The Swiss Choir "Harmonie" with Alphorn and other Folk Instruments

In a joint concert, featuring American, Swiss and German Folk Music, as well as Classical Selections from the Romantic Era.

3:00 pm, Sunday, June 8, 2008

Trinity Lutheran Church

909 North La Cumbre Road (The corner of Le Cumbre and Foothill Roads)

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

Suggested Donation $9.00

Advance tickets are available at Chaucer's Bookstore. Tickets are also available at the door starting 30 minutes prior to the concert. For more information call: 682-1537 or 682-6346.

Santa Barbara French Festival

Edelweiss Choir fundraiser! Serving delicious Alsatian food as a fundraiser for the choir.

11:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, July 12 & 13, 2008

www.frenchfestival.com

Oak Park

Santa Barbara, CA

Weihnachtskonzert - Christmas Concert: December 2008

Weihnachtskonzert - Christmas Concert: December 16, 2007

In this year's concert, the Choir featured the Christmas of Latvia with two carols in the Latvian language. Other selections on the program included excerpts from the famous Bohemian Shepherd's Mass by Jacub Jan Ryba, classical and traditional Christmas songs, sung in English, German, and Latin.

Review of the Edelweiss Concert "An Enchanted Afternoon": June 3, 2007

This year's spring concert of the Santa Barbara Edelweiss Choir under the leadership of Music Director Julia Neufeld and Accompanist Beverly Staples had a completely different setting. The event took place on Sunday afternoon, June 3, at the Parish Hall of the Emanuel Lutheran Church on Modoc Rd. The hall was decked-out with inviting tables

After the audience had assembled we were greeted by our friendly bartender Carlos. The thirsty cold purchase various beverages until the program began. And what a beautiful performance it was; as we were taken on a musical journey, with the highlights from German Operettas and American Musicals. It was a delight for everyone.

This "Ohrenschmauss" (feast for the ears) was followed by a culinary feast. The members of the Edelweiss Choir, now performing as waiters, served their guests a delicious dinner consisting of Kassler Rippenspeer* (smokedPork Chops), wonderful potato-salad amd superb Sauerkraut, followed by Apple Strudel with real whipping cream and coffee.

It was a delightful afternoon which too soon came to an end. The Choir deserves our praise for a wonderful performance and a wonderful German Dinner. A big thank you to Chef Susan Rudolph and her helpers. Last, but not least a "Thank you" to Choir Director Richard Schnieder and his board for organizing this unforgettable event.

The next concert will be the Christmas Concert on December 16, 2007.

Hope to see you there - Barbara

Barbara Stern - President, German-American Club of Santa Barbara

* A little trivia: Kassler Rippenspeer was invented by, and named after Master-Butcher Cassel from Berlin approximately 130 years ago. The whole rib roast was pickled, smoked and baked on a spit. In an oven. It has since been a favorite for Sunday- and Holiday-Dinners. It is served with potato salad or mashed potatos, red cabbage, sauerkraut or pureed yellow peas. (Source: Erhard Gory's Kuchenlexikon).

Edelweiss Choir Canada Tour: June 2 - June 12, 2006

The Edelweiss Choir of Santa Barbara and its guests had a successful Western Canada concert tour. Their first stop was Calgary, Alberta where they were hosted by the "Canadian German Male Chorus of Calgary". Both choirs shared the stage in a concert entitled, "From the Sea to the Mountains". The combined choir's singing was enthusiastically received and the host choir treated Edelweiss to two get-togethers with delicious food and drink, interspersed with informal singing by both choirs. The Edelweiss Choir members were also treated to a city tour. In addition, the Edelweiss Choir sang in a special Pentecost mass at St. Boniface Catholic church, with their accompanist/organist, Beverly Staples.

The Edelweiss Choir then traveled by bus to Kelowna, British Columbia (B.C.), their next performance stop, through the most spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, with sightseeing stops in Banff and Lake Louise. Kelowna is located on the eastern shore of the 160 km long Okanagan Lake. During a city tour, the Choir was surprised to hear that approximately 45,000 of the 110,000 inhabitants were German. Together with the Kelowna Men's choir they participated in a "Liederabend" (evening of song). The audience appreciated the spirited singing.

And on they continued toward Vancouver, again through spectacular scenery. After some sightseeing in Vancouver the choir boarded a Ferry (bus and all), which, after one and a half hours, deposited the Edelweiss Choir members in the beautiful city of Victoria, their last performance stop. They had ample time for sightseeing, including a visit to the world-famous Butchart Gardens. That evening the Choir shared the stage with another guest choir, the "Denver Turnverein Choir".

The Choir felt in good form throughout the tour. Singing was a deep joy for them as performers as well as for their appreciative audiences. All choir members agreed that they spent a very memorable 10 days in a country full of friendly people.

Walter Knapp - Edelweiss Choir Member