Livermore, Calif. – The Valley Concert Chorale, the Tri-Valley’s premier chorus for over 60 years, is honored to perform the United States premiere of Margaret Shelton Meier’s Mass for the Millennium as part of its March concerts titled “Millennium and Memory.” The concerts will also feature choral selections reflecting the American experience in this year of the country’s 250th anniversary. Details are as follows:
Two evening performances:
Friday, March 13, 7:30 p.m.
Lynnewood Methodist Church
4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton
Saturday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
2020 Fifth St., Livermore
“These concerts feature works that inspire reflection, resilience and hope, highlighting the evolving American story through music,” explains Joseph Castro, Artistic Director. “At its center is the U.S. premiere of Mass for the Millennium by Margeret Shelton Meier, a distinguished American composer known for her luminous harmonies and her ability to blend ancient liturgical tradition with contemporary choral expression. Presenting Meier’s work allows us to highlight an important American voice while honoring the 250-year milestone in our nation’s history.
Tickets
Tickets are $30. College students are $10 with valid student ID. Children K-12 are free. Advance tickets may be purchased by visiting the Chorale’s website at www.valleyconcertchorale.org, or by calling the Chorale’s information number at (925) 866-4003.
About Valley Concert Chorale
For over 60 years, Valley Concert Chorale is the Tri-Valley’s premier chorus. The Chorale has offered a variety of musical performances to serve the diverse musical tastes of its audiences.
Valley Concert Chorale’s mission is to inspire our community with the transforming power of music by expressing our passion and joy in live performance. VCC is dedicated to excellence in singing choral music of many genres, nurturing the next generation of singers, and supporting musical endeavors across the Tri‑Valley community.
The all-volunteer, non-profit chorale receives financial support from grants, ticket sales, membership dues, fundraisers and donations.
About the Director
A Bay Area native, Joseph Castro is a choral Conductor, festival clinician, soloist, and adjudicator who has worked with choirs from the elementary through collegiate levels in public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based settings.
Joseph holds both a master’s degree in Choral Conducting and bachelor degree in Vocal Performance from California State University East Bay, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Buddy James, Christine Abraham, and Dr. Jeffery Sykes.
About the Composer Margaret Shelton Meier
“Margaret (“Margee”) Shelton Meier (March 7, 1936 – March 20, 2023) composer, musician, and teacher attended Eastman School of Music and after graduating moved to California and began teaching music at Pasadena Christian School. She attended Fuller Seminary, CSULA and UCLA, where she became the first woman in the school’s history to earn a Ph.D. in music composition. She was a prolific composer in a variety of genres, including orchestral, choral, art songs, chamber music and instrumental solos. Her numerous awards include the ASCAP Standard Award. Her compositions appear in the CD catalogues of Albany, Vienna Modern Masters, Naxos, and Raven. Many of her works were featured by the Claremont Symphony Orchestra including the “The Claremont Symphony” in 1996. Many of her orchestral and choral works have been performed and recorded throughout the world. She was a staunch advocate for women composers, both historical hidden figures and modern day. She was a longstanding member and past president of the Music Teacher’s Association of California and of the venerable Dominant Music Club. She taught in California’s three college and university systems, primarily in the areas of piano and music theory.
####