Special Concert
Holiday Candlelight Concert
Expressions Children's Choir
Expressions Choirs has been in existence for 30 years. The non-profit organization was started by Candy Chamberlain, who is still presiding as musical director. Expressions has 3 children's choirs that include youth from ages 6-18. They also put on a two-week Summer Theater program every June for youth ages 9-18. Every child is welcome to participate in their programs.
Expressions has a long history with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, and has performed at the annual Candlelight Christmas Concert with MSO for over 20 years.
They also give back to our community by performing at different community events, including the Hospice Christmas Tree Lighting. For more information about Expressions Choirs please visit http://www.expressionschoirs.org.
Opus Handbell Ensemble
The Opus Handbell Ensemble, Inc., a non-profit organization, has been a group of aspiring musicians since 1992 in Modesto and is currently 13 ringers strong, under the direction of Richard J. Colla. With over 140 combined years of ringing experience, they perform on five octaves of Malmark handbells, four octaves of Suzuki tone chimes and occasionally, a selection of Whitechapel handbells.
Handbells are a very unique instrument requiring precision eye-hand coordination, music reading ability and a willingness to work as a “team.” Repertoire for this art form ranges from classical Bach to Heavy Metal, Rock n’ Roll. Opus is known throughout the handbell community for reflecting in bronze, the artistic interpretation of the director, while bringing musicality and depth to a performance beyond the expectations of the listening, viewing audience.
Opus has spear headed the art of handbell ringing in the Central Valley with theme concerts throughout the year, as well as hosted and conducted local workshops to raise the level of awareness of handbell ringing in the Modesto community. One of their greatest joys has been to take this artistic medium into the music mainstream through local schools by broadening the dreams of students who have never seen or heard a handbell choir.
Opus has played on the Community Concert Series in Porterville, four years on the Manteca Kindred Arts Council Concert Series and two years on the Sonora St. James’ Concert Series. These fine musicians have attended festivals and workshops from Riverside to the Bay Area and were a featured choir to ring at Pinnacle 2000 in Las Vegas and at the AGEHR, Area XII Conference in Belmont in June, 2006. Opus was featured in the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops Concert at the Gallo Center in 2007, 2008 and were guest musicians at the Symphony’s Candlelight Concert at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in 2009.
Opus joined the Trinity United Koinonia Choir in Coventry, England for an International Choir Festival tour in June, 2008. They’ll ring a second time for the Evensong Series in Lodi this spring and are excited about attending the AGEHR, Area XII Conference in Davis, summer 2010.
Opus is a member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, a national organization established in this country in 1954.
For more information contact Opus’ booking coordinator Lisa Traughber at 527-2214 or check out our website at www.opushandbell.org