Sherwood Chorale Celebrates Five Years!

Five years ago, Cindy Christensen's passion for music evolved into an inspired journey to bring more recognition to and opportunities for the performing arts in the growing community of Sherwood, Oregon with the formation of the Sherwood Chorale.  

Through benefit concerts in the spring and holiday seasons, this community choir created the momentum to establish the Voices for the Performing Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the overall promotion of music, dance, and theater in the community.

Please enjoy the following video that documents the origins of Cindy's vision and how the Foundation has evolved over the last five years:

Voices for the Performing Arts Now Accepting Applications for Board and Committee Positions

The VPA has openings on the board for fund-raising director, marketing director, and concert production chairman.  Additionally, they are interested in starting a youth choir and are looking for a choir manager and director.  Committee positions are also available.  

Please review the board member duties for detailed information.  To apply for a position, complete this on-line application form and submit as indicated.  Applications will be reviewed by the board after June 15.

2009 Spring Concert!

Take Five

The weekend of May 8-9 marked the 5th anniversary of the formation of the Sherwood Chorale.  To help celebrate on Friday, renown concert pianist Michael Allen Harrison and award winning vocalist Julianne Johnson shared their incredible talents, thrilling choir members and audience alike with their soul felt interpretations of songs such as "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Sweet Love," and "Feeling Good."  

Julianne surprised the choirs by inviting them ono stage to sing backup for a gospel rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters."  With Michael at the piano and Julianne teaching each part as the song progressed, it was live music at its best.  For the Chorale and Children's choir it was an experience to remember as it was spontaneous and exuberating.  Michael and Julianne had an energy and dynamic that worked perfectly.  It was a thrill and a pleasure to have them perform for us in our small town.  

On Saturday evening Michael Allen Harrison introduced us to his stepson Tanner Johnson, a seventeen-year-old violin virtuoso. He stunned the audience with his jazz/new age style violin prowess. His skill and musical maturity was astounding, pulling effects and notes out of his instrument that totally captured the essence of each piece while Michael played with equal sensitivity, skill, and musicality. Their performances completely complemented  each other, absolutely stunning the audience and driving them to their feet begging for more with a standing ovation. Live performances of this caliber are to be remembered, even cherished for years to come! No media can duplicate the energy and thrill of performances like the ones that occurred that weekend.

The Sherwood Chorale performance was tight, polished, and well prepared. The selections showed the skill of the performers to sing a variety of music, from the riveting spiritual “Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet’ to the concerts name sake “Take Five,” which is a jazz classic in 5/4 time, to “Someone to Watch Over Me”, the joint number with Julianne and Michael. The choir’s energy and interpretation of the music was well done and satisfying. The Tualatin Valley Brass joined the choir with an accompaniment especially licensed and arranged by Cindy Christensen for this event. 

The Sherwood Children’s choir entertained the audience with their creative choreography to the “Pink Panther” theme song and “Don’t Worry Be Happy”. As always the children added freshness to the concert. They also sweetly sang a piece about “The Moon” and put forth their best effort to perform and shine in the spotlight. What a wonderful opportunity for 4th-6th grade children to be part of such an incredible concert. Proceeds from the concert support the Voices for the Performing Arts Foundation’s commitment to awarding scholarships and grants in the Sherwood School district.

More photos!