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Sounds like 'HOME'

(Download Image) The Lab's Joe Zaug (right) with members of the Cantabella Children's Chorus, artistic director Bee Chow (far right), music directors Joy Tsai at the piano and Rob Lappa (with choir at left).
Editor's Note: This is one in a series of stories about Lab employees who volunteer with HOME Campaign agencies.

By day, Joe Zaug, a Lab physical chemist, conducts sound wave measurements to improve the predictive accuracy of the thermochemical codes. By evening, Zaug can be found volunteering to spread the sounds created by the Cantabella Children's Chorus whose voices can be heard across the valley and beyond.

Zaug and his wife Connie discovered Cantabella Children's Chorus (CCC) when looking for after-school musical enrichment programs for their daughters, Camille and Elena.

"Friends recommended CCC as a place where our children could build a solid foundation in music theory and experience choral singing

"We have found that the CCC offers well-trained, experienced staff that teaches more than 200 children in grades K through 8, in Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin," Zaug explained.

Cantabella Children's Chorus, a non-profit organization, is one of the agencies listed in the Lab's HOME Campaign. In addition to promoting the enjoyment of music, the CCC helps young people develop character, learn values of commitment and responsibility, work as a team, nurture friendships and strengthen family ties.

Last year Zaug was asked to join the CCC board of directors. "I guide our development team of parent volunteers to reach our 20th season capital campaign goals," he said.

"CCC is one of the many organizations that benefits greatly from Lab employee contributions," Zaug said. Donations are used to create scholarships and increase tuition assistance and discounts to Tri-Valley families in need.

In addition, contributions made via the HOME Campaign enable Tri-Valley arts programs to collaborate and thus broaden the perspective of the CCC children and work to subsidize local venue costs.

Several events are coming up for the CCC's 20th anniversary season during 2011-2012 including performing at the opening of the Valley Dance Theater's Nutcracker Ballet (Dec. 11-17); with the Las Positas College Choir (Dec. 3-4); and also in the Livermore Valley Opera's production of Tosca (March 2012).

In addition, some of the younger choir members will perform as invited guests of David Benoit's jazz group at the Bankhead Theater on Nov. 30.

Zaug hopes that the sounds of the Lab's HOME Campaign will help take the CCC far -- far enough to travel to the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, next July where more than 200,000 choristers from some 70 countries will perform.

To view videos of CCC performances on YouTube, go to the Web.