The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Sierra Master Chorale Presents ~  The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace,
Thursday, May 17 & Sunday, May 20

An emotionally stirring concert with choir and orchestra featuring work of sacred texts that will leave you speechless…a breathtaking story about the human condition.

The Sierra Master Chorale presents this concert, a premiere of this work in our area.  The Armed Man, by Welsh Composer Karl Jenkins, was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum for the Millennnium  celebrations by the London

For More Information and Tickets

Aileen James Classic Music Radio Show on KVMR Thursday, May 10, 8pm

Tune in on the next Classical Showcase  “Listenable Music from Lesser-known Composers” with Dr. Aileen James from InConcert Sierra – coming live on Thursday, May 10 , on KVMR-FM (89.5) from 8-10 PM

Third-Sunday Season Concert Sunday,  June 17 ~ Jose Luis Merlin, Guitar

Treat dad (and yourself) to a special concert for Father’s Day!  From Spain, guitarist and composer, Jose Luis Merlin, has inspired almost every classical and folk guitarist with his music.  He is the ‘poet of the guitar’.

For More Information and Tickets

Tune in on the next ‘Classical Showcase’ with Dr. Aileen James from InConcert Sierra – coming live on Thursday, May. 10th on KVMR-FM (89.5) from 8-10 PM -

My May 10 KVMR show is entitled “Listenable Music from Lesser-known Composers”…InConcert Sierra’s Artistic Director, Maestro Ken Hardin, will be my guest – we will talk about the up-coming performances of the Sierra Master Chorale, featuring a work written after 9/11 by the Finnish composer Karl Jenkins – an anti-war piece, very beautiful and very dramatic…  Please join me!  …Aileen James

Aileen’s KVMR classical music radio show will be on KVMR every second Thursday of the month.

Third-Sunday Season Concert Sunday, April 15 – Rose Ensemble

The Rose Ensemble

The Rose Ensemble reawakens the ancient with vocal music that stirs the emotions, challenges the mind, and lifts the spirit. The Saint Paul, Minnesota group tours internationally with repertoire spanning 1,000 years and 25 languages, including new research in Middle Eastern, European and American vocal traditions. The Ensemble is a recipient of the Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, first-prize winner at the 2007 Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain and founder Jordan Sramek received the 2010 Louis Botto Award from Chorus America “for entrepreneurial zeal.”  Read More or Purchase Tickets

Educational Concerts for Kids Monday, April 16

InConcert Sierra will present an educational program to over 400 local third-grade students.  The Rose Ensemble will bring their music of early America to Nevada County youth – exploring our country’s history through its musical heritage.

Aileen James Classic Music Radio Show on KVMR Thursday, April 12, 8pm

Tune in on the next Classical Showcase “All About Spring” with Dr. Aileen James from InConcert Sierra – coming live on Thursday, April 12 , on KVMR-FM (89.5) from 8-10 PM

House Concert with Peter Van Gelder Friday, April 27

Peter van Gelder is a world-class Sitar Virtuoso and one of the first American disciples of India’s great Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Van Gelder first appeared on the San Francisco music scene playing bass guitar and soprano sax in the seminal Great Society rock band with then unknown Grace Slick.  Read More or Purchase Tickets

Besides house concerts, InConcert special performances, and Ken Hardin Trio shows…where can you hear Ken perform?  Sierra Master Chorale member (soprano) Sarah Pressler has hired Ken to be her “Piano Man” on Friday, March 23 at the Ostrom home in Nevada City for an evening tribute to the Music of Billy Joel.  This will include some surprises that will make the evening even more special…you’ll have to join the fun to find out what the surprises are!  All the proceeds will be donated back to the Sierra Master Chorale.

Limited seating so get your tickets soon!

Wine Tasting with Dave Luce March 16

Join us for an inspiring evening exploring new wines, friends, and a little music…Our favorite local wine expert and friend Dave Luce will guide us through a selection of varietals that will please wine connoisseurs and amateurs alike. Wines will be available for purchase and a percentage will go toward InConcert Sierra. Desserts and light noshes will be served…an evening to remember.  Read More and Purchase Tickets…

Third-Sunday Season Concert March 18 – International Tchaikovsky Competition Violin Winner!

Itamar Zorman

Violinist Itamar Zorman is the winner of the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia, and has performed the winners’ concerts with Maestro Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra.

Born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, in 1985 to a family of musicians, Itamar Zorman graduated from the Israeli Conservatory of Music in Tel-Aviv.  Mr. Zorman received his Bachelor’s degree from the Jerusalem Academy of Music in 2006. At the same time, he was the first violinist in the Israel Army’s IDF String Quartet. He received his Master’s of Music from The Juilliard School in 2009 and received an Artist Diploma from Manhattan School of Music in 2010. Currently, Mr. Zorman studies with Ms. Rosenberg at The Juilliard School in the Artist Diploma Program. He plays on a Pietro Guarneri violin from 1745 from the private collection of Yehuda Zisapel.  Read more or Purchase Tickets…

InConcert House Concert February 18th, 2pm with Peter Sumner
Everything you ever wanted to know about a piano but were afraid to ask.  Click Here for more information and tickets.

Third-Sunday Season Concert February 19th, 2pm, Laura Downes and California Rising Stars

Laura Downes

Critically acclaimed Steinway Concert Artist Lara Downes is redefining the solo recital format with visionary, cutting-edge performances at prestigious concert venues worldwide.  Lauded by NPR as “a delightful artist with a unique blend of musicianship and showmanship” Lara presents the piano repertoire – from iconic favorites to newly commissioned works -  in new ways that bridge musical tastes, genres and audiences.

Lara is the founder and artistic director of Rising Stars of California, a statewide performance and education initiative that introduces community audiences to California’s most gifted young musicians.  She will bring to our stage her top emerging talents!

Click Here for more information and tickets.

Dr. Aileen James

Tune in on the next ‘Classical Showcase’ with Dr. Aileen James from InConcert Sierra – coming live on Thursday, Jan. 12th on KVMR-FM (89.5) from 8-10 PM – you will hear  ‘Classics from Eastern Europe’.

Aileen’s KVMR classical music radio show will be on KVMR every second Thursday of the month.

It will be a day of locally presented holiday music to include concerts of Music in the Mountains, NUHS and more broadcasted throughout the day!

Steve Nicholson, Baritone and one of the Soloists in the Misa Criolla

“I’m very excited about singing Ariel Ramírez’ Misa Criolla. It’s historically significant as one of the first non-Latin Masses which also gives it a great emotional depth and exuberance.”

Carolyn Valle, Alto I

“I have been singing with the Sierra Master Chorale since 2007 (the year before its inception in 2008) when the group was still the Sierra College Choir. We’ve made major steps in improving our capabilities, professionalism, and more importantly to our audiences—our sound. Our director, Ken Hardin, continually raises the bar—choosing music that challenges us to worker. It seems that the more daunting a piece is when we first receive it, the more rewarding it is by performance time. That music, for me, this cycle is the first five movements of piece by Argentine composer, Ariel Ramirez, Misa Criolla. What a challenge—fast-paced and all Spanish—but oh, what a reward awaits us, and our audiences!”

Peggy Brewer, Alto 2

“One thing you can be sure of with the Sierra Master Chorale is that the programming is always exciting and challenging, and definitely out of the ordinary. Director Ken Hardin’s choice of Misa Criolla by composer Ariel Ramirez for our Christmas concert is a case in point. This work is described as a ‘folk mass based on the rhythms and traditions of Hispanic America. . . particularly the rhythms and melodies of Argentina’.  The Latin beat and the text in Spanish is not so natural to most of us, so learning this music has been challenging. However, Ken Hardin has a unique capacity to teach as well as to conduct, and so we expect a finished and professional-sounding performance in December. This music uses a range of percussion instruments including tenor and snare drums, tom-toms, triangle, jingles, gong, and woodblocks, as well as harpsichord, guitar and string bass. Since the instrumentalists have already been commissioned to accompany the voices in this major work, other pieces using the same kind of instrumentation have also been selected, namely African Noel, the West Indian spiritual Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy, a contemporary work by Jerry Grant titled But Have Not Love, and an unusual work by Leonard Bernstein, Gloria Tibi.”

“The program will be filled with other beautiful Christmas music, some of which may be new to the listener’s ear, but also some more familiar work including Angels’ Carol, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and traditional carols. Also the chorus will perform a short movement from The Armed Man, the major work to be presented at the spring concert, and it is hoped that this excerpt will help to whet the interest of our public to attend this event in May.”

The Holiday Concerts are sponsored by John and Valarie Bush; and Quail Ridge Senior Living

Dr. Aileen James

Tune in on the next ‘Classical Showcase’ with Dr. Aileen James from InConcert Sierra – coming live on Thursday, Dec. 8th on KVMR-FM (89.5) from 8-10 PM – you will hear  ‘A Holiday Musical Feast’  with special guest, composer Jerry Grant.

Aileen’s KVMR classical music radio show will be on KVMR every second Thursday of the month.