Vivaldi Gloria Concert to Benefit John Knox Presbyterian Church Music Ministry

DUBLIN, Calif. - April 29, 2015 - PRLog -- A Music Ministries Benefit Concert will be held at John Knox Presbyterian Church at 7421 Amarillo Road in Dublin on Saturday, May 16, 2015.  Admission is free to this concert which starts at 7:30 pm.  A freewill offering will be taken during the concert.  All proceeds will be used to support the church’s music ministries program which consists of a chancel choir, praise band, handbell ringers, and organist led by Music Director Dean Christman.

John Knox Presbyterian Church will be filled with the sounds of children and adult voices as they combine to perform Antonio Vivaldi’s popular work “Gloria”. “I am really excited about this upcoming concert,” says Pastor Randy McGrady-Beach.  “We want to provide the community with a quality music event which in turn will lead those attending to contribute to our music ministry. I see this as a win-win situation. If you’re interested in listening to a variety of performers from a boys choir and bellringers to a cappella vocalists this is a concert for you.  Come enjoy an evening of quality music”.

The Menlo Park Chorus and Encore Vocalists who recently performed together at the chorus’s Spring concert will be joined by the JKPC Chancel Choir and the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers.  Singers from other bay area choruses have also answered the call to support the church’s music program. The 60-member combined chorus will be directed by April McNeely and Bruce Whitener. The Gloria will be accompanied by pianists Amy Zanrosso and John Iosefa.  Soloists for the Gloria are Kaia Richards, Lauren Cartwright and April McNeely.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of Estrella Echavez and Canuto Salaver, parents of Tim Salaver, who sings with the three participating vocal ensembles.  Tim Salaver’s 12-year-old son, Willem, is a member of the Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers.  Members of Salaver’s family will be participating in this enhanced concert as it will also include the reveal of two 12-foot high banners in the sanctuary dedicated to the memory of Salaver’s parents as well as his godparents, Paul and Pilar Laput.   A Roland electronic drum set will be donated to the church in Canuto Salaver’s memory.

“My parents were accomplished musicians,” says Tim Salaver.  “My mom was a classical pianist, organist, as well as a church music director for over 40 years.  My dad was a big band drummer and clarinetist.  My parents and godparents have had a significant impact on so many in our family and music has been a very important aspect of my life.  This is an opportunity to remember them and raise funds for the church.”

The concert is a variation of the church’s Sunday service and members of Salaver’s family will be taking on roles normally performed by the church’s Deacons and elders.  The Golden Gate Boys Choir and Bellringers will be performing Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus”, Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring”, and “Consider Yourself” from Oliver! The Musical.  The Bellringers will perform “Rigaudon” by Andre Campra and “Menuet” by Georges Bizet.

Encore Vocalists will be performing contemporary a cappella selections and will sing with members of the Golden Gate Boys Choir an a cappella version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu” arranged for the concert by Tim Salaver.

Donations to the JKPC Music Ministry can also be made directly to the church. For more information, please contact John Knox Presbyterian Church at 925-828-1846.