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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2015)
Two vocalists sing Pergolesi sacred work ‘Stabat Mater’ concert benefits CCC Performing Arts Center ASTORIA — Partners for the PAC will present a concert of Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with vocalists Jocelyn Claire Thomas and Rebecca Sacks with accompanist Evan C. Paul at Peace Lutheran Church at 3 p.m. May 2. Admission is $10. Thomas and Sacks sang in the Cascadia Opera produc- tion of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” that was performed as a bene- ¿WIRUWKH&ODWVRS&RPPXQLW\ College Performing Arts Cen- ter this past fall. They were inspired to do more to help maintain the PAC and offered to sing the Pergolesi work as D EHQH¿W 7KH\ ZLOO ERWK EH part of the 2015 Astoria Music Festival. Thomas, a versatile sopra- no praised for her haunting sound and musical intelli- gence, is a frequent performer in opera, concert and recital. Sacks, a mezzo soprano, is ART CARDS, ARTISAN CRAFTS, GALLERY & WORKING STUDIO 1133 COMMERCIAL ST. ASTORIA 503.468.0308 known for her dynamic stage presence, smart musicality and stylistic versatility. Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) was one of the most important early compos- ers of comic opera. He also wrote sacred music. It is his 1736 “Stabat Mater,” how- ever, that is his best-known sacred work. It was commis- sioned by a fraternal group who presented an annual Good Friday meditation in honor of the Virgin Mary. Pergolesi’s work replaced one composed by Alessandro Scarlatti only nine years before, but which was already perceived as “old-fashioned,” so rapidly had public tastes changed. Thomas is a two-time win- ner of the district level of the Classical Singer Competition, and she also recently won the National Association of Teachers of Singing Advanced Artist Competition district lev- el. She is a two-time recipient RESTAURANT TH E SH IP IN N B R IT ISH P U B & R E ST A U R A N T top rite s om o v a F d fr to an coast the • FISH & CHIPS • CHOWDER • ENGLISH SPECIALTIES FABULOUS RIVER VIEWS, PATIO AND FIREPLACE HANDICAPPED ACCESS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK CLOSED ON NATIONAL HOLIDAYS #1 2ND ST.•ASTORIA (503) 325-0033 Stop by our GIFT SHOP C OMPLETE F ACILITIES FOR B ANQUETS , RESTAURANT M EETINGS & R ECEPTIONS OPEN 7 DAYS 1-800-874-1810 503-755-1818 GIFT SHOP 503-755-2476 www.camp18restaurant.com LOCATED ON MILEPOST 18, HWY 26 60 miles from Portland and 22 miles from Seaside 30 | April 23, 2015 | coastweekend.com Submitted photo Jocelyn Claire Thomas, pictured, and Re- becca Sacks will sing Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” on May 2 in Astoria. of the George Woodhead Prize in Voice for excellence in ora- torio and sacred music. Thom- as holds a Bachelor of Music in voice from the Oberlin Con- servatory, a master’s degree in voice from the Peabody Con- servatory and a Graduate Per- formance Diploma also from the Peabody Conservatory. Her roles performed include Marzelline in “Fidelio,” Pam- LQDLQ³'LH=DXEHUÀRWH´0RU- gana in “Aleina,” Zerlina in “Don Giovanni,” and Adele in “Die Fledermaus.” Upcoming engagements include singing in Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” ly was chosen as a Promising Young Artist of the 21st Cen- tury and traveled with a group of singers to Costa Rica. 5HFHQWO\ 6DFNV ZRQ ¿UVW place in the Northwest Re- gion of the NATS competition and an encouragement award at the Oregon District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Sacks is a four-year recipient of a perfor- mance scholarship at Stanford University and a member of the University of Oregon en- semble that won second place Submitted photo in the National Opera Asso- Jocelyn Claire Thomas and Rebecca Sacks, ciation’s collegiate scenes pictured, will sing Pergolesi’s “Stabat Ma- competition. She received ter” on May 2 in Astoria. her bachelor’s degree in mu- sic with departmental honors with Bravo! Vancouver and in vocal performance from singing Susanna in “Le Nozze Stanford University in 2010 di Figaro” with FAVA Salz- and completed post-baccalau- reate work at the University burg. Thomas resides in Port- of Oregon in 2013. Sacks is a land, where she teaches voice, member of the Portland Opera SLDQR ÀXWH DQG \RJD 6KH Chorus and currently studies with Ruth Dobson. studies with Ruth Dobson. Sacks has performed with Stanford University’s Cham- ber Chorale under Stephen Sano and University Singers under Robert Huw Morgan as 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2 well as with Sospiro Vocal En- Peace Lutheran Church semble, Lyric Theatre of San Jose, Cascadia Concert Opera, 565 12th St., Astoria and the University of Oregon Opera Ensemble. She recent- ‘Stabat Mater’
