Jump-start your California history or music curriculum!

Karen Arlen and Nancie Kester offer workshops and in-service training on California history through music. These exciting, hands-on workshops are designed for both music and classroom teachers, and provide numerous ideas for classroom use. Teachers have fun as they get to know the song material and see its creative application across the curriculum.

Karen and Nancie are business partners in Calicanto Associates, which specializes in compiling and publishing the authentic music of early California. They are frequent clinicians at state and national conferences, including Organization of American Kodaly Educators, American Orff-Schulwerk Association, California Music Educators Association, California School Library Association, California Council for Social Studies and California Association for the Gifted.

Nancie and Karen present workshops and in-services to music groups and educators throughout California and performed with the Calicanto Singers at various historical events

For information about Workshops and In-Services, contact us.

PERFORMANCES

THE CALICANTO SINGERS

The Calicanto Singers were a group of musicians, who specialized in traditional and multicultural songs from California's history. History was recreated with an interweaving of narration and song. This group was a natural extension of Calicanto Associates, whose mission is to bring history to life through music. The many creative performances included a variety of song material, authentic folk instruments and audience involvement.

For several decades, the Calicanto Singers performed in costume at historic and cultural events throughout the state, including the Oakland Museum of California, History San Jose, The Society of California Pioneers, the Oregon/California Trails Association, the National Park Service and various other venues. During California's Gold Rush Sesquicentennial the Calicanto Singers were featured performers at both the Oakland and San Jose Museums. They also performed annually at Presidio del Pasadas in San Francisco in June and at the Founders Day Fandango at the Peralta Adobe in San Jose in July.

The versatility of the Calicanto Singers was well demonstrated in their performances for the Society of California Pioneers where they provided Gold Rush, San Francisco Barbary Coast, Mexican Rancho and Spanish Mission programs.

The Calicanto Singers may be heard on the CDs: They Came Singing: Songs from California's History and Days of Gold, Songs of the California Gold Rush, both produced by Calicanto Associates. They are also featured performers on a CD accompanying A Guide to the San Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail by Greg Smestad, published by Los Californianos.

MUSICAL DIRECTORS

Lance Beeson acted as Musical Director of the Calicanto Singers for many years. California history is in his blood. He is a direct descendant of Jose Joaquin Moraga and other first settlers of California, who arrived during the Anza Expedition. Lance also has ancestors who came to California during the Gold Rush. A classically trained guitarist, his other instruments include the gitjo (a combination of guitar and banjo), melodeon, Irish penny whistle, and Indian flute. Lance is a versatile vocalist who has been featured in many Calicanto performances. Lance was preceded as musical director by Debbie Golata, who directed the Calicanto Singers in their two Calicanto songbook CDs.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES by ARRIBEÑOS DE SAN FRANCISCO

If you are interested in the kind of musical performances that The Calicanto Singers offered, please contact Lance Beeson, at CalFanPro@sbcglobal.net. Lance currently directs Los Arribeños de San Francisco, who perform California music from the days of the Spanish Missions and Mexican Ranchos, and the New California Minstrels, who present multicultural music from the Gold Rush era.