The Eclectic5 is a quintet of local musicians who work together to meet a common goal: produce great music no matter what the genre or time period. The group’s upcoming holiday concert will feature a holiday theme that will still fit the “eclectic” moniker and, above all, be lots of fun.
The concert, set for Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lompoc, will feature holiday music not just from several genres and time periods, but will span the globe, with special attention paid to different European caroling styles. The program includes carols in Italian, French, Polish, Spanish, and even Ukrainian.
“We do a variety, but that’s the whole design of our group, to do a different kind of program, so you are always surprised,” said Catalina McIsaac, soprano singer for the group. “It’s a great way to reach an audience, and we do a lot of audience participation because that always brings everyone together.”
The concert will conclude with a carol sing-a-long, so everybody can join in with the music-making. The members of the group include soprano singer McIsaac, tenor singer and trumpeter Chris A. Bowman, Mark Carrillo singing basso profundo (deep bass) and playing keyboards, alto singer and flutist Kate Busaro, and pianist and singer Rachel Mello.
The members of Eclectic5, all strong soloists, enjoy singing harmony—the more difficult the better, McIsaac said. But the fact that several members also play instruments is what makes for a unique and unpredictable performance.
“We are about harmony and individual voices coming together to make a unique sound,” McIsaac said. “As an ensemble, we really work together towards what we want to do, where we want to go, and what we would all be comfortable doing, and we are all comfortable with this eclectic approach.”
The Eclectic5 performed its debut concert during the spring of this year and has performed several times in the area, including a performance in Santa Maria during Peace Week. The group isn’t limited to just covering songs and compositions that can be considered eclectic, but also creates original music.
“Chris Bowman is a composer, and I’m a lyricist,” McIsaac said, “and together we write songs and lyrics.”
Samples of Bowman and McIsaac’s compositions and the kind of sound that Eclectic5 performs can be found at reverbnation.com/cathleenandchris.
Bowman, who also directs the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale, is the one who founded Eclectic5, McIsaac explained.
“Chris came up with the name and it gives a unique identity to the ensemble,” she said. “We aren’t just one type of music. Being eclectic kind of throws all the genres in together so it comes out sounding very unique.”
The Eclectic5 performs classical settings of vocal music, jazz, Broadway standards, and even opera. The upcoming holiday concert will feature works from John Gardner, Hans Leo Hassler, John Rutter, George Frideric Handel, McIsaac/Bowman, and even anonymous composers.
Three times the sound
The Tri City Sound Chorus of the
Sweet Adelines International invites everyone to the “Friends and Family Christmas Concert” on Dec. 8 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 4725 S. Bradley Road, Orcutt. More info: 736-7572 or
outdoor411@aol.com.
A group of masters
The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale will perform a concert of Christmas and holiday music as part of the “La Purisima Founder’s Day Event” on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., La Purisima Mission, 2295 La Purisima Road, Lompoc. More info: 736-8005 or hickanell@aol.com.
Music under the trees
Altrusa of the Central Coast presents the ninth annual “Festival of Trees” through Dec. 11. The festival includes live music entertainment by The K Baldwin Jazz Band performing Dec. 9 from 5 to 6 p.m.; on Dec. 10, a performance by Mr. Biggers’ Fourth Grade Ukulele Band is from 1 to 2 p.m., the Bucket Busters perform from 2 to 3 p.m., performers from the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society are from 3 to 4 p.m., and a performance by the Garcia Dance Studio is from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Santa Maria Shopping Center, 1447 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More info: 733-1122 or laura.selken@gmail.com.
Voices in harmony
The Coastal Voices choir will present the program “Yuletide Carols” in concert on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3945 S. Bradley, Santa Maria. Cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Students younger than 18 get in free. More info: 937-3416, sesmith9@verizon.net, or coastalvoices.info.
Jazz up the holidays
The Allan Hancock College Jazz Band performs jazzy renditions of holiday favorites under the direction of Chuck Osborne on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., Unity Chapel of Light, 1165 Stubblefield Road, Orcutt. More info: 937-3025 or unitychapeloflight@verizon.net.
Contact Calendar Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 8-15, 2011.
