July 16th, 2023
New Show – 2pm Sunday August 20th at The Arlene Francis Center for Spirit, Art and Politics
99 West 6th Street Santa Rosa Ca 95401
$25 ticketleap.com/the-story-orchestra-performs–phila-omni or under Alva Sound Art Studio
day of show also available purchase at the house, but this must be cash.
The beginning of phase two for this production, with the goal of expanding performances into the greater Bay Area. The last shows were very successful, with great audience responses. A goal, aside from a performance regarding the beautiful, is to bring live performances back, to have people gather together as community and celebrate.
In production now is the song “Light” the closing piece for “Phila Omni, Dear All”. We are working on an audio track with the goal of radio airplay. And it will be the basis for what we are planning on being a very artfully beautiful and pleasing video of this song, featuring the great outdoors, dance, the performers and theatrical settings.
July 9th 2023
… a bit of a hiatus since the initial performances for “Phila Omni, Dear All” at the Arlene Francis Center in late May. We all took some time off, and I then went into a time to reflect, evaluate and plan for the future.
THE SHOWS WERE A MAJOR SUCCESS. It all “worked.” We had small but great houses, we had more in the audiences than we planned for, therefore the Center and the performers were paid, perhaps not much, but some, which is crucial in this time and region. And, very importantly, the Audiences were engaged in a beautiful performance, with the group and the production receiving wonderful responses and appreciation. Again it was truly a good and beautiful production. Of which I am grateful.
That was phase one, now onto phase two, which means more shows in the late Summer and into Fall, as well as recording the song “Light” with the goal of radio airplay, and in creating the next, and this time developed video, featuring the same song, with dance.
My hope is to be able to also start working on an Audio Book version. I want to start recording Joe Winkler, the Speaker, of this production, and then proceed with recording all of the material, unfortunately though dance won’t be on the Musical Audio Book.
And finally for now, I am looking for youngish adult singers, a tenor and soprano to share lead vocals. So getting the word out on that. I wish, and should, move away from the lead voice role. So if you are interested…. contact me at asartstudio@gmail.com
May 2023
“Phila Omni, Dear All” a Contemporary Oratorio with Music, Dance and Spoken Word is premiering Friday May 26th and Saturday May 27th at 8pm at the Arlene Francis Center for Spirit, Art and Politics. 99 6th St in Santa Rosa.
Tickets available at ticketleap.com under Alva Sound Art Studio, and also day of performance – though day of must be cash purchases. $25.00
This is a new oratorio, a contemporary oratorio blending the goals of the concept album performed live, with the tradition of the classical past. There is sound, as well as the visual, with original dance works. There is music and spoken word. “Phila Omni, Dear All” features existing poetry from various cultures and writers from various times in history and chorale music composed by Josquin Des Prez. And there are the slightly progressive rock style songs by Nick Alva. This is a unique work, truly a modern oratorio, a representation of the human journey, of the human experience, perhaps of a traveler of past, present and future, seeking one’s way in the world all the while aspiring, all the while realizing.
Conceived, Written, Composed, Directed and Produced by Nick Alva
The Story Orchestra:
Choreography: Aaron Draper
Chorale Director: Dr. Gardner Rust
Music Director: Nick Alva
Performers:
Joe Winkler – Spoken Word
Aaron Draper and Andrea Beach, plus Special Guests TBA – Dancers
Tanya Alva, Sandra Odwyer, Nick Alva and Tom McKintyre – Chorus
Song Ensemble:
Nick Alva – Acoustic Bass Guitar and Voice
Colin Bartlett – Percussion;
Diego Mosquero – Synthesizer;
Tanya Alva – voice;
Tom McIntyre -voice;
Margaret McIntyre – voice;
Aaron Draper – voice
“Phila Omni, Dear All” is an aesthetic experience of human history and the pursuit of eternity. Truly meant as a positive and beautiful, artful experience. Intended, perhaps as one of the balms for our times.
The performances are intimate, with minimal amplification of just a few instruments. The voices sing without any amplification. This to create a pleasant listening experience. However this also means that seating will be limited… so purchase your tickets now!!!
Past Entries:
Performances by The Story Orchestra
The Story Orchestra is a north bay performance ensemble of music, dance, spoken word, and theater. In May of 2023 we will be debuting a new Contemporary Oratorio, “Phila Omni, Dear All.”
This is a unique production in that it performs works from the Western tradition: chorale works from the repertoire; modern, original dance works; poetry selections from all nations throughout the world and history; and original song compositions, as well as traditional Indian instrumental music and Kathak dance.
“Phila Omni, Dear All” is an aesthetic representation of being human, of the Human Soul, of existence from times past, ancient times, till times now and into the future.
An aesthetic representation of Life and Living.
Performances are
Saturday May 13th, The Phoenix Theatre, San Francisco
Friday May 26th, The Arlene Francis Center for Spirit Art and Politics, Santa Rosa
Saturday May 27th, RIAR Dance Academy, Dublin
Performances are at 8pm, pre-sale tickets for these intimate venues are $35.00 and will go on sale April 1st.
The performances are intimate and mostly unamplified in order to create a beautiful, and positive audience experience. An uplifting Aesthetic experience that is low tech. This is very much live performance based, to help re-ignite performances, to invite people to come out once again for theatrical production to performance venues, to facilitate the interaction of All via Art as we people have always done.
For inquiries and pre-sales please contact Nick at asartstudio@gmail.com
“Phila Omni, Dear All” performed by The Story Orchestra.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=eleganc+alva+sound+art+studio To see a video
Initial performance dates are:
Saturday May 13th, at the Phoenix Theatre: 414 Mason Street, San Francisco Ca
Friday May 26th, at the Arlene Francis Center for Spirit Art and Politics: 99 6th Street Santa Rosa Ca
Saturday May 27th RIAR Dance Academy, 7227 Regent St Dublin CA
Each event has limited seating, and ticket prices will be $35.00. Contact Nick at asartstudio@gmail.com to pre-order. Tickets will go on sale on line April 1st.
TO VIEW and HEAR the early promo video “Elegance”
March 1st – Phila Omni, Dear All please see the initial idea below, but here is an update!!! I am very pleased to announce that our choreographer is Aaron Draper, experienced in many styles, and with improv. I am also very pleased to announce that our co musical director and performer is Will Marsh https://www.willmarshmusic.com/ an extremely fine Sitar Player and Guitarist. He will be joined by Tabla, Tanpura and Indian Dance. Musicians include Diego Mosquero – Keyboards and Percussion, Colin Bartlett – Orchestral Percussion, myself on Acoustic Bass Guitar, and Vocalists – Tanya Boone-Alva, and Thomas McIntyre
Many more details to follow, with the big details coming just prior to April.
Older – I am pleased to announce the next project, a series of live performances entitled “Phila Omni, Dear All” This will be a production of spoken word, music and dance, somewhat of a variety show based upon the themes of human art and culture, of the different phases, or history of the human psyche, culture and art, nature and spirit, with an emphasis upon the beautiful, upon the aesthetic greatness of us all. The range of variety will be from the primitive, to the medieval, to the classical, romantic, modern and contemporary times, and will include several composers of original works, plus some established composers, with a scope of arts from throughout the world. The production is in development, but I would like for all of you to know now…
The spoken words will be short passages from world history, poetry, words of wisdom.
The music will be very diverse, eclectic. There will be three “groups” performing in a through composed manner. One group will be lead by Will Marsh, a Sitar player/Guitarist/Composer https://www.willmarshmusic.com He will be joined by a tabla player, and myself on Tanpura. I will lead a group of western style players, there will be a choral group, and a classical pianist.
For dance we will be reaching out to Indian Style dancers to accompany Will. And I am very pleased to say that choreographer and dancer Aaron Draper will create works for a quartet of dancers.
This is all still very much in the development phase, with the goal of a 2 hour through composed production of beauty, the best sounding concert presented in the Bay Area. Performances will be in three Bay Area locations and we are looking to do a final performance via Podcast, hopefully from the Arlene Francis Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, Ca. Anticipated performances will be May of 2023.
We do need funding for these productions. So please if you would like to donate, please contact me at asartstudio@gmail.com or 707 856 5111.
More details to follow. I am very excited about this and know that this will be a bit of a balm to those troubling events occuring.
Nick