Rachel Kessler – Donald Kendrick – October 2015
Conductor Donald Kendrick, our Board and Members salute Rachel Kessler, Founder and Artistic Director of the Davis Community Chorale and the Davis Children’s Chorale. Earlier in her career, Rachel sang in both the Robert Shaw and the Roger Wagner chorales. She was also a longtime choir member and soloist at Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ.
Rachel passed away of pancreatic cancer in early September in the University Retirement Community. We shall all miss her beautiful voice, her smile and great spirit. We are all grateful for his many musical contributions to our region. A memorial service will be held on November 5th at 2 PM at the Davis Church.
Rachel had many well-deserved accolades. Among them, in the lead-up to the first public performance in 1985 at Fremont Presbyterian Church of his Requiem, John Rutter rewrote the piece’s last movement, Lux Aeterna, for her voice when he heard her rehearsing. The SCSO was privileged to honor Rachel at their October 24, 2015 Stained Glass concert at Fremont Presbyterian Church featuring the 30th anniversary of Rachel’s original appearance in Rutter’s stunning Requiem. (Concert Review)
Requiem in pace, Rachel Kessler.
