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-
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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
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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
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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
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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-
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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.
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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’