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May 2013
Serving Alamo and Diablo
2012 Cork City Hall. Photo provided by Nancy Norlund.
The Blackhawk Chorus: A Musical Family By Jody Morgan
May is a music-sharing month for the Blackhawk Chorus (the Chorus). Weeks of rehearsals and private practice hours culminate in a series of concerts performed by the 140-member volunteer choral group as they bring Broadway Blitz to a variety of local venues. This season’s repertoire includes selections from Les Miserables, Jersey Boys, Beauty and the Beast, and other favorite Broadway productions. Enthusiastic followers of the Chorus confirm that just when they are certain the group cannot get any better, Director Diane Gilfether raises the bar another level. “I am always striving for more excellence with the Chorus,” Gilfether explains. “That requires more commitment from everyone. I have never seen a more dedicated group.” A recent innovation has the entire chorus singing “off book” – no music in hand, both words and notes memorized. With no folios to interfere with the projection of sound or the focus of all eyes forward, the Chorus connects completely with their audience. Although the appreciative applause of the house might afford sufficient impetus to keep members actively participating in the Chorus, other motivations are even more compelling. Ted Boroian, who has sung with the group for 11 years, expresses a sentiment shared by his fellow performers: “Diane has an amazing ability to take people with varied musical backgrounds and make them all blend beautifully together. We sing for our own enjoyment, and of course for the audience, but first and foremost we sing for her.” Selection of music also plays a part in making each performance cycle more memorable than the last. As Ray Riordan, who has been with the chorus since 2001, writes: “As a result of trusting ourselves, the music has become more intricate, intriguing and thrilling. The choices of music each semester have become a wonderful expression of the talents of the group, and provide a challenge for us to continue to improve.” Each Tuesday evening from September to May, the Chorus spends two hours concentrating on music for either the Holiday Concerts in December or the Spring Concerts in May. Even though Diane makes every moment of rehearsal matter in the effort to achieve technical perfection, chorus members count the time as a blessed relief from the exigencies of everyday living. Boroian’s comment is typical: “The Blackhawk Chorus is now one of the most important things in my life. It’s a wonderful and unique musical family.” With three boys aged 6, 4 and 2, and a husband traveling on business each week and a full-time job, Theresa Madeira decided to take time out to enroll in the Chorus in 2010. “I had forgotten the pure joy and exhilaration that singing together brings,” she declares. “Finally, once a week, I get to escape from my day to day life as mom/wife/
See Chorus continued on page 28
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The Bounty Garden to Celebrate Grand Opening
The spinach is thriving and the chard and bok choy are growing like crazy. In a few short months, all these greens will be delivered into the hands of the local Food Bank as nutritious gifts to those who might not regularly get them. It was almost a year and a half ago that Alamo residents Heidi and Amelia Abrahmson were honored as Danville’s volunteers of the year. After a long and supportive relationship with the Town of Danville, their conceived plan to grow sustainable, organic vegetables for the needy is now a 501C3 non- profit organization called The Bounty Garden and is in full swing towards fulfilling its mission.
See Garden continued on page 30
Meet Alamo Deputy Mike Carson
Deputy Sheriff Mike Carson, a 16-year veteran of the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, has worked a variety of assignments. He worked in Danville as a Police Officer for 12 years. For eight of those years, he was a School Resource Officer and heavily involved with youth services. Deputy Carson was assigned as the Alamo Resident Deputy in December 2011. In this position, he works closely with the community, businesses, and Alamo schools. Deputy Carson enjoys his current assignment as Resident Deputy. He can often be seen working Alamo special events, handling Volume XIII - Number 5 issues at Alamo schools, conducting 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, traffic enforcement, or patrolling on Alamo, CA 94507 a bicycle in the downtown area. Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 “As Alamo Resident Deputy, I Fax (925) 406-0547 get to know the citizens that live in Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher the Alamo area, as well as the chilEditor@yourmonthlypaper.com dren,” said Deputy Carson. “It is a Sharon Burke ~ Writer pleasure to work in such a supportsburke@yourmonthlypaper.com opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do ive community, and I look forward The not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today to providing a high level of service is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. to this community.”