th will be the world premiere!
Also, here is the letter of invitation and information from the concert producers, DCINY
El Faro Youth Chorus
El Faro (“The Lighthouse”) Youth Chorus
El Faro (“The Lighthouse”) Youth Chorus is an outreach program of Coro Lux providing high-quality choral music education and performance experiences to young people of the Albuquerque area. With its unique dedication to both excellence in choral musicianship and trauma informed principles, El Faro is a safe, fun, and inviting space for music-making and voice building for youth ages 7-18.
We sing music in a wide variety of styles, and we learn about many cultures, languages, and historical periods through our repertoire. We also learn about breathing, body awareness, vocal health, and stage presence, and of course, we learn how to read and understand music. Music and singing are wonderful ways of sharing our own stories and the stories of people long ago, far away, right here, and right now. Young people have an amazing capacity to expand their own perspectives and grow their own voices through the music they learn, and that is exactly our intention and our purpose in El Faro.
For El Faro, “trauma informed” means we believe in supporting one another through life’s challenges in the way we learn, teach, communicate, and sing. Our singers come from different backgrounds, and we understand that the story of how we came to El Faro contains both happy and sad, easy and challenging, simple and complicated times. We come to rehearsal as we are, and rehearsal must first be a place of safety and support in order to be a place of learning, growth, and excellence.
If you’re interested in learning more, please email El Faro‘s conductor, Gabrielle Dietrich, at gdietrich227@gmail.com.
Due to the increased risk of respiratory illness transmission through singing, all singers are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before the first rehearsal they attend.
El Faro Youth Chorus rehearses on Thursday afternoons from 4:30-6:00pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Click on the play button below to check out El Faro Youth Chorus’ radio debut on KHFM’s 2022 Music Education Festival.
Our Youth Chorus, El Faro (“the lighthouse”) has one more performance this spring, a 45-minute concert entitled “Like a Tree Planted by the Water” that will feature well-known protest songs, spirituals, and even a guest appearance by bluegrass trio Strange Holler. This will be held at the Fusion Forum in downtown Albuquerque (708 First St., NW) on Saturday, May 13th, at 2 pm and free tickets can be reserved here: https://abqcorolux.org/tickets/ Come and support our young singers and their conductor, Dr. Gabrielle Dietrich!
Tuition
El Faro Youth Chorus tuition is $75 per semester for each chorister. However, we are committed to NEVER turning away a chorister due to inability to pay. We also recognize that each family’s financial situation is unique, so we are offering a few possible avenues for payment:
$75 one-time payment; Three payments of $25; Ten payments of $7.50. If payment poses a barrier for your family, please reach out to Gabby.
- Instructions
- To be sure tuition is properly credited, please be sure to fill out the form completely (including chorister name and name of person making the payment) in the areas indicated.
- Select your payment option ($75, $25, or $7.50).
- Click “Pay Now” and follow the prompts to pay via PayPal or credit card.
El Faro Youth Chorus -- OLD
El Faro (“The Lighthouse”) Youth Chorus
El Faro (“The Lighthouse”) Youth Chorus is an outreach program of Coro Lux providing high-quality choral music education and performance experiences to young people of the Albuquerque area. With its unique dedication to both excellence in choral musicianship and trauma informed principles, El Faro is a safe, fun, and inviting space for music-making and voice building for youth ages 7-18.
We sing music in a wide variety of styles, and we learn about many cultures, languages, and historical periods through our repertoire. We also learn about breathing, body awareness, vocal health, and stage presence, and of course, we learn how to read and understand music. Music and singing are wonderful ways of sharing our own stories and the stories of people long ago, far away, right here, and right now. Young people have an amazing capacity to expand their own perspectives and grow their own voices through the music they learn, and that is exactly our intention and our purpose in El Faro.
For El Faro, “trauma informed” means we believe in supporting one another through life’s challenges in the way we learn, teach, communicate, and sing. Our singers come from different backgrounds, and we understand that the story of how we came to El Faro contains both happy and sad, easy and challenging, simple and complicated times. We come to rehearsal as we are, and rehearsal must first be a place of safety and support in order to be a place of learning, growth, and excellence.
If you’re interested in learning more, please email El Faro‘s conductor, Gabrielle Dietrich, at gdietrich227@gmail.com. Voice placements will be held by appointment and will include some simple vocal warm-ups. Singers may sing a solo piece if they wish, but it is not required.
Due to the increased risk of respiratory illness transmission through singing, all choristers are required to wear masks over their mouths and noses at all times when indoors, and all are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 2 weeks before the first rehearsal they attend.
Tuition for spring 2022 is $75 per singer. However, financial aid is available, and no singer will be turned away due to inability to pay.
El Faro Youth Chorus rehearses on Thursday afternoons from 4:30-6:00pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
FebFest 2022
We Invite YOU to FebFest 2022
with Dr. Rosephanye Dunn Powell,
Dr. Richard Antoine White and more!
We Invite YOU to FebFest 2022Saturday, February 19, 2022 – 9am-5pm (with breaks!) Sing, learn, discuss, grow!
Concert Sunday, February 20, 2022 – 2pm
Register below for Coro Lux’s annual FebFest22, (formerly JanFest) featuring the music of our guest composer and conductor, Dr. Rosephanye Powell. Dr. Powell has been hailed as one of America’s premier women composers of solo vocal and choral music. As a choral composer, Dr. Powell has an impressive catalog of works published by some of the nation’s leading music publishers. She is commissioned yearly to compose for university choruses, professional, community and church choirs, as well as secondary school choruses.
Dr. Powell’s works include sacred and secular works for mixed chorus, women’s chorus, men’s chorus, and children’s voices. She has been Professor of Voice at Auburn University since 2001, and holds degrees from The Florida State University, Westminster Choir College and Alabama State University.
An added bonus this FebFest22 will be the inspirational talk and book signing, given by UNM professor of tuba and euphonium, Richard Antoine White. Dr. White is currently the only African-American male full professor of tuba in the country and has performed with the Canadian Brass Quintet, Indiana University Faculty Brass Quintet, and the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Colorado, the Malaysian Philharmonic, the Santa Fe Opera, and at the Spoleto Music Festival USA, among many others.
He recently released an autobiographical book entitled I’m Possible, about his journey from homelessness to becoming an accomplished musician, professor and motivational speaker. He’s been featured on The Today Show, PBS Newshour, CBS Evening News and more, and his positivity, incredible story and deeply inspiring message will be a treat for all who hear it.
This event is a non-auditioned choral music festival, open to anyone with a passion for singing, and an interest in learning from Dr. Powell. You do not need to be enrolled in Coro Lux as a member. You will, however, be asked to show proof of vaccination for this event, and masks will be required for the entirety of the event—including all singing.
Given in conjunction with the United Church of Santa Fe (1804 Arroyo Chamiso, Santa Fe), and held in their sanctuary, FebFest22 IN-PERSON is sure to sell out. With only 90 in-person spots and all of northern New Mexico invited, those places will go quickly! We have added an ON-LINE (VIRTUAL) option as well. The event will take place February 19th and 20th, from 9am-5pm on Saturday, with a concert given on Sunday at 2pm. For IN-PERSON attendees, a light lunch will be provided Saturday and is included in the registration fee of $65, as is sheet music for the event. Sheet music will also be available for ON-LINE (VIRTUAL) attendees to downloada a few days before the event.
We’re looking forward to singing with you!
As part of FebFest22, we are collecting for the New Mexico chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Together, we advocate for better lives for those individuals who have a mental illness. Please consider clicking the Donate button below to contribute to this worthy cause. To learn more, visit naminewmexico.org
We are offering FebFest22 either IN-PERSON ($65) or ON-LINE (VIRTUAL) ($50). Please make your choice below — you will be redirected to BrownPaperTickets for payment.
Please click here for the finalized FebFest 2022 Schedule
Staff
Our Staff
George Arthur, Art Director, has been drawing, painting and sculpting his whole life and graduated from the leading School of Visual Arts in New York. He served for 33 years as Executive Design Director at Consumer Reports where he was responsible for the design of the magazine, website, books, and special publications. He was instrumental in the interior and external design of the Consumer Reports headquarters building in Westchester, NY. Before that he art directed the design of Sport Magazine and designed the content and covers for Life Magazine. George is a prize-winning photographer and a designer of many books, posters and websites.
Since its inception in 2015, George has been Board President of Coro Lux and a singer in the bass section. He is the principal at George Arthur Design, located in Placitas, New Mexico, which specializes in graphic design and wood sculpture.
He has been a volunteer docent and graphic designer at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for 7 years with a special interest in the murals of the native Pueblo artists. George also designed a 12′ mural for the permanent exhibit, “We are of this Place,” celebrating the organization’s 40 th anniversary. George was selected as the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 2017, the first year of the program.
Gabrielle Dietrich, Associate Conductor and Director of the El Faro Youth Chorus, (gdietrich227@gmail.com) has been leading youth choirs since 2000, and she finds incredible joy in helping young people find their voice. A graduate of University of the Pacific, University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary, Dr. Dietrich has sung, taught, and conducted across the United States and in Ireland, the UK, Hungary, and Austria. From 2012-2021, Gabrielle was an Associate Teaching Professor of Music at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, where she also served as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Young People’s Chorus of Erie, northwest Pennsylvania’s only comprehensive youth choral program. She currently serves as the executive director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) New Mexico. Gabrielle is thrilled to call Albuquerque her new home, and she is grateful and excited to be a part of the Coro Lux team.
Ashley Jonkman, Administrator (ashley.jonkman@abqcorolux.org) — Ashley began life in a musical home, with an elementary music teacher for a mom and a father who loved to tinker on the guitar. She played piano and clarinet as a child, and has sung in choirs and on church worship teams since a young age. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. She earned her Master’s Degree from College of Santa Fe, and taught choral music and elementary education for 6 years before becoming a stay at home mom to 3 kids. She spends her free time gardening, freelance writing, running, and exploring the outdoors with her husband, Brad and kids Sammy, Josiah, and Phoebe.
Raul Manjarrez grew up in Albuquerque and earned a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Raul has been doing music and theatre professionally for 20 years. While living in NC he worked as a collaborative pianist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and played for many theatre productions.
In Albuquerque he has played for organizations such as Musical Theatre Southwest, Hold the Applause Productions, Opera Unlimited, Opera Southwest, and The Adobe Theater. Mr. Manjarrez has also accompanied middle school, high school, and church choirs in the past. Raul is very happy to be the accompanist for El Faro Youth Chorus this fall.
Bora Ryu, Youth Chorus Accompanist (on leave, Fall, 2022) — A native of South Korea, Bora Ryu is an active solo pianist and collaborative pianist. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Music Education from Bob Jones University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Seoul National University in South Korea.
Mary Ann Ybarra, pianist, enjoys living out her aspirations of being a performing pianist. Her degrees include the Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, Master of Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Before moving to Albuquerque, she taught piano, pedagogy and theory keyboard classes for 18 years at Indiana University-South Bend, Saint Mary’s College, Bethel College, and in her home teaching studio. However, it is here in Albuquerque that she has pursued her heart’s desire of sharing music with others through performing. Not only does she collaborate on individual instrumental and vocal recitals, playing 5-10 per semester, but she also works with vocal, operatic, and orchestral ensembles. She is thrilled and honored to be working with Coro Lux.
Doing Good While Doing Well
Doing Good While Doing Well
Coro Lux has an unofficial motto that we like “to do good while we do well.” Although we are, of course, a non-profit ourselves, we have often used our concerts as a way to draw attention to other worthy causes in our community and to help raise funds for them, as well. To date our efforts have benefitted:
- The New Mexico Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health (FebFest 2022)
- The NAACP College Scholarship Fund (JanFest 2021)
- The NM Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind (Fall 2020)
- Paws and Stripes (Fall 2017)
- The Roadrunner Food Bank (JanFest 2020)
- And our own members in need of financial assistance during Covid-19
We look forward to continuing to help when and where we can, as we continue to further our official mission: Coro Lux (“Chorus of Light”) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preparation and performance of great choral music for the enrichment and delight of our audiences and ourselves, and to propagating love of the choral art in the next generation of singers.
Emeritus Members
Emeritus Members
Kate Austin
Linda Buffett
Elizabeth Dwyer
John Farris
John and Diane Hawley
Vicki Hontas
Jeff and Jane Lawrence
Liz McMaster
Lori Nash
Wendy Orley
Ildy Rolfs
Gayle Shipp
Lynn Spray
Thanking Our Donors
Thanking Our Donors
ABQ Coro Lux is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and values your support and investment in great choral music!
We very much appreciate the support given to us any time of year.
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!
Bruffy
An Evening with Charles Bruffy
Come sing with multiple GRAMMY® award winning choral conductor Charles Bruffy!
Tuesday, February 18th from 7-9pm
Central United Methodist Church, 201 University Blvd. Albuquerque
Free Admission
One of the most admired choral conductors in the United States, GRAMMY® winner Charles Bruffy began his career as a tenor soloist, performing with Robert Shaw. Shaw encouraged his development as a conductor, and in 1999, The New York Times named him as the late, great conductor’s potential heir.
Bruffy has been artistic director of the Kansas City Chorale since 1988. He has been chorus director for the Kansas City Symphony Chorus since 2008 and was artistic director of the Phoenix Chorale from 1999-2017. He has been director of music at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church since 1994. He conducts workshops and clinics across the U.S., including teaching at the Westminster Choir College Summer Conducting Institute since 2006.
Bruffy’s eclectic discography includes six recordings with Nimbus Records and seven with Chandos Records. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has recognized five of these recordings with a total of 12 GRAMMY® nominations and three GRAMMY® wins, most recently in 2015 for “Best Choral Performance” for his recording of Rachmaninoff’s “All-night Vigil.”
In his spare time, Bruffy breeds and raises Arabian and Saddlebred horses on his ranch just south of Kansas City in Cass County.
REPERTOIRE
Attendees — please download your own copies and bring to the rehearsal.
- AVE VERUM CORPUS – Mozart
- MY LORD, WHAT A MORNIN’ – arr. Burleigh
- LASS DICH NUR NICHTS – Brahms
- LAUDATE JEHOVAM – Telemann
To register, please click here.