World Premiere with Ensemble Monterey and Cantiamo Cabrillo

On April 29 and 30, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra and Cabrillo Symphonic & Youth Choirs will perform the world premiere of Ēriks' new work Sunset in My Hand: Ancient Voices of the Wild Pacific Coast. The work is composed for chorus, orchestra, children's chorus and soloists and is a joint commission in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of both Ensemble Monterey and Cantiamo! Cabrillo. 

Sunset in My Hand is inspired by the wild coastal areas of the Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, which Ēriks toured in preparation of his work during October last year. Ēriks will attend both performances in Salinas and Santa Cruz and will share his insights one hour before each concert. The work will have its East Coast premiere at Carnegie Hall, NYC in June.

Cheryl R Anderson, director of Cantiamo! Cabrillo, on the collaboration:

“I became acquainted with the choral music of Ēriks Ešenvalds at the memorial service of my teacher/mentor, Elmer Thomas. The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati sang Long Road, and I was instantly in love with the music. In searching for a significant way to celebrate my 25th Anniversary as Director of Choral Studies at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA, we decided to commission a work for Chamber Orchestra (specifically Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, also celebrating their 25th Anniversary under the baton of Dr John Anderson, my husband), Cantiamo! (Chamber Choir) and Cabrillo Youth Chorus. This weekend we premiere Sunset In My Hand: Ancient Voices of the Wild Pacific Coast. It is beyond wonderful and we are thrilled to do this work with him present.”

Sunset in My Hand
Ancient Voices of the Wild Pacific Coast
World Premiere

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra
Dr John Anderson, conductor
Cantiamo Cabrillo! and the Cabrillo Youth Chorus
Cheryl R Anderson, conductor

— April 29, 7:30 pm • Cypress Community Church, Salinas CA
— April 30, 7:00 pm • Peace United Church of Christ, Santa Cruz CA
— June 26, 7:00 pm • Carnegie Hall, NYC


Photo: Point Lobos by tuchodi (CC BY-SA 2.0)