By Khalida Sarwari
Several local school choir groups will take center stage in early November for a pair of concerts at Saratoga High School’s McAfee Center.
For the past 11 years, choir groups from Saratoga High and Redwood Middle School have come together for a joint concert, and this year is no different. On Nov. 4, the two schools will perform for each other before sharing the stage for one number. The groups performing that evening include the concert choir, men’s choir, cantare chorale, chamber singers and Redwood’s Rubato Chorus.
The second concert is on Nov. 6 and will feature all-female choirs. Called a women’s exchange concert, this is another 11-year tradition held at Saratoga High. Participating in this year’s event are Branham, Homestead, Los Altos, Lynbrook, Valley Christian and Saratoga high schools, along with the renowned Peninsula Women’s Chorus. Each choir will sing three songs before coming together for a mass performance of 10 Christmas carols by contemporary composer Conrad Susa, performing each song in a different Hispanic language.
At this point, nearly 200 women will share the stage under the direction of Martin Benvenuto. On one particular piece, they’ll be accompanied by a professional harpist, guitarist and marimba player.
“This one is going to be really spectacular,” said Janet Verson, administrative assistant for Saratoga High’s choral department.
The concerts were started more than a decade ago by Jim Yowell, Saratoga High’s choral director, as a way to showcase each group’s works and have them perform for each other at the beginning of the school year.
The women’s exchange concert was attended by more than 500 people last year. An added bonus is that preparing for the concert helps build camaraderie between the girls, who regularly come together for afternoon rehearsals, Yowell said.
Both concerts are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. McAfee Center is at 20300 Herriman Ave., on Saratoga High School campus.
Choir groups will take center stage at Saratoga High’s McAfee Center
