We would love to have you join the Diablo Women's Chorale!
We hope you will visit our special open rehearsal and audition. See Audition information below.
Full rehearsals are
Mondays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
St. Matthew Lutheran Church (Music room, north end), 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, California
DWC, formed in 1942, is a lively and cohesive group of singers from around the East Bay committed to sharing our joy and love of music with our community and members through study, practice and performance.
Repertoire and Concerts:
The Chorale sings a range of music in two, three, and four part harmony, with an emphasis on modern American music. Songs are sung a cappella, with piano, and also with a rhythm section or small jazz ensemble. Opportunities for solos and small group ensembles are often available for more experienced singers. We perform at least two main concerts per year in December and May. We also occasionally perform for various community organizations.
Director:
Lisa Forkish is an Oakland-based vocalist, composer, arranger, and music educator. She served four years as music director for the University of Oregon’s acclaimed female a cappella group, Divisi, featured in the best-selling book “Pitch Perfect," later made into the hit film of the same name. Lisa studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and has a vast performance resume, having performed all over the country. She currently works part-time as part of Oakland School for the Arts (OSA)’s vocal music faculty and is the director of Vocal Rush, OSA's award-winning a cappella ensemble. Lisa is also one of the founders of the Women’s A Cappella Association (WACA), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating women in a cappella and hosting an annual festival called SheSings. She has directed DWC since January 2017.
Accompanist:
Carolyn Wolf hails from the Midwest but has lived on the west coast for many years. In her younger years she traveled with many musical touring groups throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as on cruise ships. She majored in Music Education at Ohio State University and has taught elementary vocal music in Lafayette, California. She currently teaches music lessons privately, is the worship coordinator and accompanist at Hillside Covenant Church in Walnut Creek, and accompanies two choirs in Rossmoor. She has been involved either as accompanist and/or musical director in musical theater at Hillside and with local theater companies, most recently in Seussical. Carolyn currently resides in Lafayette with her husband, Ed, and has three grown stepsons. She has accompanied DWC since August 2015.
Rehearsals:
You may attend two rehearsals before committing to join us. Full rehearsals are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Mondays in the music room at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, California. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start of rehearsal. Sectional rehearsals are held occasionally on other days as arranged by section leaders.
Auditions:
Simple, short auditions are required to enroll. To schedule a visit during our open rehearsals, contact Membership Support Nancy Hickman by email or call (925) 899-5050. Be prepared to sing a short song of your choice, and bring sheet music for accompaniment.
Member Costs:
Dues are non-refundable. Each season's dues include rehearsals, concerts, sheet music and voice part practice recordings. Concert attire is decided by a vote of the membership, and each member must sell a minimum of 3 adult concert tickets per season.
Commitment:
While not professionals, our members are enthusiastic musicians with a great love of music, a devotion to the group, and an enjoyment of the process of learning together. Before you decide to join, please determine that you will be able to commit to rehearsal and concert attendance and 15 minutes per day of independent practice. Some sight reading ability is required, to be determined on a case by case basis. Voice part recordings are provided to facilitate learning the music, and most or all of the program will be sung “off book”. Members contribute by volunteering to serve on at least one committee per season.
Contacts:
Questions about the group may be directed to Membership Support Nancy Hickman by email or call (925) 899-5050.
We sincerely hope you enjoy this lively group of community singers and decide to join us!
