San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble

2022/2023 Season

Our 46th Season!

Holiday Traditions Concert series-

(scroll below for Cuesta concert tickets on December 11th under Season tickets)

Holiday Classics & Christmas Sing-a-long

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Folk Music of the World
March 16, 18, 19

From Around the World and America

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Summer Concert
June 1, 3, 4

A potpourri of Gary's favorites!

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A Message from our Founder and Musical Director, Gary Lamprecht

Two years ago the world was confronted by Covid 19. Here at home, we suddenly found that as a choir we could no longer be in the same room and sing together. After more than 40 years of rehearsing and performing together, all of a sudden we were cautioned that it could be dangerous, and even life threatening.

Through abstaining, we found that singing in the choir, especially on a daily or weekly basis gave, us satisfaction by striving to achieve a collective goal. But more important than that, singing reinforces our need for belonging, for belonging to something bigger than ourselves. We found that we missed something we all took for granted.

Scientists have shown that people singing in a choir breathe together in a unique rhythm that is shared by all in a unique bonding experience. That is something that we all have missed in the past two years. It took this pandemic to make us realize that we NEED this repeated experience for happiness and a feeling of well being.

Over the years many patrons have expressed how emotional our choir makes them feel. It’s the reason that we memorize all our repertoire. And that’s no easy task. We are free to show a deep understanding of the literature and convey it to our audience. We connect emotionally with them in this shared experience.

A Message from Kate Stulberg, our Executive Director

The Trilogy Monarch Dunes concert was a great success. Despite the rain and cold, 135 people showed up to enjoy the rarified experience of Vocal Arts Ensemble. If you didn't catch that show, there are still two more coming up. One this Saturday at the Mission in San Luis Obispo which is almost at capacity, and one the following week on Sunday December 11th at Cuesta College PAC at 4:00 pm. We have affordable ticket prices for students and children at $10 and we hope you can start your own family tradition of choral music at the Holidays. There will be a Sing-a-long at the end of each concert! Join the fun and be inspired!

(nb: we will be asking people to recycle their concert programs on the way out if you do not want to take them with you).

Get Your Tickets Here for Cuesta December 11th performance,
and Spring and Summer offerings

Thank you to all our patrons!

We want to encourage you to bring your family. (Suggested age 7 and up).

Special pricing for students with ID and children under 12 is $10.

Youth Music Education

Developing The Next Generation of Choral Enthusiasts

Central Coast Choral Festival

For over two decades, Vocal Arts has produced the Central Coast Choral Festival, which brings over 55 school choirs, elementary, middle and high school, from all over California to the beautiful Performing Arts Center of San Luis Obispo, on the Cal Poly campus, to compete in a professionally adjudicated concert. This year we hosted 34 schools from all over the state on Friday, March 18, 2022 at the PAC . This joyous festival is free and open to the public and over 1000 people attended We also awarded 7 plaques for "Choral Excellence" this year to California High Schools and Intermediate Schools.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE NEXT Central Coast Choral Festival. Friday, MARCH 24, 2023 at PAC! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

The Gary & Patricia Lamprecht Endowment

Additionally, to further our mission of choral excellence in the schools, The Gary & Patricia Lamprecht Endowment was established in 2017 in recognition of our 40th anniversary. The endowment provides for scholarships in the areas of choral music and orchestral strings. Each year we award a $1000 scholarship to two local high school seniors to continue their education in music.

This year Colin Guan of San Luis Obispo High School won for orchestral strings. Hannah Snow of Heartland Charter School in Santa Maria won for choral music. Congratulations to both of these excellent students.

You can encourage choral music excellence in San Luis Obispo County high schools by donating to the Gary and Pat Lamprecht Endowment at United Way. We greatly appreciate it!

Applications are DUE by March 31st to qualify. For more information please contact Kate Stulberg, Executive Director, Vocal Arts Ensemble, (805) 541-6797, or kate@vocalarts.org

Congratulations Winners!!

Hannah Snow

Our Mission

The mission of the San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts is to foster excellence in choral music. We strive for the highest level of vocal performance, providing educational and inspirational experiences for students, audiences, performers, and all people seeking harmony in our community and our world.

About the Award Winning Vocal Arts

Singing from the heart since 1977

Vocal Arts has been performing locally since 1977 and has toured Canada, Spain, South America and Europe, including Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic. Singers in the ensemble are required to pass an annual vocal audition to qualify for membership. The Board of Directors consists of a mix of singers and community members, as well as the Executive Director and Music Director.

From 2007 to 2013, the Vocal Arts produced the California International Choral Festival and Competition (CICF) with thousands of singers from around the world visiting San Luis Obispo and performing at the Harold Miossi Hall, Performing Arts Center. On our 40th year, the Board created the Gary & Partricia Lamprecht Music Education Endowment to establish scholarships for local high school seniors who want to pursue an advanced degree in music. Vocal Arts also sponsors the Central Coast Spring School Choral Festival, held at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center each year. Between 45-60 school choirs (from elementary to high school) from all over California perform on the main stage of the grand theater, over two days, and received valuable feedback from a panel of adjudicators.

Vocal Arts seeks to deliver the experience of choral music to a wide audience in San Luis Obispo County and beyond our local region through our international touring. Tours are held every other year and usually incorporate a competition or festival. Vocal Arts has secured dozens of medals at choral competitions all over the world, making our organization one of the most decorated performing arts groups in San Luis Obispo County.

DONATE

Your support means the world to us!

You may pay by Paypal OR credit card using the

Donate button below

or mail a check to "Vocal Arts Ensemble"

PO Box 4306 San Luis Obispo, CA 93403

Get Involved with Vocal Arts

Volunteer

WE NEED USHERS!!

We are so grateful for the ushers that helped us during our June Concert series. They were a dedicated and elegant group. Vocal Arts is always in need volunteers to help us execute our concerts and special events. Ushers arrive about one hour before concert time and are finished about 20 minutes after the concert, and receive a complimentary seat at the concert as a thank you for their assistance. We also seek community members to join our Board of Directors periodically. Contact Kate @vocalarts.org or call 805-541-6797 to learn more or to sign up.

Audition Info

Sing with Us

The Vocal Arts is a volunteer organization with members who are passionate about choral music. Singers must memorize the music and commit to a rehearsal schedule. If you are interested in joining our group, please download the Member Guidelines and review. Next auditions are Tuesday August 30, 2022 by appointment only. Contact Gary via email to get the audition music at:

garylamprecht57@gmail.com

CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION INFO

CLICK HERE FOR MEMBER GUIDELINES

Youth Music Education

Developing The Next Generation

To further our mission of choral excellence in the schools, The Gary & Patricia Lamprecht Endowment was established in 2017 in recognition of our 40th anniversary. The endowment provides for scholarships in the areas of choral music and orchestral strings. Each year we award a $1000 scholarship to two local high school seniors to continue their education in music. Deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 31.

To donate to the endowment, please mail your check, written to "United Way of SLO County" with "Lamprecht Endowment" in subject line, to Vocal Arts PO Box 4306 SLO CA 93403

Donate to SLO Vocal Arts Mission

Give The Gift of Song

The Vocal Arts is dependent on your generous donations to continue our mission. We are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization and your donation is fully tax deductible.