Berkeley chorus, orchestra to start their 60th year with Verdi's 'Requiem'

"When Eugene Jones founded the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra in 1966, he may never have imagined the chorus continuing for 60 years. Jones, who died in 2003, was the first African American conductor of a large Bay Area chorus and orchestra drawn from its local community. Devoted to presenting great works from the choral canon, Jones was a charismatic leader and often lent his glorious bass voice to the choir."

"Surely, Verdi could not have predicted that his piece would one day be performed by Jewish prisoners for their Nazi captors at the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II or presented by the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra (BCCO) in 2026 to open its 60th anniversary season and ring in a new year. The BCCO will perform Verdi's "Requiem" Jan. 2-4 at UC Berkeley's Hertz Hall."

"Like all of BCCO's concerts, admission is free. The independent nonprofit organization is funded by chorus member tuition (about $230 per semester) and donations. In an interview, Luke speaks about the special features of "Requiem" and emphasizes the work's connection to the BCCO's concerts in June. The spring concert will center on "Terezín Requiem," a BCCO commission by Michael Schächter, whose ancestor, Rafael Schächter, organized performances of the Verdi while interned at Theresienstadt in the Czech town of Terezín."

Eugene Jones founded the Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra in 1966 and led the group until his death in 2003; he was the first African American conductor of a large Bay Area community chorus and orchestra and often sang with the choir. The BCCO will perform Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem Jan. 2–4, 2026 at UC Berkeley's Hertz Hall under conductor Ming Luke, featuring about 200 volunteer singers, 60 orchestra members, and soloists Erin Ridge, Mariya Kaganskaya, Kevin Gino and Andrew Pardini. Admission will be free, and the nonprofit is funded by member tuition and donations. The spring concert will feature a BCCO commission, Terezín Requiem by Michael Schächter, connected to Rafael Schächter's performances of Verdi at Theresienstadt.

Read at The Mercury News