ECHOES OF GRACE
Charting at #1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical Charts and a GOLD Global Music Winner, Echoes of Grace is a breathtaking new choral album featuring the works of Choral Director and Composer, Patti Drennan, as performed by the Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles under the direction of Conductor, Michelle Jensen.
Mother and Daughter team, Patti Drennan and Emily Drennan (who serves as Chorus Master and Co-Producer for the project), envisioned an album that encapsulated both sacred and secular works as that is most indicative of Patti’s compositional style as well as indicative of the choral music genre. There is often an intertwining of text, themes and harmonies in choral music which are conducive to both realms. The title, “Echoes of Grace” is exactly that. It suggests an exploration of an overarching theme of grace – both sacred and secular. It harkens back to grace given to us in songs like Lux Aeterna and Ave Maria, reminds us of grace we can give each other in Grace Before Sleep and If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking and ultimately, shows us the grace we can extend to ourselves in Awake, My Soul. There is an echo of that grace not only in the text, but in the polyphony of voices, in the moving lines of the orchestra and in the musical motifs that are echoed from one song to the next.
In her choral and orchestral compositions, Patti strives to “create music that is not predictable to the ear, but instead incorporates unexpected meters, harmonies and melodies”. Her hope is to “engage the listener” and have them humming along or wanting to listen again. Whether it be a playful string accompaniment to a 6-part male ensemble piece or a powerful choral anthem with a regal flourish of brass and timpani, the variety of instrumentation and yet continuity in theme will hopefully be a feast for the listener.
For this album, the Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles was joined by the Onyx Lane Chamber Orchestra and featured soloists Helena Maria Falk (violin), Jennifer Slater (pennywhistle), and Andrew W. Parker (oboe). It was recorded at East West Studios in Los Angeles and Timberlake Studios and Pitman Recital Hall in Oklahoma. Produced by Kitt Wakeley and Jonathan Estabrooks, co-produced by Patti Drennan, Emily Drennan and Christina Giacona, mixed by Patrick Conlon and Christina Giacona and mastered by Kevin Lively with Assistant Engineers including Chaz Sexton, Chris Prather, Ashton Mayle, Zack Copeland and Nic Moore, the album is released by Studio Seven Media, LLC in conjunction with Lexicon Classics Label and Symphonic Distribution. Art Design was by Nathan Price Art and Videography was by Matt B and Angela V. Benson with Videography Editing by Andy Lamon.
Special thanks goes to: Jim Drennan; Greg Lopez; Jeep Jensen; Brian Byrne; Sarah Sattler; Brian Sidders; and St. Andrew Catholic Church, Pasadena
Apple Music:
ECHOES OF GRACE: THE CHORAL MUSIC OF PATTI DRENNAN
Patti Drennan, Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles, Michelle Jensen, Onyx Lane Chamber Orchestra
SPOTIFY:
ECHOES OF GRACE: THE CHORAL MUSIC OF PATTI DRENNAN
Patti Drennan, Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles, Michelle Jensen, Onyx Lane Chamber Orchestra
SIGNED HARD COPIES:
ECHOES OF GRACE: THE CHORAL MUSIC OF PATTI DRENNAN
Patti Drennan, Sterling Ensemble Los Angeles, Michelle Jensen, Onyx Lane Chamber Orchestra
STERLING ENSEMBLE LOS ANGELES
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        SOPRANOSIsabella Adad Tiffany Nicole Brevard Eliya Frantz Melody Hung Autumn Napoli Madeline Reynolds* Diane Reynolds Sarah Sattler 
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        ALTOSAmy Bandy Ashley Ng Conner Sophia Kaloustian Halle Joy Martin Chandler Patton Natalie Chan Storz Eileen Stressling* 
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        TENORSMarcus Delgado Dan Doniza Benjamin Hall* Braxton Alexander Porter Alex Riley André J Roy Brian Sidders Michael Nathan Ynchausti 
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        BASSWai Hei Ryan Cheung* Brandon Chase DiNoto Michael McIntyre Ian Schipper Andrew Shubin Coen Sosa Samuel Thompson *denotes section leader 
ONYX LANE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
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        STRINGSEr-Gene Kahng - Violin, Concertmaster Patrick Conlon - Violin, Viola, Concertmaster Sophia Ro - Violin Sarah Brown - Violin Edwin Lok-Hin Cheng - Violin Arthur Busby - Violin Angélica Pereira - Violin Corbin Mace - Violin Yajing Cindy Zhang - Violin Tami Peterson - Violin Ronda Herold - Violin Heather Wickersham - Violin Mark Neumann-Viola Qingyuan Fu -Viola Scotty Scott -Viola Meredith Blecha-Wells - Cello Valorie Tatge - Cello Emily Stoops - Cello Tess Remy-Schumacher - Cello Anthony Stoops - Double Bass 
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        WOODWINDSJennifer Slater Flute - Piccolo, Pennywhistle Elizabeth A. Potts - Flute, Piccolo Andrew DeBoer - Bb Clarinet Lisa Kachouee - Bb Clarinet Christina Giacona - Bb Clarinet Andrew W. Parker - Oboe Elizabeth Ryan - Oboe Anna Resnick - Bassoon Jake Alvaro Jauregui Garcia - Bassoon 
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        BRASSKirk Palmer - Trumpet Ryan Sharp - Trumpet Doug Lindsey - Trumpet Andrew Smith - Trumpet Mirella Gable - Horn Matt Reynolds - Horn Chris Seay - Tuba 
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        PERCUSSIONChristine Souza - Percussion Asa Byrne - Additional Percussion 
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        SOLOISTSAlex Lansburg - Piano Jennifer Slater - Pennywhistle Andrew W. Parker - Oboe Helena Maria Falk - Violin 
Additional credits
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        Recorded at: East West Studios, Studio A, Los Angeles; Timberlake Studio, Purcell, Oklahoma and Pitman Recital Hall, University of Oklahoma Art Design by: Nathan Price Art Videography by: Matt B and Angela V. Benson Videography Editing by: Andy Lamon Special Thanks to: Jim Drennan; Greg Lopez; Brian Byrne; Jeep Jensen; Sarah Sattler; Brian Sidders; and St. Andrew Catholic Church, Pasedena 
