RB Chorale show to feature Broadway hits, talented students

The RB Chorale will focus on “Broadway Musical Magic” during its 45th annual concert next month.

There will be two performances, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9 and 1 p.m. Sunday, June 10 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.

Tickets are $32 for preferred seating; $22 for general admission; $20 for seniors, students and military; and $7 for children (infants to 12 years). Purchase at rbchorale.org or 858-458-7664. Proceeds go to the RB Chorale Scholarship Fund.

Founder and Director Pat Bean said at least $16,500 will be awarded among the six high school seniors selected as finalists in the RB Chorale’s annual scholarship competition. The amount could rise, however, pending donations made at the concerts.

She said 22 seniors from throughout San Diego County entered the competition. The scholarships are awarded to vocalists and instrumental musicians who plan to continue their music studies in college.

The six finalists will compete for varying amounts of scholarship money. Three will perform at each show during the first act and the audience members will be asked to cast a vote for their favorite during intermission. The awards will be presented at the show’s conclusion, Bean said.

At the Saturday, June 9 show the finalists will be vocalist Ellie Barrett from San Marcos High School, who plans to earn a music degree at Arizona State University; pianist Cameron Lincoln from Eastlake High School, who plans to study music at Stanford University; and pianist Ryan Zhou from Torrey Pines High School, who plans to study music at Yale University.

At the Sunday, June 10 show the finalists will be violinist Yeawon “Erica” Hwang from Torrey Pines High School, who plans to study music at The Juilliard School; vocalist John Lettang from Poway High School, who plans to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder; and vocalist Eduardo Pintado from Chula Vista Senior High School, who plans to attend the University of California San Diego.

As for the RB Chorale’s performance, Bean said the 140 members will present a mix of numbers, including several medleys. Among those featured will be songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” and “Carousel,” the songs “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from the 2016 movie “La La Land,” old-time favorites such as “Let Me Entertain You” from “Gypsy,” “Look to the Rainbow” from “Finian’s Rainbow” plus songs from “Guys and Dolls,” “Cabaret” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

“I love ‘Phantom’ and I hope the audience does too,” Bean said.

There will also be a medley portion dubbed “Broadway Musical Magic” that will include such songs as ABBA’s “Mamma Mia.” The show will close with a patriotic finale and throughout the show the audience will get to hear “a lot of great soloists,” Bean said.

She added that the concerts presented each winter and spring would not be possible without the efforts of many individuals. Of these, she said two deserve special recognition.

“Cloyd Bedke, he is our artistic designer for the stage and the creative things he has done, the audience will be blown away,” Bean said. “Our staging is beautiful for a community chorus.”

She also mentioned Bob Carroll, the RB Chorale’s head of production, whom she said with Bedke puts the show together.

After a summer break, the RB Chorale will resume its rehearsals and accept new members in preparation for its holiday concert. For details, go to rbchorale.org.

email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com