InConcert Sierra bringing Vienna Boys Choir back to Grass Valley

InConcert Sierra is bringing the world-famous Vienna Boys Choir back to Grass Valley on November 20, our magazine has learned.

We got a “sneak peek” at InConcert Sierra’s 2016-17 season, and it includes the Vienna-based choir of 100 choristers from 30 different nations between the ages of 10 and 14. Divided into four touring choirs, they visit virtually all European countries and are frequent guests in Asia, Australia and the Americas. We enjoyed seeing the choir perform in Grass Valley in 2010 and at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Tahoe City in 2003.

Other highlights of  InConcert Sierra’s 2016-17 season include:

•The Alexander String Quartet with Robert Greenberg on October 16. The Alexander String Quartet is noted among the world’s premiere ensembles and widely admired for its interpretations of Beethoven, Mozart, and Shostakovich. They are joined by composer-pianist-musicologist Robert Greenberg, famous for his lectures on The Learning Company’s “Great Courses.”

•Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra on December 17 and 18. Ken Hardin, conductor.

•ZOFO, piano four hands on January 17, 2017. This GRAMMY-nominated, prize-winning Steinway Artist Ensemble – Eva-Marie Zimmermann and Keisuke Nakagoshi – is one of only a handful of duos worldwide devoted exclusively to piano duets and is blazing a bold new path. ZOFO, is shorthand for 20-finger orchestra (ZO=20 and FO=finger orchestra).

•Cellist Peter Wyrick on February 19. Wyrick is the Associate Principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony. An alumni now, he entered the Juilliard School at age 8 and was one of the last students of the famed Leonard Rose. At age 18, his professional recordings with Earl Wild and Rudolf Firkušný received a Grammy nomination.

•TenThing, a brass ensemble, on March 19. Young Norwegian trumpet sensation Tine Thing Helseth leads tenThing (pronounced “tenting”), an all-female brass ensemble, in unique arrangements of favorites such as Bizet, Grieg, Mozart, and Piazzolla. tenThing are rapidly establishing themselves on the international scene and known to provide fabulous experiences of live music that listeners will not easily forget.

•Tintabulations, a handbell choir, on April 16. Every so often, our third Sunday falls on Easter Sunday and we choose something a little different. To celebrate, we’ll present the Western United States’ pre-emininent handbell ensemble performing on 120 bells and chimes, under the direction of Barb Walsh. From Reno, Nevada, Tintabluations Handbell Ensemble is a diverse group of ringers committed to the art of English Handbell ringing.

•Pianist Sam Haywood on April 30. The superlative British pianist who performed alongside Joshua Bell last October said he thoroughly enjoyed his stay and he’s coming back. A consummate pianist, Haywood has performed to critical acclaim in many of the world’s major concert halls.

•Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra on May 21 and May 23. Ken Hardin, conductor.

All concerts are at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley. For more information, visit InConcertSierra.org.

—By InConcert Sierra

(Photo: Lukas Beck)