SHINING NIGHT:  A Tribute to Composer Morten Lauridsen
 
The Wall Street Journal calls him “the best composer you’ve never heard of,” but to choral music enthusiasts, Morten Lauridsen is a beloved and well known artist. Shining Night, a new film chronicling the composer’s creative process and inspirations, is coming to San Francisco on Saturday, June 9, for one showing only at the Brava Theater, presented by Volti, San Francisco’s acclaimed contemporary-music chamber chorus. 
 
Winner of Best Documentary at the DC Independent Film Festival (2012) and an Honorable Mention at the Los Angeles Movie Awards (2012), this visually stunning documentary, directed by first-time filmmaker Michael Stillwater, largely takes place at Lauridsen’s home on the San Juan Islands. Inspired by the silence of nature, Lauridsen composes works of timeless beauty on his island home in the Pacific Northwest. Through the eyes of other composers, conductors, singers and music students, the story of Lauridsen unfolds - and his music is performed - by Volti, the San Francisco Choral Society, Con Anima, and the Aberdeen (Scotland) University Choral Society, together with soundtracks from Polyphony, the Dale Warland Singers, and The Singers/Minnesota Choral Artists. Shining Night gives viewers a look into the private life of a remarkable artist. 
 
On Saturday evening June 9, meet Morten Lauridsen and filmmaker Michael Stillwater, see the film, hear San Francisco’s remarkable Volti chamber singers perform some of Lauridsen’s music under the direction of conductor Robert Geary, and join singers from dozens of Bay Area choruses to celebrate and sing Lauridsen’s music with the composer at the piano.  A silent auction benefits Volti’s commissioning program, fostering more new choral music from American composers.