Category Archives: Perfoming Arts

Tenebrae Convenes Community at Chaminade

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Chaminade College Preparatory gathered the community together for an early Tenebrae on the Tuesday of Holy Week with a live stage production of Hugh McElyea’s Tenebrae: The Passion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Held in the Tutor Family Center for the Performing Arts, the sold out performance featured students from Chaminade’s orchestra, Middle School and Upper School choirs, as well as alumni, parents, teachers, and friends of the School.

Audience members came from as far away from Santa Barbara to watch Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s compelling story.  As a German Lutheran pastor, Bonhoeffer courageously stood in opposition to Hitler, and sacrificed his life.  This important part of history as told through Tenebrae set a fitting tone for the final week of Lent.

Tenebrae began in the early church when monks gathered on the eve of Good Friday to remember the last days of Jesus.  Today, Tenebrae service is observed during the last three days of Holy Week.

Spring Sing

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By Nicky DeNocker ’12, Tara Montazeri ’12 and CJ Saquing ’12

Once a year, Harmony Chorus and Music Ministry combine to share their love for singing in a wonderful event known as “Spring Sing.” This fun-filled evening is held in the Media Center of the High School’s Condon Center. Harmony and Music Ministry each perform their favorite pieces of the year. The upperclassmen in Harmony Chorus are also given the opportunity to sing a solo by an artist or from a musical of their choice. They can either accompany themselves on guitar or piano, or have Matthew Park, Chaminade’s accompanist, play for them.

The various solos are spread throughout the night, alternating between various choral pieces. A few of the songs this year are sung by 841, a small ensemble of senior girls in Harmony Chorus, whose songs range from pop to classical genres. During the intermission, the audience is able to indulge in homemade baked goods made by the chorus members and parents. At the end of the program, the singers gather to take pictures and are congratulated for their performances. The Spring Sing is a great kick-off to the spring season and proves itself enjoyable for the entire Chaminade family.

Chaminade C-Notes Wins Top Honors at Heritage Festival

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The Chaminade C-Notes won three top honors at the Heritage Choral Festival in San Diego (March 23-25). This is a national adjudicated choral festival in which choirs are judged by experts in the choral field on many aspects of the music such as interpretation, tone, balance, dynamics, diction, blend, rhythm and intonation.

C-Notes won First Place Gold in the Concert Choir Division, and the Adjudicators Trophy for highest score in the Concert Choir Division.  Additionally, the C-Notes will perform in the National Festival of Gold National Youth Festival at Carnegie Hall on April 14, 2013!

Congratulations to Mrs. Kathy Rohrs and the C-Notes for all their hard work and dedication!

Chaminade Set to Stage Dietrich Bonhoeffer Story

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For one night only, on April 3, 2012, Chaminade College Preparatory presents Hugh McElyea’s Tenebrae – The Passion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoffer, a German Lutheran pastor, made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, and was one of the few church leaders who opposed Hitler. The public is invited to Chaminade’s Tutor Family Center for the Performing Art to share in this inspiring and compelling story of a man who gave his life for his faith.

Chaminade’s High School and Middle School choirs, student chamber ensemble, student actors, along with Chaminade faculty, staff, parents, and friends, will perform this liturgical music-drama.

Tickets are available online, and are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

For more information call 818-360-0165.

Middle School Students Go Backstage at Disneyland

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Chaminade Middle School band and C-Notes (choir) students did something out of the ordinary school day on Thursday, February 23. Instead of their usual class schedules in Chatsworth, they travelled to Anaheim and became honorary Disney cast members and went behind the scenes at Disneyland.

As a part of the Disney Performing Arts Program, band students participated in a soundtrack clinic, during which they played music they had never seen—to perfection. Their recorded music was then played back to a movie scene, which band students listened to and watched. While the 46 band members and their teacher Cynthia Snyder learned how soundtracks are made, the C-Notes performed onstage at the Carnation Plaza Garden Stage.

Led by choir director, Kathy Rohrs, the C-Notes entertained park guests with their upbeat and eclectic 30-minute program, featuring songs from Duke Ellington, Broadway, Stephen Schwartz, and Disney. In addition to a taste of showbiz, the C-Notes met with Disneyland producers, had their pictures taken backstage, went through a costume change, and were critiqued as performers—in short, they truly experienced what it is like to be a top-notch, Disney cast member.

While this is a highlight of the school year, the band and C-Notes have competitions ahead of them in March. On Friday, March 9, Middle School band students will enter the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association festival. Both the band and the C-Notes will travel to San Diego for the Heritage Festival San Diego from March 22 to 25. C-Notes fans can also look forward to their return to Carnegie Hall in 2014!