8th Annual Festival of Carols

Celebrate the sounds of the holiday season with the Foothill Presbyterian Church Chancel and Children's choirs, Glory Ringers bell choir, Voices of the Valley Community Choir, Opera San Jose's Lawrence Ealy and Paula Chacon, former San Jose Symphony cellist Laurel Brobst Gilbert, and other special guests.  For more information, call Jay at (408) 258-8133x105.

Foothill Presbyterian Church

5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127

Friday, December 12, 2008, 7PM

Suggested Donation: one non-perishable food item per person

will go to The Lord's Pantry to help those in need.

Celtic Rose

Fill your senses with lilting melodies, and soulful harmonies of Celtic and Renaissance music of ancient and modern times.  Celtic Rose features Doris Williams on lute, recorder, tin whistle, and Viola Garbarino on vocals, guitar, and bodhran.  www.doriswilliams.com

Foothill Presbyterian Church

5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127

Sunday, November 16, 3:00 PM

Suggested Donation $10 per person

Hewlett-Packard Symphony Orchestra

Now on its 15th year, the HP Symphony Orchestra, directed by George Yefchak, will feature Carl Simpson's arrangement of Borodin's Polovtsian Dances, Chaminade's Concertino for Flute and Orchestra, Herb Gellis' arrangement of Praetorius' Praetorius Suite, Adam Kent's arrangement of Holst's Second Flute in F, and Leroy Anderson's A Christmas Festival.  www.hpsymphony.org

Foothill Presbyterian Church

5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127

Friday, November 14, 7:30 PM

Suggested Donation $10 per person

Pianist William Kenville In Concert

Long-time student of internationally renowned pianist William Corbett-Jones, and founder of Bay Concert Arts and the Monterey Bay Ragtime Festival, pianist William Kenville will bring to life seldom heard masterworks by Liszt including Venezia E Napoli and St. Francois de Paule Marchant sur Les flots.  For more information, visit their website at http://bcaweb.bayarea.net, or contact Jay Jordana at (408) 258-8133x105.

Foothill Presbyterian Church

5301 McKee Road, San Jose, CA 95127

Sunday, October 12, 3PM

Suggested Donation $10

Music Series: Fall 2008

• Sunday, August 24th, after worship – 8th Annual Jazz On the Grass/Deacons’ Lunch
• Sunday, September 14, 3PM – Les grâces featuring music from the 17th and 18th centuries
• Sunday, October 12, 3PM - Pianist William Kenville featuring works by Liszt
• Friday, November 14, 7:30 PM - Hewlett-Packard Symphony Orchestra featuring works by Anderson, Borodin, Chaminade, Gellis, and Holst.
  
• Sunday, November 16, 3PM– Celtic Rose featuring Celtic and Renaissance music of ancient and modern times.
• Friday, December 12, 7PM - 9th Annual Festival of Carols featuring FPC ensembles, Voices of the Valley, and other special guests

Baroque Ensemble Les Graces In Concert

Sonatas and Cantatas or Handel vs. Telemann? Soprano Jennifer Paulino, recorder player Annette Bauer, violist Rebekah Ahrendt, and keyboardist Jonathon Rhodes Lee will bring their youthful passion and knowledge of historical performance practices of the 17th and 18th centuries in this upcoming concert. For more information, visit their website at www.lesgraces.com, or contact Jay Jordana at (408) 258-8133x105.

Foothill Presbyterian Church,
5301 McKee Road, San Jose, 95127
Sunday, September 14, 2008, 3PM
Suggested Donation $10

8th Annual Jazz On the Grass/Deacons' Lunch

Come join cool cats at the courtyard playin' hip jazz. We'll have free sack lunch and prizes too! RSVP before August 22nd.

Sunday, August 24th,12pm.

See you there!

Seeking to be a part of a musical ensemble?

Check out our music ministry:
Glory Ringers Bell Choir - group meets on Mondays at 7:30 - 9 PM beginning on August 25th.
Chancel Choir - group meets on Thursdays at 7:30 - 9:15 PM beginning on August 28th
Children's Choir - group meets on Sundays after worship beginning on August 31st
Peralta Consort - ongoing.

Groups play at least once a month for worship service, and for special concerts as well.
All skill levels are welcome. For more information on the ensembles, visit our music page.

2007/2008 Annual Report

FOOTHILL MUSIC PROGRAM

2007-2008

There are currently four active ensembles at Foothill Presbyterian Church: Chancel Choir, Children’s Choir, Glory Ringers, and the Peralta Consort.

With the addition of new personnel, Chancel Choir membership is strong and active at 12 persons. Members have consistent attendance at Sunday morning services. Exhibiting tremendous and unwavering dedication, the group continues to provide music at least three times a month during worship services. Occasionally, the group provides music at special services and concerts. Participating in the 218th General Assembly, the Chancel Choir joined forces with the Evergreen Presbyterian Church Choir to sing in a massed choir of 435 voices at the June 22^nd GA worship service. Moreover, the Chancel Choir was invited by the Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church to sing at their Annual Choir Day, where local and statewide churches sing and share their talents in glorifying God. As a result of this event, it is my goal to further ecumenical work with churches around the area. Growing in its overall musicianship, the Chancel Choir appreciates the support received from the congregation and welcomes new members regardless of choral experience.

The Children’s Choir occasionally provides music for worship services. Together with the older youth and one adult, the group gave an impressive rendition of a Christmas play Clueless at Christmas where they generously shared their time, and talent in this 3-month project of rehearsals and performances. We thank the parents and friends who help build the sets, made props, and provided care to the kids. We also thank the congregation for the continued support of our young musicians/artists and their work.

With the addition of new personnel, Glory Ringers membership is strong and active at 10 persons (in addition to occasional substitutes), an increase from last year. Exhibiting unwavering commitment and dedication, the group continues to rehearse weekly as well as provide music at least once a month at the worship services. Occasionally, the group provides music at special services and concerts. Developing in its overall musicianship, the Glory Ringers appreciates the support received from the congregation and welcomes new members regardless of bell ringing experience.

Under the direction of Kraig Williams, the Early Music program has successfully grown to include three main components: concerts, the Peralta Consort, and education. Fulfilling the mission statement of the FPC Music Series, the concerts promote varied music to the community as well as increase awareness of Foothill throughout the South Bay, Peninsula, and East Bay areas. In the 2007/2008 season, the first structured, packaged series of early music concerts, comprised of four concerts, were well attended. Providing baroque music at special events, services, and at the worship service at least once a month, the Peralta Consort draws people who appreciate a specialized type of musical genre, as well as musicians into the church community. Increasing instrumentation by one cellist, the ensemble was invited to play at a concert in Menlo Park thereby increasing awareness of Foothill’s music program. Finally, the educational aspect of the Early Music portion of the music program serves to increase awareness of Foothill by having recorder lessons available to children, who will in turn contribute their musical talents to the church and the community. Two of these students will be playing at the worship service in August. Interest in the FPC early music is continuing to grow and prosper.

Providing varied music to the community, the Music Series continues to grow to showcase talents of semi-professional and professional performers. The concerts this year included the early music package of the Farallon Quartet, Trillium Harp Trio, Flauti Dolci & Amici, Clea Galhano, Judith Linsenberg, and Katherine Heater In Concert; Hewlett-Packard Symphony Orchestra, the National Composers Association USA (San Francisco), and the annual Alum Rock Music Festival featuring middle and high school students, as well as Jazz On the Grass, and Festival of Carols. We thank all those who have helped in the successful concert productions, and the congregation who continue to support the growth of the concert series.

In the interest of creating a more meaningful worship experience, the music program instituted a hymn sing preceding the worship services, which continues to draw positive feedback and support from the congregation. Furthermore, a small, “folk music” combo provides special music to the congregation once a month for worship services. Although recent, the endeavor has been well received.

This year marked the addition of a new organist/pianist. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Ilki Lee is not only a highly trained musician with a sensitive ear, but she also has a strong work ethic, and an amiable personality. We welcome her as a wonderful addition to the staff. Meanwhile, we would like to extend our gratitude to Bill Andersen, Pat Heisey, Joanne Reinecker, and all those who temporarily provided worship music while we were in the process of filling the organist/pianist post. Thank you very much for your generosity.

Members and non-members of the church continually share their time and talents evident in the special music provided during the summer months and occasionally throughout the year. We appreciate your generosity.

We thank you for your continued support.

Jay Jordana

Director of Music Ministries