Annual Christmas Concert - 'We Have Seen His Star!' December 18, 2011

Oakland Bay Area Community Chorus (OBACC), under the direction of Maestro William J. (Bill) Bell, proudly presents its annual Christmas Concert: "We Have Seen His Star." "Enriching the lives of others through music" is the theme for this 2011-2012 concert season.

The Chorus has recorded an inspirational collectionof African American Christmas spirituals, seldom heard outside of the concert envirnment. They have chosen to feature selections from this outstanding CD on the program, with a triumphant, contemporary setting of the "Gloria" by John Rutter, who is well known for his exceptional coral arrangements. In addition, everyone who is familiar with the masterful arranging of the spirituals by John Work, Nathaniel Dett and William Dawson, will be thrilled to hear "Rockin' Jerusalem", "Listen to the Lambs," and "Hail Mary." As in years past, the program will also include Gospel selections and traditional Christmas Carols.

OBACC, a multicultural concert chorus, had its origin at Downs Memorial UMC in Oakland as a combined choir. It has expanded to a nonprofit community organization whose mission is to perserve the traditional African American Spiritual (AKA Negro Spiritual) by continuing to give voice to this unique music. The Spirituals have been called America's only true folk music, in that often, no indididual composer or poet was responsible for their creation. They are unique and powerful because they represent a priceless legacy of the trials, tribulations and eventual triumphs of enslaved Africans and their descendants. They served as church music and as a means of communication within the slave community.

William (Bill) Bell, a multifaceted musician extraordinaire, known in the Bay Area as "The Jazz Professor", is founder and director of the chorus. Loni Williams, Assistant Director, is a recorded vocalist and specialist in Gospel music.

Enhance your holiday experience - join OBAAC for this unique and highly inspiring Christmas program.