Inland Empire residents with an interest in sacred music performance are invited to two free concerts at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church as highlights of the congregation’s annual August “camp meeting” celebration. The concerts feature vocalists Javier Gonzalez and Paulette Sheen Jumalon in a 4 p.m. concert this Saturday, Aug. 11, and Christian Edition, a popular regional men’s chorus, at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18.
Both concerts are at the church, 391 Myrtlewood Drive in Calimesa, according to an announcement from Senior Pastor Jon Ciccarrelli.
Tenor Gonzalez, a native southern Californian, is an adjunct professor of voice at La Sierra University, Riverside, who recently organized and launched the La Sierra Summer Vocal Institute in collaboration with the Montecito International Music Festival. His classical vocal performances include appearances with celebrated conductors, composers, and orchestras throughout the United States and internationally.
Soprano Jumalon, originally from the Philippines, is active as a soloist and collaborator with vocal groups and has played leading stage roles in sacred and theatrical music productions. With a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from La Sierra University, she is a voice teacher and the creative director of LiveFor1 Ministries, a performing group dedicated providing aid for individuals and groups around the world who are being persecuted for their faith.
The Christian Edition men’s chorus, under the direction of Calvin Knipschild, will return to Calimesa for the Aug. 18 concert after their most recent camp-meeting at the church just one year ago. Their southern-gospel-influenced appearance was a favorite at the day-long Western States Gospel Music Association festival in nearby Highland, Calif., in July.
The free concerts are part of the community-oriented programming adopted by the Calimesa church each August. The month-long series of worship services and other events seek to recall the spirit of a summer tent-meeting in the past century, Pastor Ciccarrelli explains. Community friends are also welcome to join the music-filled worship services at 8:30 and 11:15 each Saturday.