Past Performances
Ancora Presents “Love and Longing”
Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at 7400 Woodlawn NE, Seattle
J. Scott Kovacs, Director | Yuly Kopkin, Collaborative Pianist
Our final concert of the season, Love and Longing, was a tonally rich adventure as Ancora presents the premiere of Pacific Northwest Composer Donald Skirvin’s "All My Songs for You," commissioned by Ancora. This suite of three pieces sets poetry from Sara Teasdale’s 1920 work Flame and Shadow. The choir premiered the final movement ("In All My Songs") on our Transient Glory concert in February 2023.
As a partner to these Teasdale texts, the choir also performed "Three Love Songs of Emily Dickinson" by the American composer James Mulholland. Joining these two suites was Johannes Brahms’ "Four Songs for Three Voices" and works by Richard Nance, Kim Kamerin, Mari Esabel Valverde, and Alice Parker.
Ancora Presents: “Transient Glory”
Saturday, February 18th, 2023 at 7400 Woodlawn NE, Seattle
J. Scott Kovacs, Director | Yuly Kopkin, Collaborative Pianist
Our first mainstage concert in 3 years!
Drawing from the phrase sic transit gloria mundi ("thus passes the glory of the world"), Transient Glory explores some of the ways we encounter, experience, and call on beauty and magnificence. In a concert that embraces almost entirely living composers, Ancora sings texts from Gerard Manley Hopkins, Garcia Lorca, and Wendell Berry, as well as works from Sheila Bristow, Stephen Smith, Frank Ticheli, Christine Donkin, and Donald M. Skirvin.
Interleaved into this contemporary music is the startling text from the Tenebrae Responses of Tomás Luis de Victoria, “O vos omnes” (O ye people), taken from the first chapter of Jeremiah. We are proud to also offer a world premiere of “All my Songs for You,” on a text by Sarah Teasdale, written for Ancora and Artistic Director J. Scott Kovacs by celebrated Seattle composer Donald M. Skirvin.
YouTube recording coming soon!
Ancora Presents: "Birdsong"
Saturday, October 29th, 2022 at Seattle First Baptist Church
Freddie Coleman & J. Scott Kovacs, Directors | Yuly Kopkin, Collaborative Pianist
In a brilliant program created by past Artistic Director Freddie Coleman and led by new Artistic Director J. Scott Kovacs, Ancora celebrates everything about birds and their songs. From birds who “can sing anything” to a “blackbird singing in the dead of night,” the choir ranges through a varied program that includes works by HH Amy Beach, Gustav Holst, Elizabeth Alexander, John Lennon & Paul McCartney, and Sarah Quartel.
With texts that are familiar (Robert Browning and Rabindranath Tagore) and new (Quartel sets her own text) we are invited to imagine the many ways we encounter the tuneful creatures just outside our windows. At the conclusion of the performance, Ancora will participate in a Festival Sings event to perform the premier of "Join in Gathering," composed and directed by Dr. Giselle Wyers, University of Washington.
Ancora's Sweet 16 Celebration & Auction
Saturday, February 15, 2020 at the Swedish Club
The Ancora Women's Choir turns 16 in 2020! To mark our "Sweet 16" year, we hosted a concert benefit event and first ever silent auction and raffle with a Fund a Wish as well.
Celebrate Ancora's 16th anniversary year of singing beautiful, diverse, challenging music with the very people who support and nurture us along the way. Come and be our Valentine and enjoy beautiful music in a party atmosphere while supporting our future!
Ancora at Seattle Sings 2019
October 10th, 2019 at Seattle First Baptist Church
Ancora was excited to participate and to kick off the GSCC Seattle Sings choral arts festival in October 2019 that showcased thirty five choirs from around the Puget Sound region.
Ancora Presents "In Her Own Words: A Legacy of Hope"
June 15, 2019 at Green Lake SDA
Freddie Coleman, Director | Justin Hansen, Accompanist
In Her Own Words: A Legacy of Hope is about the voice of women who, through their written and spoken words, have left us visions for a world of peace, equality, and justice. The Myth - a newly commissioned work (with string quartet) by Justin Hansen - is a spiritual biography of Emily Dickinson, whose commitment to “tell all the truth but tell it slant” gave American poetry a unique and modern voice. The diary of a young Dutch girl, Anne Frank, written during the years of Nazi occupation, portrays a psychological progression from fear and despair to strength and hope. The fight for equality and women's rights is energetically depicted in Rise Up, based on the writings and speeches of Susan B. Anthony.
Ancora on NW Focus LIVE
June 7, 2019 at KING FM 98.1 Studio, Seattle
Ancora performed live on KING FM 98.1, Seattle’s classical radio station. We premiered Justin Hansen's "The Myth" for piano and voice, and gave a preview of other songs from "In Her Own Words: A Legacy of Hope." Host Sean MacLean also chatted with Freddie and Justin.
Ancora Presents: "From Baltic Shores"
January 26 and 27, 2019 at Green Lake SDA
Freddie Coleman, Director | Justin Hansen, Accompanist
Join the members of Ancora in January 2019 to explore choral music from the countries around the Baltic Sea. From Copenhagen to Saint Petersburg, from Stockholm to Riga, we will present current contributions to music written expressly for treble voices.
Leavenworth Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 8, 2018 in Front Street Park, Leavenworth
Justin Hansen, Director & Accompanist
Ancora singing members and Sisters from Seasons past performed at the Leavenworth's Gazebo Stage for the second year in a row, directed and accompanied by Justin Hansen.
Postcards: Songs from the Four Corners
June 2, 2018 at Green Lake SDA
Freddie Coleman, Director | Justin Hansen, Accompanist
We now live in a world where superb choral composing is happening all over the globe, and music for choirs like Ancora is rich and varied. This spring, Ancora introduced our audience to this state-of-the-art music with a program called “Postcards: Songs from the Four Corners,” featuring songs suites from Russia, Japan, Spain, and Iran.
Baltic Centennial: 100 Years of Statehood
March 24, 2018 at Saint Mark’s Cathedral
Freddie Coleman, Director
The Seattle Choral Company invited Ancora and 6 other local choirs to sing “Te Deum” by Rihards Dubra as part of a concert celebrating the centennial anniversaries of statehood and independence of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Ancora also reprised “Northern Lights” from our Sacred Night concert, bolstered by additional singers from the Choral Company. Classical KING FM 98.1 recorded the concert, which will air later this year, perhaps in November.
Sacred Night
January 27 & 28, 2018
Green Lake SDA (Seattle) & Church of the Holy Cross (Redmond)
Freddie Coleman, Director
Justin Hansen, Accompanist
Ancora unveiled a seasonal program for the month of January called “Sacred Night,” featuring a Gregorian-inspired “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis” by Frank La Rocca, an a cappella missa brevis by the Romanian-born Hungarian György Orbán, and the mystical “Northern Lights” written for treble voices and tuned glasses by the Latvian Ēriks Ešenvalds.
Leavenworth Tree Lighting Ceremony
December 2, 2017
Front Street Park, Leavenworth
Justin Hansen, Director & Accompanist
Ancora members and alums performed on stage at the gazebo on a snowy afternoon, accumulating an impressive crowd. This performance, directed by our multitalented accompanist, Justin Hansen, also featured a solo by Ginger Griffis and a dramatic reading by Jessie Burnside Clapp.
The 31st Annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
December 1, 2017
Downtown Seattle, Westlake Center
Justin Hansen, Director & Accompanist
Ancora members and alums participated (but did not compete) in Figgy Pudding and raised over $1000 for the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank. This year we experimented with accompaniment on Oliver, our electric piano, and wore Christmas lights for some pizzazz!
MUSE
with Cantamus
June 3, 2017
Green Lake SDA
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Alex Gagiu, Cantamus Conductor
Molly Knight Forde, Cantamus Accompanist
Ancora invited Cantamus to join us for songs of inspiration, music, and poetry. Featured works included American classics such as “Will the Circle be Unbroken” and “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” as well as the elegant “Les sirènes” (1911) by prodigious composer Lili Boulanger. We enjoyed this chance to sing with the girls, many of whom sang under Aimee when they were in Allegra.
Emerald City SINGS!
May 20, 2017
Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Ancora was the featured guest choir, giving a short performance in the festival’s closing concert. The festival, hosted by Sechrist Travel, gave seven choirs the chance to join together into a 250-voice Festival Chorus, which performed under the direction of Dr. Rollo Dilworth.
NW Focus LIVE
May 12, 2017
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Ancora performed live on the KING FM 98.1, Seattle’s classical radio station. We reprised some of our songs from Wild! and gave a preview of MUSE. Host Peter Newman also chatted with Aimee about our repertoire and with choristers Lisa Sparacio, Zoë Ness, and Anjali Kumar about the choir.
Wild!
February 4, 2017
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Skyros String Quartet
Skunks scurried and birds took flight as Ancora celebrated the beauty, joy, and magnificence of nature and its inhabitants. Artistic Director Aimee Mell led a program of classic and contemporary works by Randall Thompson, Ola Gjeilo, Sarah Quartel, Joan Szymko, Dan Forrest, and others. Ancora and special guests Skyros String Quartet joined for a rare performance of South Dakota Shadows Suite by acclaimed American composer Jackson Berkey.
Wintertide: A Concert Fantasy for the Holidays
Guest Performers with Seattle Choral Company
December 9 & 10, 2016
Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director of Ancora
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Freddie Coleman, Director of the Seattle Choral Company + Ancora
We gathered at Saint Mark’s Cathedral for a multi-media concert blending music and images that heightened delight in the winter season. The Seattle Choral Company sang Ola Gjeilo’s popular “Sunrise Mass” with orchestra and visual media presented by Bus No. 8 video productions. As the guest choir, Ancora joined the Choral Company for the world premiere of “Wintertide,” written for the Choral Company and Ancora by Seattle composer Donald Skirvin. Ancora also sang a few other winter-themed pieces, including “Tundra” by Ola Gjeilo.
The 30th Annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
December 2, 2016
Westlake Center, Downtown Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Ancora members and alums raised over $1700 for the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank, and we had a tremendously fun time dressing up festively and singing carols.
Women In Song
with Mägi Ensemble
May 19, 2016
Resonance at SOMA Towers, Bellevue
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
At this joint concert with the Mägi Ensemble, another of our area’s finest women’s chamber choirs, Ancora highlighted pieces from Tempus, a diverse program including madrigals, spirituals, traditional and contemporary choral music, and rousing world music selections. The Mägi Ensemble sang selections from their “Baltic Sounds” CD of choral works and folk songs from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in an evening of sublime song.
Tempus
May 14, 2016
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Ancora ventured into the realms of Time: human, musical, ephemeral and eternal, in a diverse program of works by Paulus, Clausen, Tavener, Parker, Papoulis, and others.
December 19, 2015
Icicle Creek Music Center, Leavenworth
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Voices in the Snow
December 13, 2015
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
Ancora presented its 12th annual holiday concert, featuring the American premiere of “Voices in the Snow” by Flemish composer Rudi Tas. Also on the program: Elgar, Whitacre, Wessman, Schafer, and seasonal songs in Swedish, Finnish, and Latvian. Ancora was joined by special guests Illumni Men’s Chorale.
Seattle Sings! festival
October 10, 2015
St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Janelle Murray, Accompanist
I Will Arise
June 20, 2015
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Justin Hansen, Accompanist
From earthy to ethereal, Ancora celebrated the music of the British Isles, including works by Holst, Vaughan Wiliams, Stanford, Daley, Szymko, and Whitacre. The program presented traditional renditions of “waulking” songs, ballads, reels, and favorites such as “Scarborough Fair,” as well as more contemporary settings of texts by St. Patrick, W.B. Yeats, and James Joyce.
Sip & Sing
April 9, 2015
Alki Arts, Seattle
Aimee Mell, Artistic Director
Justin Hansen, Accompanist
Brooke Borcherding, a talented local artist and member of Ancora, donated three painting for us to raffle off at Aimee’s first performance as Ancora’s new director! We sang several pieces from our upcoming concert during this fun evening of art and wine.
December 20, 2014
Icicle Creek Music Center, Leavenworth
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Leavenworth’s Christmas Lighting Ceremony – Headliner Performance
December 20, 2014
Front Street Park, Leavenworth
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Walking in the Air
December 13, 2014
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Guest Conductor
Justin Hansen, Accompanist
For her bon voyage concert, our longtime director, Tess Orozco, focused on the simple magic of winter. “Walking in the Air” featured a selection of beautiful arrangements for women’s voices, including “Walking in the Air” from the 1982 film The Snowman and the world premiere of Jeremiah Oliver’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells.”
10th Anniversary Concert
June 14, 2014
Seattle First Baptist Church
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Guest Conductor
Kristina Lee, Accompanist
We celebrated our tenth anniversary by singing Ancora’s greatest hits: one or two favorite pieces from each of our previous concerts, plus the world premiere of Jeremiah Oliver’s “Circuitous,” with text by former Ancora singer and cancer thriver, Tályaa Liera.
Waiting for Angels
December 14, 2013
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Kristina Lee, Accompanist
Our holiday concert, Waiting for Angels, struck a beautiful balance between traditional and innovative choral music. The program, taken from our brand-new CD, evoked hope and holy mystery in the dark nights of winter. Repertoire included “Song of the Angels” with singing bowls and bells, “Silent Night” with harp, and many more delightful pieces, both accompanied and a capella.
East West Bookshop
December 5, 2013
East West Bookshop, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Kristina Lee, Accompanist
The 27th Annual Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition
December 6, 2013
Downtown Seattle, Westlake Center
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Northwest Folklife Festival
May 25, 2012
Center House Theatre, Seattle Center
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Answer Them with Spring
April 13, 2013
The Great Hall at Green Lake, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Jenny Healy, Accompanist
“Love and loss of winter’s melancholy ask the question, and we answer them with spring.”
The women of Ancora heralded in the springtime season with an enchanting evening that featured music by Thomas Morley, John Dowland, and Aulis Sallinen, and a dessert auction with treats from local vendors.
Apocalypse: A Lifting of the Veil
November 30 & December 1, 2012
Fremont Abbey, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
– with special guest –
Paul Che oke’ ten Wagner, Narration and Native American Flute
Apocalypse: A Lifting of the Veil incorporated songs from around the globe as well as new suite “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” by local composer Jeremiah Oliver. Ancora’s intent was to educate our audiences about the powerful time in which we are living, and “lift the veil” to show that 2012 is not about the world ending – it’s about the world changing.
Christmas Caroling with Seattle Gitls’ Choir Alumnae, pub-style
December 17, 2012
A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub & Restaurant, Renton, WA
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Ancora, Erin McNamee, and SGC Alumnae sang our old favorites. SGC alums were invited to bring their red carol books and chime in on all 45 verses of every Christmas song we’ve ever done.
Angelic Quodlibet
December 10, 2011
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
Ancora’s angelic holiday celebration! With sweet cherubim, introspective seraphim, and jubilant gospel, our voices covered all the realms of the season, however it pleases.
* Quodlibet: A group of well-known tunes. From the Latin, meaning “what pleases.”
Incantations CD Release Party
October 15, 2011
Wine World Warehouse, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
Friends and fans celebrated the release of Ancora’s Incantations CD. We enjoyed local wines, had a bite to eat, socialized, and won door prizes! Ancora sang selections from the CD live.
C² Concert at the Columns
August 19, 2011
The Columns by Pike & Boren, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Ancora performed a wide range of material at this summer’s C² Concert at the Columns series, including hyped madrigals, some Ancora classics, and a sprinkle of jazz.
National Anthem (Seattle Storm)
August 13, 2011
Key Arena, Seattle
Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Ancora sang the national anthem for the 3rd year a row. This year we sang before the Seattle Storm game against the Atlanta Dream. It has been a privilege to work with the only winning professional sports organization in the Pacific Northwest. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Seattle Storm.
Incantations
October 22 & 23, 2010
Good Shepherd Center, Seattle
Tess Orozco, Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
Ancora performed two sold-out showings of our Incantations production. The wild sound of these exquisite women’s voices was presented in the intimacy of the historic Good Shepherd Center, an appropriately haunted setting for this entrancing collection of music. The repertoire, selected by director Tess Orozco, was simultaneously spooky and spiritual, and featured the “Witches Chorus” from Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth, Franz Schubert’s “The Erlking,” and “Double Trouble” from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by American cinematic composer John Williams.
A Festival of Carols
December 11, 2008
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Artistic Director
Tess Orozco, Assistant Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
This festival of carols provided a broad repertoire of holiday favorites spanning multiple generations. From favorites like “Winter Wonderland” and “Carol of the Bells” to the more traditional “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” by John Rutter, this concert provided something for everyone. The “Apple Tree Wassail” carol has since become a favorite for Ancora fans!
Scandinavia: Songs of the Sea
June 8, 2008
Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Artistic Director
Tess Orozco, Assistant Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
This spring 2008 concert was a collaboration between Ancora and the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. The beautiful museum played stage to Ancora’s collection of Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, and Estonian pieces, featuring works from Zoltán Kodály, Jean Sibelius, Daniel E. Gawthrop, and Henrik Colding-Jorgensen. A reception followed the performance, comprised of Scandinavian delicacies prepared by members of the Nordic Heritage Museum.
Songs of Our Lady
December 16, 2007
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Artistic Director
Tess Orozco, Assistant Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
Songs of Our Lady presented a reverent collection of pieces honoring the Virgin Mary. This concert featured two premiere performances of original compositions specifically for Ancora. William Butler Yeats’ poem “Mother of God” was set to music by Seattle Girls’ Choir alum Deborah Kelley. “Ave Maria, Amen” was composed by Ancora’s own accompanist, Jeremiah Oliver. This piece quickly became a crowd and Ancora favorite.
Garden of Songs
June 9, 2007
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Artistic Director
Tess Orozco, Assistant Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
This evening concert showcased music celebrating the pleasures of early summer, including works by Randall Thompson, Zoltán Kodály, Elizabeth Posten, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The program was presented in four brief segments: Spring Planting & Growing; Storms & Reflections; Roses & Thorns; and Trees, Nature & the Divine.
Co-Dependent Love Songs
June 10, 2006
Trinity Lutheran Church, Seattle
Dr. Jerome L. Wright, Artistic Director
Tess Orozco, Assistant Artistic Director
Jeremiah Oliver, Accompanist
Ancora’s premiere performance featured songs of women scorned throughout the centuries and across the globe. The performance began with Alice Parker’s Appalachian folk song “I Am In Love, I Dare Not Own It,” portraying the pain of betrayal in both the harmony and the lyrics. “An Chloe” by W.A. Mozart, “Fire, Fire” by Thomas Morley, and “O mio babbino caro” by Giacomo Puccini rounded out the feelings of co-dependence, and J.S. Bach’s “Bist du bei mir” concluded the program with lush, tender loving sentiments.