Duke Ellington’s sacred works are as elegant as they are exalted. That was proved by the Sacramento Master Singers with “Come Sunday: Sacred Music by Duke Ellington” – an ambitious collaboration performed Saturday and Sunday at the Crest Theatre. More: Review
Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee

What others are saying about the Ellington performance:

What an amazing performance – loved the combining of the music, the dance, the singing and the readings.  It was particularly wonderful to see Ardie Bryant perform – what a treasure!
Sharon Gerber, For Art’s Sake Liaison

Thank you for your “..invocation of the spirit of Duke Ellington”... Your choral work was excellent and professional.
Thomas Brent

I truly enjoyed the Ellington concert with the Sacramento Master Singers. A couple of the songs really touched my heart… I am so glad that we ... are continuing some of the great traditions of our multi-cultured heritage.  It was absolutely inspiring to watch a 15-year-old, enthusiastic, charming teenage boy tap-dancing with an 80-year-old black man who is the “Ambassador of Tap”.  What a treat! 
Kathlyn

Jan. 1--The road less traveled is an apt description for some of the unusual concerts to be offered in spring 2010. In the coming months, Sacramento will see a rarely performed opus by Duke Ellington, the synergy of choral music and taiko drumming, and the expression of the American piano repertoire, among others.

Here are five must-see concerts that embody a fresh spirit in bringing classical music to the concert stage…

“Come Sunday: The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington”
Sacramento Master Singers
March 20-21
Crest Theater,
1013 K St., Sacramento

No doubt about it, Duke Ellington is foremost among American composers of the 20th century. In a way, his music is America’s classical music. Can there be any denying that compositions, like “Sophisticated Lady” and “Mood Indigo” are now part of our cultural DNA?

But few have heard his “Sacred Concerts,” a set of three works written between 1965 and 1973. These works fuse Christian liturgy with jazz. Their scope is massive and they are rarely performed. For this concert the Sacramento Master Singers will perform selections from all three concerts and will partner with Celebration Arts, Capital Jazz Project, the Harley White Jr. Orchestra and the American River College jazz bands. This will be a challenging concert to pull off, with the music likely won’t be performed in Sacramento again for a long time.--Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee

Best of all was the Master Singers’ poised and nuanced performance of Frank Ticheli’s “There Will Be Rest,” during which the choir showed off its great capacity to deliver musical phrases and ideas with nuance and poise. There was nothing fussy about the musical approach here.

This also applied to the choir’s sublime work on Thorkell Sigurbjornsson’s “Hymn to Mary.” The fresh and clear quality of the male voices shone, with verses sung in Icelandic and English. Hughes drew a subtle performance out of each verse, which offers bewitching melodies for treble voice.

The most interesting work performed Sunday was “Mary With Jesus,” from Frank Burch Brown’s “The Muslim Jesus.” Here Hughes coaxed a deeply felt and unassuming approach from his singers. This helped communicate the regal solemnity of the music. And the work was given an effective solo turn by soprano Jenny Guemmer.

Sacramento Bee, Edward Ortiz

Thank you for the tickets that I won to attend the Mozart concert of the Sacramento Master Singers yesterday evening. When the voices first filled the room, I felt all the cares of the day roll off. The simply wondrous sound of the singers and orchestra made for a most pleasant evening. I was also reminded that Sacramento audiences are very appreciative of a fine performance. Thanks again for introducing us to a superb Sacramento musical group.

Winner of tickets through Capital Public Radio

Oscar Escalada has conducted choirs in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and for an audience of 8,000 last year in Buenos Aires.  On February 27, he will conduct the Master Singers in a program that will include the “Misa Criolla,” the Mass that Escalada conducted at St. Peter’s.  It was written by Ariel Ramirez, one of Argentina’s best-known composers.  Other pieces on the program will include an Argentinean tango composed by Astor Piazzola “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” a 17th century Peruvian “Hanacpachap,” a rhythmic Venezuelan “La Chaparrita,” and Argentina’s “Crece desde el Pie.”

Bringing such unfamiliar music to Sacramento audiences is part of the charge of the 45-member professional Master Singers, according to director Ralph Hughes. “Having Oscar and other guest directors direct the group is not just to do something different,” Hughes said.  “It also gives the singers experiences that I can’t give them.”

Sacramento Bee, Patricia Beach Smith

The Sacramento Master Singers have been providing California’s capital with beautiful Christmas concerts for over twenty years, and this month the organization, again under the inspired direction of Ralph Hughes, produced yet another magical evening under the title, “Sing We Joyous.”

As in past years, the choir entered the beautiful cathedral (Saint Francis of Assisi Church) to a candlelight processional, singing three a cappella carols ("Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” “A Christmas Round/Today the Virgin” and “In Ecclesiis") as it ringed the near-capacity audience. The choir then formed a circle on the center stage to sing two more hymns, “Izhe Huruvimi” and “The Eyes of a Child,” the latter featuring a nice solo by Lucy Bunch. The singers then assumed more traditional positions at the front of the chapel for a lovely rendition of Englebert Humperdinck’s “Evening Prayer,” followed by “Magnificat” by Paul Patterson.

One of the evening’s highlights was a beautifully intoned rendering of the 15th century “Coventry Carol,” arranged by Jonathan Rathbone. Another highlight was when the men sang Erick Lichte’s humorous arrangement of “Deck the Halls.” At one point, after several of the tenors had soared to ridiculously expressive falsettos, the entire audience burst into applause, providing a true show-stopping moment!

As in past years, Mr. Hughes and his choir ended this lovely evening by again circling the audience and singing the Rick and Sylvia Powell arrangement of “Peace, Peace,” while the audience joined in singing “Silent Night” to accompany the last verse. It ended a beautiful concert on just the right note.

Sacramento Gazette, E. Haig

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for a wonderful evening. We attended the December 21st-7:00 p.m. Christmas concert, and were delighted with your performance. Your excellent reputation precedes you; however, your performance was even better than we had anticipated.
The title “The Angels Sing Softly” is truly appropriate. You all have heavenly voices and it was an amazing experience. Thank you all for your dedication to each other, our community, and excellence in music. We look forward to your future performances.
With sincere thanks,
Darren and Debbie Trone

Thank you for that wonderful George Gershwin and Harold Arlen concert Saturday, the 15th of May. Everything was top notch! Keep up the good work. This concert was just first class in every way!
Best wishes,
Ed Leever

My wife and I attended the February outreach concert. This concert was not about the singers but whose music they were singing, a monumental talent whose music had stirred the souls of presidents and paupers, alike. Though he had not lived to appear in Sacramento for a second time, his music filled the hall as did his spirit. His name was Moses Hogan. The evening was the brainchild of Dr. Ralph Hughes. At the appropriate moment he beamed as he introduced the special guest: Mr. Hogan’s protege, star tenor, friend and disciple, Brian Stratton. Mr. Stratton charmed and directed the audience as well as the choirs, song after song, ringing throughout the hall as if the very structure of the building was in resonance with the sounds.
Roger and Kay White