Three Singers from Piedmont Children’s Choir Find Opera Harmony

 Three young singers from the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir hit the trifecta:

• getting to step out of the chorus and play a role in an opera;
• performing under the baton of legendary maestro Lorin Maazel; and
• performing for the esteemed Cal Performances.

On March 26 and 27, Cal Performances and Castleton Festival Opera presented Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, with PEBCC singers Andres Beck-Ruiz, 9, of Oakland; Emma Thvedt, 12, of San Leandro; and Daphne Williams, 15, of Oakland, playing the children’s roles of, respectively, Harry, Cis and Emmie. All three spent multiple afternoons a week rehearsing in Piedmont, said T.J. Togasaki of PEBCC.

Castleton Festival was founded by Lorin Maazel, former music director of the New York Philharmonic.

The Piedmont-based choir enrolls more than 300 children, ages 4 to 18, from all over the East Bay. It began in 1982 with 22 founding members gathering in the living room of Piedmont resident Susan Rahl to sing together.

Britten wrote prolifically for children and these roles were full parts with multiple scenes. Auditioned and prepared by veteran PEBCC conductor Sue Bohlin, the three children and their families poured their hearts into this project, Togasaki said. The singers’ professionalism, poise and clean bright voices garnered praise from company and audience alike.

The San Francisco Classical Voice said, "The other bright lights were the three amplified children: Daphne Williams, Emma Thvedt, and Andres Beck-Ruiz." The review also cited "the role-embracing professionalism of these members of the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir."

The Opera Tattler wrote, "The three children were amplified, but sounded clean and pure in tone."

The choir has established itself in international choral activities and new music under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Robert Geary, said Togasaki. International tours every summer and a keen desire to meet, collaborate and compete with choruses and singers of other cultures have led to high marks at prestigious festivals across the world and the sponsorship of the Golden Gate International Choral Festival.

The choir regularly collaborates with Bay Area arts organizations such as the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Mark Morris Dance Company, Berkeley West Edge Opera and Volti. In June the choir will be a featured performer in the Chorus America Conference, Togasaki said.