FPC ARTS EVENTS
 

“Guitarmageddon” is the latest iteration of FPC Arts’ yearly Jazz in The Courtyard concerts. This year will mark a first for Jazz in The Courtyard as we venture into uncharted territory with a “Guitar Battle” between four of San Diego’s premier guitarists. Now in its 11th year, Jazz in The Courtyard has been a signature piece of the FPC Arts Series and has featured some of the finest jazz musicians San Diego has to offer including Peter Sprague, The Joshua White Trio, Holly Hoffman, Gilbert Castellanos, Mike Wofford, Rebecca Jade, Mark Lessman, and is hosted by Archie Thompson and the ArchTones.

The Westminster Choir will present “The Requiem" by Maurice Durufle, accompanied by Michael Lawrence on the organ. Directed by Rodney Girvin. The Requiem as a musical form, based on the Roman Catholic “Mass for the Dead”and Book of Common Prayer burial service, has inspired some of the most glorious works in the choral repertoire by composers such as Brahms, Verdi and Rutter. The “French” Requiem of Maurice Duruflé, published in 1948 and based on Gregorian chant, contains traditional liturgical texts in addition to movements which enhance the dramatic impact and beauty of this choral masterwork.

SACRA/PROFANA strives to awaken and nurture enthusiasm for the choral art through vibrant performances and focused education outreach. Founded in 2009 by Krishan Oberoi, SACRA/PROFANA quickly gained acclaim as “San Diego’s go-to choral ensemble”. Their list of collaborations is a who’s who of the regions top performing arts groups including the San Diego Symphony, Mainly Mozart, and San Diego Opera. Specialists in the work of living composers, SACRA/PROFANA have given world, national, and regional premieres by contemporary luminaries including David Lang, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Shawn Kirchner, Saunder Choi, and Amy Gordonto name a few. They have also embraced the challenging choral masterpieces of twentieth century icons Arnold Schoenberg, György Ligeti, Dominick Argento and Ernst Krenek.

Under the baton of Rodney Girvin, the Westminster choir, soloists, guitar, harp, and marimba, present Benjamin Britten’s beloved “A Ceremony of Carols” followed by Conrad Susa’s “Carol & Lullabies-Christmas in the Southwest”. Susa, known locally as a former composer-in-residence at the Old Globe Theater wrote his piece as a companion to Britten’s work. It reflects traditional Spanish carols sung in the southwest. Come enjoy Christmas, surrounded by candlelight.

Among the highlights of pianist Jessie Chang's career, Ms. Chang appeared at the Blossom Festival with The Cleveland Orchestra playing Mozart’s Double Concerto with her duo-partner and husband, Jahja Ling. She has been featured at the Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium and in frontof 28,000 people at Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta. Ms. Chang has played with various orchestras including the San Diego Symphony orchestra, the Florida Orchestra and the Malaysian Philharmonic. She has also performed engagements with China Philharmonic and Guangzhou Symphony.

BACH COLLEGIUM SAN DIEGO was founded by Artistic Director Ruben Valenzuela in 2003 to bring dynamic programming and performances with historical considerations to performance practice. Over the last 20 seasons, BCSD has garnered national and international recognition through its exemplary talent, making it one of the most distinguished early music ensembles in the country today. In 2021, the ensemble gained national attention through its El Mesías: Messiah for a New World project, which commissioned an original Spanish libretto of Handel’s oratorio. BCSD will make its European debut at Bach fest in Leipzig, Germany in June 2024, and will also perform at other Bach sites in the German state of Thuringia.