Ragazzi's Cultural Foray
The word “Ragazzi” in Italian means “guy” (as well as ‘children’s voices’), and boy, can these guys sing! Ragazzi Boys Chorus is warming up for their summer tour of Cuba, with Made in America, a special concert celebrating the roots of American music, March 26 and 27 (see concert details.) The concert’s programming demonstrates artistic director Joyce Keil’s penchant for interesting and unusual repertoire with songs like the South African freedom song Tscho Tscho Loza, African American work songs and spirituals, Civil War ballads, jazz classics, and new American compositions. Cuban selections such as Guatanamera, Juramento, and A Pescar Camaron forshadow Ragazzi’s upcoming Cuban tour in June.
Currently, Ragazzi Boys Choir has more than 150 singers from 93 schools in 25 Bay Area communities, ages 7-18. Their top touring groups — the Concert Group and Young Men's Ensemble — will visit Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, to engage in workshops, rehearse, and perform with local Cuban choruses that include members of all ages. “Cuba offers all of the things Ragazzi desires when we select tour destinations,” says Joyce Keil. “Destinations must offer the boys a rich choral experience — the small island is home to 14 professional choir — and also a stretching personal experience.” Both she, and Assistant Director Jennifer Cowgill will be conducting. But before they leave, it’s one more American stop, to the ballpark on Saturday, April 23 to sing the National Anthem for the Giants!
Local Violinist Catches Air
At 17, violinist Kenneth Renshaw has performed with some talented musicians in his short career, including his mom Kerrilyn who is a professional pianist, and his Dad Curtis, a guitar instructor. But when the phone call came from the popular show “From the Top” inviting Kenneth to play this special taping, Kenneth was floored. He flew down to Athens, Georgia in Feb., and together with 17-year-old violist Arianna Smith from Saint Charles, Illinois, performed the sixth movement from Beethoven's Serenade in D Major for Flute, Violin, and Viola, Op. 23, with none other than the world’s most famous flutist, Sir James Galway.
“I had played on the show before, first when I was 14, then later with the my piano trio, the Soleil Trio from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Prep Division,” says Kenneth. “I guess they liked what we did, and of course Arianna who’s quartet had won the Fischoff Competition.” Kenneth kept his cool when performing with this giant: “At first it was a bit nerve-wracking since I didn’t know what he was going to be like, I mean, he’s Sir James Galway! As soon as we started playing, working, and talking, he put us at ease. He has an amazing sound of course but he’s easy to blend with, friendly and easy to work with. He took the music very seriously but he always likes to joke and keep a light-hearted atmosphere, which was good for the Beethoven movement we were doing. He’s got a great sense of humor.”
Kenneth is a junior at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco, and takes violin lessons from Li Lin in the Conservatory’s Prep Division. He enjoys playing solo repertoire (his Mom is his favorite accompanist), chamber music and orchestral music and hope to keep all three going in the future. Hopefully that near future will be at one of the big Conservatories on the East Coast.
Tune in to the performance on KDFC 90.3/89.9 on Sunday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
Berkeley Jazz School Goes to Next Gen
Monterey Jazz Festival’s premiere youth outreach event, the Next Generation Jazz Festival, turns 40 this year, bringing 64 groups from ten states to the public stage in downtown Monterey, April 1-3. Young jazzers from middle school through college have been invited to perform in numerous configurations, from big band to vocal to small combos. Some will audition for the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, the Festival’s national all-star high school band.
For Keith Johnson and the Berkeley Jazz School’s two studio bands, the excitement is mounting. They return to ‘Next Gen’ to defend their titles of 1st place and 3rd place winner in the Conglomerate Big Band division, for the third straight year. Drawing the best of the East Bay’s student jazz musicians, the bands comprise all-star casts. The Monday night band was honored with the 2010 Downbeat Magazine, Large Ensemble Outstanding Performance award. Says Jazz School director Susan Muscarella, “The Festival gives our students something to work towards, and is a very exciting weekend. Hearing other peers gives them an idea of where they are, and the college bands inspire them to look ahead. Plus the whole weekend offers nice camaraderie and time for families to enjoy the music together as well.”
(See event details.)