Rheinland-Pfalz International Choir Chor Kaiserslautern (RPIC)

With this concert, we supported the Otterberg children's choir "Singing Squirrels" under the direction of Mrs. Suann Strickland. Both choirs performed separately in their parts of the program, as well as jointly for some of the songs. The colorful program included classical, traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.

The Rheinland-Pfalz International Choir celebrated the advent season with a colorful program of songs. Classical Christmas songs by Bach and Mendelssohn, contemporary arrangements by Kodály and Carrillo, and both taditional and modern carols from Germany, Austria, England, USA and Spain were performed. In the Christuskirche, the Otterberg children's choir "Singing Squirrels" participated as well. We were musically supported by a string quartet consisting of Elisabeth Ramirez (Violin), Valérie Krampe (Violin), Johanna Mann (Viola) and Alexander Krampe (Cello).

As in the previous years, the RPIC participated in this special Christmas Concert of the USAFE Band as guests and performed a small selection of songs from its Christmas program: Hark, the Herald-angels Sing, Ya Viene la Vieja, Veni, Veni Emmanuel, Josef, lieber Josef mein and - together with the Otterberg children's choir "Singing Squirrels" - African Nöel. During the second half of the concert, the choir performed When The Lights All Shine (with the Singing Squirrels), Joy To The World and Deutsche Weihnachtslieder (Medley) jointly with the USAFE Band and soloists.

The Rheinpfalz newspaper wrote in its concert review: "The fact that the concert with the USAFE-Band is a special event for the singers was proven by their commitment. During the musical journey to Germany, Andalusia, France and Africa, the choir convinced with exemplary diction, voice-leading and blend."

At the Christmas Market of the Arbeits- und sozialpädagogischen Zentrums (ASZ) Kaiserslautern the "RPIC Blackbirds" (our small ensemble) gave a cappella performances of a few songs for the advent season: Blackbird - Hills are Bare in Bethlehem - Go Tell it on the Mountain - Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Die Engel und die Hirten - All on a Cold Winter's Night - Carol of the Bells - The Holly and the Ivy.

On September 30th, the Rheinland-Pfalz International Choir had the pleasure and honor to participate in the official retirement ceremony of long time choir member and former choir president, Major Sharon Franklin. In addition to the german and american national anthems, we performed the well-known german folk song Kein schöner Land.

As part of the One-Year Anniversary Celebrations of Grace Studio, an RPIC small group (the "RPIC Blackbirds") performed four songs a cappella: Blackbird - Adoramus Te - Esto les Digo - Soon Ah Will Be Done.

The choir participated in the Spring Singin' at Baumholder Middle/High School, together with the BMHS Chorus and the Baumholder Glee Club. Our program: Laudate - Esto les Digo - Soon Ah Will Be Done - Ride On, King Jesus - Blackbird - You are the Sunshine of My Life. All three choirs together sang Bring Him Home and Birth of the Blues.

The program for our May concerts was entitled "Mozart, Mendelssohn and More Musical Treasures", and it covered, as suggested by the titel, a range of musical styles and composers. We performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Missa Brevis in C Major, KV258 "Spaur-Messe". This classical center piece was complemented with works by Felix Mendelssohn, Knut Nystedt, Paul Basler, and many more. In our program, classical and sacred music was met by modern compositions, spirituals, madrigals, folk and popular tunes. More information about our repertoire is available in the "Repertoire" section.

The concerts on May 14th and 15th were performed together with a chamber orchestra and guest vocal soloists

• Veronika Wiedekind (Soprano),
• Alexandra Paulmichl (Alto) on May 14th and Isolde Ehinger (Alt) on May 15th
• Alejandro Ramirez (Tenor) and
• Martin Risch (Bass),

The chamber orchestra musicians were

• Violin: Elisabeth Ramirez, Ouchan He, Valérie Krampe, Julia Ludes
• Viola: Johanna Mann
• Violoncello: Hans Naßhan, Alexander Krampe
• Contrabass: Andrew Peck
• Oboe:  Suzanne Hendlinger, Heiner Görrisen
• Bassoon/Harpsichord:  Christian Schmidt
• Kettledrum:  Gunther Glaser

The chamber orchestra also performed the Concerto for 2 Oboes, Strings, and Continuo, op.9 no.9 by Tomaso Albinoni.

At the concert on May 22nd in the Lutherkirche, we performed three movements of the Missa Brevis (Kyrie - Sanctus - Agnus Dei) with soloists from our choir. As a guest musician we welcomed F. Charles Anderson (trombone), who performed two instrumental pieces together with our pianist, Suann Strickland.