Getting Out

The Shelton-based choir Women of Note, joined by classical pianist Dilyara Oliver, perform classic and modern choral music at two "Origins" concerts this week.

The concerts are staged at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bridge Community Church, 500 E. N. Island Drive on Harstine Island, and 3 p.m. Sunday at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 324 W. Cedar St. in downtown Shelton. Admission is free and donations are accepted.

In a news release, the nonprofit states the audiences will hear different vocal and composition techniques of similar music composed in different eras.

"Music can be interpreted very differently from age to age as well as from person to person. Gabriel Faure and Andrew Lloyd Weber have a similar concept for 'Pie Jesu' but Michael Angelhardt's interpretation of 'O Antique Sancti' is quite different from Hildegard von Bingen's. Brahms and Billings both composed rounds for students of their day, and these rounds sound amazingly different."

This is the group's first collaboration with Oliver. She completed her training in piano performance at Kazakh National Conservatory, and then earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree from the University of New Orleans. Before moving to Olympia in 2022, Oliver was a faculty member at Loyola University New Orleans and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. She was also president for the New Orleans Music Teachers Association.

In the news release, Women of Note Music Director Elizabeth Berndt said, "She is a wonderful accompanist, knowledgeable of varying music styles with a keen sense of musicianship and a lovely touch on the piano."

Berndt studied voice, piano and choral conducting at Oregon State University and at the Conservatory of Music in Stuttgart, Germany. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from OSU and a Master of Education degree from Boston University.

Berndt worked as a high school music teacher and was the accompanist for several choirs, including the German American Choir in Stuttgart. She sang soprano and was the rehearsal director for the Karlshoehe Kontorei for nine years before returning to the United States.

In its mission statement, the nonprofit writes "Women of Note is a community chorus organized and operated exclusively for public music education and dedicated to performance, community service, and leadership in the arts. Our mission is to teach and perform choral works to interested persons of all ages, to participate in community service activities, and to develop and maintain public interest in vocal arts. The purpose of Women of Note is to learn and perform choral works and to promote the opportunity to experience the enjoyment of such works in the Western Washington region. We will obtain funds and dedicate those assets to this purpose of public music education."

IF YOU GO

WHO: Women of Note

WHAT: Concert "Origins" of classic and modern choral music

WHEN AND WHERE: 7 p.m. Friday at Bridge Community Church on Harstine Island, 3 p.m. Sunday at St. David's in downtown Shelton

ADMISSION: Donations accepted

INFORMATION: http://www.womenofnotewa.org