"Amidst that select company, the Berkeley Community Choir and Orchestra stands out as an organization that has thrived by hewing tightly to the radically egalitarian vision of its founder, the color-line-breaking Oakland firefighter Eugene Jones. Launched in 1966, the BCCO has maintained Jones's open-door policy, inducting new members without audition and always performing for free. Conducted since 2011 by Ming Luke, the BCCO's third music director, the 240-member choir kicks off its 60th season with three performances of Verdi's Requiem at UC Berkeley's Hertz Hall"
"Berkeley resident Nancy Wolfe, a serious violinist in her youth, joined the BCCO in 1993 after years away from playing music. A friend told her about a chorus that didn't require auditions. You just came and sang, which sounded good because I knew nothing about singing, she recalled. The first piece she tackled with the BCCO was Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, an assignment that sounded very daunting, she said."
The Berkeley Community Choir and Orchestra was founded in 1966 by Eugene Jones with a radically egalitarian, audition-free policy and a commitment to free performances. The organization has remained volunteer-driven and inclusive, growing to a 240-member choir under conductor Ming Luke since 2011. The choir marks its 60th season with performances of Verdi's Requiem at UC Berkeley's Hertz Hall. Organizational culture emphasizes participatory music-making and accessible pathways for new singers, attracting many members who join in mid-life seeking creative outlets. Long-time members describe tackling challenging repertoire like Stravinsky and sustaining lifelong engagement through the choir's open-door approach.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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