News Release: PEV Announces 2024-25 Season and Music Director Search
PACIFIC EDGE VOICES ANNOUNCES 2024-25 SEASON OF DYNAMIC COLLABORATIONS, INCLUDING A CAPPELLA LUMINARY DEKE SHARON AND FORMER PEV LEADER DR. LYNNE MORROW
Search for 44-year-old Choral Group’s Fourth Music Director Launches Sept. 9
BERKELEY, CA (August 12, 2024) – Pacific Edge Voices (PEV), a staple of the Bay Area musical community since 1980, announces its upcoming 2024-25 season of concerts and the launch of a search for the group’s fourth music director on September 9.
“The coming season is an exciting opportunity for Pacific Edge Voices to connect - and reconnect - with a range of Bay Area musical artists,” said PEV board president Caitlin Zittkowski. “While we undertake the search for our next permanent music director, we’ve invited three wonderful guest conductors to collaborate with us on special programs that highlight their distinctive artistry. We’re especially pleased to welcome back PEV’s former longtime music director, Dr. Lynne Morrow, in December for the belated celebration of her 15-year leadership tenure.”
PEV’s 2024-25 Season
PEV welcomes special guest conductors to lead each of the group’s three public concert sets, which will be offered in both the East Bay and in San Francisco.
December 2024: PEV’s former longtime music director Dr. Lynne Morrow returns to conduct “Return to the Heart: The Promise of Peace.” Dr. Morrow stepped down as PEV’s music director in 2020, following 15 years in that role. The pandemic lockdown prevented PEV from presenting what would have been Dr. Morrow’s farewell concerts in April 2020. The upcoming December set will celebrate Dr. Morrow’s artistic legacy with the group, including pieces by Leonard Bernstein, Meredith Monk, and Michael T. Roberts.
Spring 2025: PEV’s spring concerts, called “All Together Now,” will be led by guest conductor Jeff Howe. An accomplished Bay Area conductor and tenor, Howe was PEV’s assistant music director from 2021-23 and was a featured soloist with the group; he is currently director of music ministry at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church. This uplifting program celebrates the power of heartfelt teamwork and the community spirit that sustains Pacific Edge Voices and will feature new music by California composers.
June 2025: PEV is unique among Bay Area choral groups for presenting an annual set of a cappella Jazz & Pop concerts to end every season - and has done so since its founding in 1980. The June 2025 set will be hosted by Deke Sharon, the Pitch Perfect producer who launched the modern-day vocal a cappella movement. Sharon will serve as concert emcee, arrangement collaborator and performance coach for these programs of wide-ranging music that has become PEV’s hallmark.
Tickets for PEV’s 2024-25 season will go on sale in September.
PEV’S Music Director Search
Following the departure of PEV’s third music director Ash Walker at the end of last season, PEV will officially undertake a comprehensive search process to identify its next musical leader this season. Complete search details, including position description and application process, will be available at pacificedgevoices.org starting September 9.
PEV 2024-25 Season Auditions
On Sunday, August 18, PEV will hold auditions for select openings in all voice parts for its upcoming season. Details and sign-ups are available at pacificedgevoices.org/audition.