Now in their 31st year, The City Cantábile Choir, directed by Frederick N. West, is proud to perform the immortal All Night Vigil (Vespers) by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Composed in 1915, the Rac;hmaninoff Vespers, is one of the most beloved a capella sacred choral works in the 20th century. Praised as “the greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church”, the Vespers features gorgeous harmonies with chant rhythms and bell like settings, divisi parts and tenor and alto solos. This inspirational work ranges from deep solemnity to inspired festive celebration. One of his two favorite compositions, Rachmaninoff requested that the 5th movement be sung at his funeral. The Vespers will also feature renowned tenor soloist Sid Law and alto soloist Hila Lenz.

Dunava Balkan Women’s Choir

We are also excited to present the Dunava Balkan Women’s Choir, directed by Dina Trageser. Founded in 2005, Dunava has earned high praise for their complex and beautiful harmonies of Eastern Europe. Their repertoire includes a variety of songs from the folk traditions of Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Russia and other parts of the Balkan Peninsula. This region has given birth to some of the oldest and richest singing traditions for women.

Fred West, artistic director and conductor, founded City Cantabile Choir in 1981 after studying composition with Edwin LaBounty, choral conducting with Robert Scandrett, and instrumental conducting with William Cole at Western Washington University. Since then, he has pursued studies in advanced conducting in summer workshops with Weston Noble, Doreen Rao, Rodney Eichenberger, and the eminent Robert Shaw.

Fred West is proud to be the music director at Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church where he has directed since 2004 as well as Music Director for the Seattle Peace Chorus for the past ten years. He also loves teaching children how to play the marimba at University Co­op School. His original works include the Balkan-inspired Christmas Cantata for strings, timpani and chorus, the Mass for the Children for chorus, cello, oboe, flute and marimbas, and Diarmaid and Grainne, a theatrical choral work based on the Irish version of Tristan and Isolde.