St Mary’s signing choir in Dublin: ‘For deaf people, their voice is their hands and their bodies (THE IRISH TIMES)

It’s often assumed that when profoundly deaf children are involved in any kind of musical performance it’s mainly for their therapeutic benefit: a worthy attempt at confidence-building or something that might help with their speech development.

But watching the teenagers of St Mary’s School for Deaf Girls choir perform the traditional Irish song May the Road Rise Up to Meet You in Irish Sign Language (ISL) is to witness something special. Not special in the “special needs” sense. Just special. Hands moving, faces animated, bodies swaying; it’s a compelling performance, not least because it is effectively bilingual.

The girls are signing in time to ... continue reading

Manuscript showing 'birth' of 1,000 years of choral music discovered (telegraph.co)

A manuscript showing the "birth" of 1,000 years of musical tradition has been discovered by an intern at the British Library.

The musical score is thought to be the earliest known practical example of polyphonic music, a type of choral song written for more than one part.

The notation, written in faded ink on a centuries-old parchment, is believed to date back to the beginning of the 10th century and is described as the “birth” of polyphonic music.

Showing notation for two vocal parts which ... continue reading

Review: Huddersfield Choral Society's Christmas Concert (Huddersfield Examiner)

The most accurate performance you will hear this Christmas in any music genre is Julie London’s 1963 recording of Fly Me To The Moon featured in the ‘Magic and Sparkle’ television ad.

Her intonation, rhythmic precision and forward motion are stunning, and the Choral Society came pretty close to this benchmark in this year’s Christmas Concert.

But then they had Brian Kay as ... continue reading

Winning bid for Lauridsen choral score sets new record (Providence Journal)

A fragment of a musical score, hand-written and autographed by  acclaim choral composer Morten Lauridsen,  has fetched $741 on eBay to benefit the Knight Memorial Library in the Elmwood section of Providence. The previous record for a Lauridsen autograph was $650.

The winning bidder was ... continue reading

Concert review: Auckland Choral, Auckland Town Hall (NZ Herald)

Uwe Grodd chose his words carefully, introducing Auckland Choral's Monday Messiah.

The conductor urged us to remember Handel's 23-day vigil writing this oratorio, combining the best elements of all his other music to create a "potent mix that binds us together as only a great masterwork can, regardless of race, religion or background". Last year, Handel's score was proudly given to us without cuts, but tonight there were nips and tucks. The losses were telling, from the brief choral burst of Let all the angels of God worship Him to the graceful conciliation of the air, If God be for us.

Soprano Madeleine Pierard commanded the ... continue reading

Gallery: The Miracle Minstrels choir (The Sacramento Bee)

The goal for these performers, most of them stroke survivors, is just to make a joyful noise.

Choir member Gary Barmore of Elk Grove, right, and others perform during the annual Christmas luncheon that brings together stroke support groups throughout greater Sacramento area to ... continue reading

Community Choir Looks To Expand Girls' Horizons (News Leader)

When eight-year-old Staunton resident Christiana Evans stood up in front of the crowd that had gathered at Tinkling SpringPresbyterian Church on Saturday evening, it was a small, first step in a big dream. For Evans it's the beginning of what she plans will be a lifetime of music. The group that she was about to perform with, the Virginia Girlchoir, would be her stepping stone.

When choir director Julia White discusses the newly formed group the term "possibility" comes up often. White sees the ... continue reading

Bach Choir celebrates Mary and her faith (M Call)

Christmas is coming, and even if we might not all be singing carols, we'll at least be hearing them, even if just from gas station loudspeakers. Shepherds, the wise men and angels are the frequent flyers, mentioned multiple times in repeated verses. Surprisingly, Mary is typically mentioned only once, if at all, and sometimes that reference is itself oblique, with a mere allusion to the "virgin," "mother" or "woman."

"I think Mary is an ... continue reading

LOOKING BACK: Morecambe Fishermen’s Choir through the years (The Visitor)

The Morecambe Fishermen’s Choir first began in 1904 with several choristers featured in the 1935 edition of The Visitor.

Founded in 1904 the choir began after the Rev. G. H. Kennedy, who was the minister at Clarence Street in 1904, took inspiration to start a choral team.

In 1935 the choir still retained many of its ... continue reading

African Children's Choir performs at Albany church (Walb News)

The African Children's Choir performed at First United Methodist Church. They performed "Joy to the World" and several other African Christmas Songs. Their tour leader says the choir enjoys traveling around the country spreading the Christmas spirit.

"They have ... continue reading

Choir to ‘light up’ Walking Tour (Newark Advocate)

With a performance titled “Season of Light, Season of Song,” Vintage Voices of Granville will celebrate the light of Christmas on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary at Centenary United Methodist Church, 102 E. Broadway.

The concert, part of the village’s Candlelight Walking Tour, will mark the 15th season the group has participated in the event.

Songs such as “A Little Light Was Born” and “Go Light Your World” will be included in the program along with seasonal carols and the familiar favorites “Sleigh Ride” and “Silver Bells.”

This Christmas program will be ... continue reading

All-American Boys Chorus (singers.com)

The All-American Boys Chorus . . . happy youngsters from more than thirty cities in Southern California.

Fifty concert tours to Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and throughout the USA make The All-American Boys Chorus one of the most widely traveled boy's choirs in the world.

More than one million people have been included in the boys' live audiences-in addition to the many millions who have seen and heard them on television and radio.

The boys have performed before a Pope and dignitaries of many ranks. They've been made ... continue reading

Carol concert How choirs give us all a voice (The Bristol Post)

HE is a flamboyant father of five and he is the leader of Gurt Lush, Bristol's biggest community choir. And Sam Burns is preparing to direct his 200-strong choir on stage at the Bristol Post and Radio Bristol Carol Concert.

Sam, 44, launched the choir five years ago after returning to his native Bristol from France where he had lived for 15 years.

It was there he became a ... continue reading

Blazing brass and high drama in Romsey Abbey

Saturday's audience in Romsey Abbey enjoyed an unusual and moving programme, two sections of which were conducted with commitment and flair by Jamie W Hall.

At the start of the concert, Dorothy Baverstock told the audience about the Romsey War Horse Memorial Project. A magnificent bronze resin sculpture has been commissioned from Amy Goodman. It will be placed in the Romsey Memorial Park in the new year.

The concert opened with the ... continue reading

Waking hours with Harlem Gospel Choir's Allen Bailey (Ciara Dwyer)

I live on the East Side of Manhattan. I've lived here for 40 years. When I wake up in the morning, it's noisy. You can hear the garbage trucks on the street and people hammering upstairs. My dog, Max, gets me up. He has been with me for 12 years, and the routine never changes. Some days he might get up earlier than the usual 6.30am, but the first thing we have to do is go for a walk. He's a husky dog, and ... continue reading

Goal of choir at Russell church is to lead in worship (MARK MAYNARD)

RUSSELL Jim Wilcox says church choirs shouldn’t be about bringing people to their feet but bringing them to their knees.

The worship leader at First Baptist Church in Russell leads one of the biggest and talented choirs in the Tri-State area.

It has grown from a small core of 20 wearing green robes when he came 13 years ago to a 120-member powerhouse choir with a “calling to lead the congregation into the presence of Christ,” Wilcox said.

It has been a ... continue reading

Frankston choir gives voice to disadvantaged and homeless (Christian Tatman )

A NEW Frankston choir to support the disadvantaged and homeless has found a powerful voice.

Famed Choir of Hard Knocks founder Jonathon Welch has thrown his weight behind the Voices of Frankston group.

“It’s exciting to be here and I wanted to come to this beautiful part of the world to create more community through singing,” he told the Leader.

“The inclusion factor (provided by the choir) is very important.’’

Mr Welch said singing and being a member of a choir built confidence and ... continue reading

Fulbright Scholar Leads SDSU Women’s Choir (Jack Haworth)

By Jack Haworth

Ibis Betancourt is making the most of the opportunity granted to her by a Fulbright award.

Originally from Mexico, she received a Fulbright to study in the United States and chose to attend San Diego State University in fall 2013.

Betancourt is a graduate student studying choral directing under Patrick Walders. The mentorship has led to great things for Betancourt and beginning this semester, she has ... continue reading

New Sacred Choral Works to Receive Interfaith Premieres Nov. 21 and 23 in New York ()

Commissioned by Soli Deo Gloria, Psalm settings by Paul Moravec and Victoria Bond to be heard for first time during worship services at Temple Emanu-El and Cathedral of St. John the Divine

New choral works by two prominent contemporary American composers, commissioned by nonprofit Soli Deo Gloria, Inc. (SDG), will receive their world premieres November in New York through a collaboration between the city’s Temple Emanu-El and the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.

The classical sacred music foundation SDG has conceived and ... continue reading

Gareth's All Star Choir sees choirmaster Malone get tough with celebrity singers for Children In Need (Jennifer Rodger)

When he was tasked with creating this year’s Children In Need single with a group of stars, Gareth Malone admits he got his natty bow tie in a bit of a twist.

“I had to be quite stressy and strict at times,” recalls the charming 38-year-old choirmaster.

“They just wouldn’t shut up,” he adds about the recording of the song, which is captured in this two-hour documentary.

“I think they turned up thinking it was all going to be a bit of a jolly,” says Gareth, “and they were actually surprised by how difficult it is – and how rewarding.

“Nitin Ganatra from EastEnders [who plays Masood] had wanted to ... continue reading