Friday, 3 October 2014

Perfect way for Choral Society to recruit Friends (Banbury Guardian)

Banbury Choral Society hosted its Friends launch event on Friday in the Great Hall at the stunning location of Broughton Castle.

The choir, conducted by musical director Julian Harris, sang a programme of music that was both moving and uplifting, interspersed with solo pieces by young students from the Youth Outreach Scheme.

The event was attended by Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, the Mayor of Banbury Councillor Sean Woodcock, and Sir Paul Hayter, the choir’s president.

The four pieces sung by the choir were all composed in the 18th Century and perfectly suited the setting.

Haydn’s Te Deum was followed by Bach’s well-known Jesus Joy of Man’s Desiring, Mozart’s Ave Verum and, completing the evening, Handel’s coronation masterpiece Zadok.

While I felt Ave Verum was sung a little too slowly, all the pieces were beautifully balanced and showed the choir’s talent to the full. It was fun that the solo pieces were ... continue reading


Christ’s Hospital Choral Society (County Times)

Christ’s Hospital Choral Society is an adult choir for members of School staff and the local community.

They meet weekly in the Court Room and are very fortunate to have Andrew Cleary, the Director of Music at Christ’s Hospital, as their conductor.

The choir perform four concerts each year, covering a wide repertoire.

The first concert is in November and will be performed in St Mary’s Church in Horsham. We are commemorating 100 years since the First World War and will be singing pieces by Blatchly, Wilcox, Goodall, some choruses from The Armed Man and Faure’s Requiem.

The Friends of CHASE are invited to provide refreshments to help them raise funds.

In December we will be ... continue reading


Thursday, 2 October 2014

ACC Starts Community Choir (The Journal Pealand)

As more and more singers began to file into the Alvin Community College choir studio, Music Director Dr. Kevin Moody’s smile began to widen.

“I just can’t believe it,” he said. “Stand up, let’s sing!”

Moody held the first rehearsal for the ACC Community Chorus on August 26 and 50 local singers signed up to join the group.

“I’m really excited about the repertoire that’s available to us,” he said.

The Community Chorus will have its first performance of Handel’s Messiah on December 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Alvin First United Methodist Church. The group, which is made up of current students and local music enthusiasts, will perform two concerts a year.

“Many are former students which is ... continue reading

Shewey to be honored for service to bell choir ( Deb Holland Meade County Times-Tribune staff)

STURGIS | Dedicated, enthusiastic, hard-working and fun.

That's how Mimi Shewey describes the bell choir members she has been hanging around for more than 40 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis.

What's special about this relationship is that the members of the choir would describe their director in the same manner.

The church will a host a reception to honor Shewey for her 41 years of dedication to the Chapel Bell Choir from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 in the Erskine Club Room at the church.

Shewey gave birth to the Chapel Bell Choir at the church in 1973 and it's been going strong every since.

"I just got the idea that our church should have a bell choir," she said. "I thought the idea was great."

So, Shewey went to visit the ... continue reading

Choir Boy Looks at Homosexuality in a Black Prep School (Steven Leigh Morris)

At first, Tarell Alvin McCraney’s study of five, black prep-school students (Jeremy Pope, Nicholas L. Ashe, Donovan Mitchell, Grantham Coleman and Caleb Eberhardt), along with their stern headmaster (Michael A.Shepperd) and a visiting white professor (Leonard Kelly-Young) from the Civil Rights era, might seem schematic. The “group drama” about opportunity and its lack in a callous world is carved from plays ranging from Trevor Griffith’s Comedians to Herbert Ross’ Steel Magnolias.

Eventually, however, McCraney’s poetical-musical style, along with Trip Cullman’s perfect staging, transforms a stock scenario into a kind of oratorio: The five students, as part of the school choir, punctuate the action with ... continue reading

Composers' Competition for next year's International Male Voice Choral Festival across Cornwall won by Ian Assersohn ( West Briton)



A MUCH-loved poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson provided the inspiration for the winning piece of new music among 40 UK entries for Cornwall's next International Male Voice Choral Festival.

The Composers' Competition ended with Ian Assersohn's setting of Tennyson's Crossing The Bar being performed for the first time at a Truro and Penwith College-sponsored prize evening by Alastair Taylor's Celtic Male Ensemble.

Cornwall's biennial world choral event, from April 29 to ... continue reading

The Kapelle choir to perform Oct. 24 ( Telegraph staff report )

BETHALTO — The Kapelle choir from Concordia University Chicago will share its talent with Southwest Illinois this fall.

 

Kapelle — a concert choir — will perform Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto while on its annual fall concert tour. The Kapelle is conducted by Charles P. Brown, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University Chicago.
Kapelle is the premier choral ensemble of the university. Chosen by audition, the choir prepares a variety of music for local and national audiences. At Christmas, Kapelle presents a Service of Lessons and Carols and an annual spring 10-day tour takes Kapelle to a variety of regions in the United States. Additionally, ... continue reading

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Wrenn receives music boosters scholarship (The Mid Week)

SYCAMORE – Lucy Wrenn is the winner of the Sycamore Music Boosters Continuing College Music Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to help Sycamore High School alumni continue their music education in college. Wrenn, a first year recipient, was awarded this scholarship in recognition of her outstanding musicianship, music and academic achievements, and overall participation in music.

Wrenn is in her senior year at Augustana College majoring in music education and psychology. She has been highly involved in a number of Augustana ensembles including the Augustana Choir, Chamber Singers, the Ascension Singers, and ... continue reading

Nat’l choral tilt on

MANILA Broadcasting Company invites ensembles to join the 2014 MBC National Choral Competition.

Considered as the biggest all-inclusive choral competition in the country today, the contest will be conducted in two divisions, the children’s choir and the open category.

Live auditions will be held on October 12 at the Star Theater in Pasay City.

Choirs from provinces outside Mega-Manila may also send an application packet consisting of ... continue reading

Albacappella bring harmony to Deeside village fun day (Deeside Piper)

A CULTER-based women’s choir used their talents to help out another Deeside village recently, performing at the Durris Fun Day event.

The Albacappella barbershop-style harmony singers, who normally rehearse in Peterculter’s Heritage Hall on Wednesday evenings, went along to the Fun Day on September 20 to help raise funds for the Durris Village Hall and community,.

Albacappella member Sarah Hopkins told the Piper: “Hundreds turned out for the event and we were delighted to help.”

The whole Durris community were involved including the Primary School Parents and local churches, and those who ... continue reading

CLC Music Department announces fall concert lineup (Community Contributor College of Lake County Public Relations and Marketing)

Seven concerts, featuring a huge variety of choral and instrumental music, will be presented by the College of Lake County Music department during fall semester. The CLC Music department boasts four instrumental groups: the Monday Night Jazz Ensemble, the Tuesday Night Jazz Ensemble, the Wind Ensemble and the Concert Band. CLC's choral program includes four ensembles: the Choir of Lake County, the CLC Singers, the Chamber Choir and the Gospel Choir. The ensembles feature musically talented CLC students as well as community members.

Jazz Night Concert: Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Tuesday Night Jazz Ensemble, directed by ... continue reading

Three choirs and more (wake field express)

A male voice choir, a women’s vocal ensemble and a group of mixed voices will be making a harmonious effort to raise money for charity when they join in song at Wakefield Cathedral later this year.

Wakefield Amateur Operatic Society  (WAOS) Chorus will be joined for its autumn concert by Skelmanthorpe Male Voice Choir and ... continue reading

Gwinnett Choral Guild Debuts New Mass to North America (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE)

The Gwinnett Choral Guild (Guild) will present "A Diminished Mass" by Scottish composer Alan A. Craig at Duluth First United Methodist Church on October 18, 2014. The performance places the traditional liturgical texts in a modern setting.

Transporting the audience, the 40-member Guild will weave a rich choral tapestry with strings, and percussion. Artistic Director Renee Wilson-Wicker says this North American debut is a once in a lifetime opportunity. "We are so honored that Allan A. Craig chose the Gwinnett Choral Guild to deliver his amazing work to new audiences in the states."

"The cycle of error, renewal and reward is an ... continue reading

KCKCC Vocal Music Prepares for GEMS Concert (KANSAS CITY, KAN.)

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Vocal Music Department is inviting the community out to support the college's choirs during the upcoming GEMS concert.

The concert is at 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at St. Patrick’s Church, 1086 N. 94th St. in Kansas City, Kan. It is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature the Community Choir and the Chamber Chair as they perform works by ... continue reading

Church choirs perform together in ArtPrize ( Heather Walker and 24 Hour News 8 web staff)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A number of local church choirs joined together to perform in ArtPrize.

The idea to bring together singers from historical downtown Grand Rapids churches and local Christian schools in a single choir arose in May, and “Voices of the City” was born.

Songs were chosen and the choir, which is made up of about 350 members of all ages, started practicing earlier this month.

“Voices of the City” was performed Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Singers from Aquinas College, Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools, Grand Rapids Christian High School, LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, First (Park) Congregational Church, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, the Basilica of St. Adalbert, and other area churches participated.

The director was excited to take part in the world’s largest art competition.

“I think groups are starting to understand you could be a part of ArtPrize. I had never thought of it before, actually. I’m really excited about it and ... continue reading

Threshold Choir in Lawrence comes alive to sing for the dying (DONALD BRADLEY The Kansas City Star)

LAWRENCE


The open door lets the women’s singing waft into the cool evening.

Had someone passed by on the narrow, residential street in this college town, they may have slowed, stopped even. And listened in the dark to the two-round, a cappella harmony coming from the small, white house.

But they likely would not have recognized a tune or lyric. The songs are not for them.

They are for the dying.




The women inside make up Lawrence’s new Threshold Choir. The idea is for members to go in small groups to a hospice setting, hospital or home and sing softly at the bedsides of those near death.

At the recent rehearsal, member Anne Haehl tells the ... continue reading


Tuesday, 30 September 2014

Choir Boy' melds music and message at Geffen (Los Angeles Times)

A transformation happens to the students of Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys whenever they open their mouths to sing. As soon as these feisty adolescents give themselves over to the Negro Spirituals that inspired their ancestors, the jousting, bickering and name-calling that have been dominating their extracurricular lives no longer seem all that important.

A similar change happens to Tarell Alvin McCraney's drama "Choir Boy" whenever these characters switch from speech to song. A play with a plot that could easily be incorporated into a season of "Glee" moves from prose to ... continue reading

Sacred Music in a Sacred Space Begins 2014-15 Choral Season, 10/22 (Classical Music News Desk)

After a triumphant season debut in 2013 heralded as "broad, wide-ranging and powerful" by The New York Times, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space begins its 2014-15 Choral season on Wednesday, October 22 at 7pm with Mozart's Mass in C minor-a majestic setting featuring double chorus. The Choir and Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola and a phenomenal line-up of soloists (Martha Guth and Marguerite Krull, sopranos; Steven Caldicott Wilson, tenor; Christopher Dylan Herbert, baritone) under the direction of K. Scott Warren offer this iconic work on a program that opens with Haydn's Symphony No. 97. Tickets are $25-$80; purchase by clicking here or call 212-288-2520.

An intensely personal, rule-breaking composition, Mozart's Great Mass in C minor is a riveting statement about the complex mixture of joy and pain in human relationships, one that transcended the proscribed Austrian Mass tradition at the time of its composition. The use of double chorus, according to .... continue reading

Nantwich Choral society to stage World War One Concert

Nantwich Choral Society is staging a special concert to mark the anniversary of World War One.

The performance of Karl Jenkins ‘The Peacemakers’ will be at St Mary’s Church in Nantwich on November 8.

The choir will be performing this with the Northern Concordia Orchestra. John Naylor will be the conductor.

“It’s a very special work which in ... continue reading

Choral Chameleon Joins MYTHOS at 92Y, Set for 10/6

Singers from Choral Chameleon have joined the lineup of exciting guest performers in MYTHOS! Choral Chameleon presents a vocal experience like no other. Led by founder and artistic director Vince Peterson, this unique ensemble of the city's most versatile and adventurous professional singers performs vocal thematic journeys through kaleidoscopic elements of new works and uncovered gems, sitting shoulder to shoulder with revered classical works. Vince Peterson is the founder of Choral Chameleon, a ground-breaking vocal ensemble in New York City, which ... continue reading

U-E senior sings her way to state choral performance

ENDICOTT – K Morgan Prikazsky describes herself as a shy person who doesn’t try to flaunt her talents.

The 17-year-old Union-Endicott High School senior said she hopes to break her habit of keeping to herself during an opportunity to sing with hundreds of student musicians from across the state.

Prikazsky, of Endicott, was chosen as one of about a dozen students in the Southern Tier as a ... continue reading

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Cootamundra Public School choir success -Cootamundra Herald

COOTAMUNDRA Public School choir students have achieved a first place and a highly commended at the Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod held at Charles Sturt University on Friday September 5.

The eisteddfod, held annually, attracts choirs from schools around our region to compete in various choral sections.

The infants Year Two choir performed two pieces, ‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ from the movie, Frozen, and a contrasting piece, ‘Pretty little ditty’.

The students were commended for ... continue reading

Choral society plea for men with passion -Henley Standard

Henley Choral Society is seeking new singers to join them to sing the Bach St John Passion in German on March 14 in 2015.

There are no auditions and new members will be performing with Tenor Nicolas Mulroy, who has gained international recognition for his performances as The Evangelist.

Music director Benjamin Goodson, 23, explains: “I am so thrilled to have the privilege of performing this magnificent piece of music in Henley.

“For me, this sublime work is ... continue reading

Oklahoma City's Canterbury Choral Society season aims to be extraordinary -NewsOK



With programming ranging from “Gloria Cubed” to the “Defiant Requiem,” Canterbury Choral Society’s 2014-15 season promises to be anything but ordinary. It’s also a season that features several composers with alliterative names, from Vivaldi and Vaughan Williams to Verdi.


The season kicks off Oct. 10 with “Gloria Cubed,” a program that combines three of the choral repertoire’s great Glorias. And while the three works employ similar texts, their musical settings couldn’t be more different.

Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” a Baroque masterwork that dates from around 1715, will be ... continue reading

...Choral Society conductor suspended ... after ..... accused of sex offences -The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Huddersfield Choral Society have suspended their chorus master Joseph Cullen over sex allegations.

One of Huddersfield’s most prolific musicians, Cullen has appeared in a Scottish court accused of sexual offences.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour, before going to ... continue reading

Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Pop up choir sing for hundreds of people in Caledonian Park -Islington Gazette

A pop-up choir sang for hundreds of their neighbours in Caledonian Park.

The group, made up of residents of the nearby Parkside Estate, in Holloway, were given a standing ovation last month as they ended their set with the crowd calling for an encore of Bobby McFerrin’s song Don’t worry, be happy.

Nina Temple of Clock View Crescent, who came up with the idea for the choir, said: “As a new estate resident I wanted to get involved in my new community, and thought it would be fun to start a choir and sing with my neighbours.

“I was lucky ...continue reading

Two famous choirs set to lead special charity concert -The Voice Online

IF YOU like your gospel music performed with class, soul and panache then you should attend a charity concert taking place on September 27 featuring the Adventist Vocal Ensemble –comprising members of the world famous London Adventist Chorale (LAC) and Croydon SDA Gospel Choir - directed by the super talented Ken Burton.

The venue is All Saints, Haggerston, east London on September 27, where Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons serves as vicar. Funds raised will go to ...continue reading

Monday, 15 September 2014

Singing in a Choir helps Men lost in transition (with video) -Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - High above the stacks of the Stanley A. Milner Library the harmonious sound of men singing drifts out an open door on the sixth floor.

It’s Saturday afternoon and the Edmonton Downtown Men’s Choir is giving voice to one of the members’ favourite songs, Petula Clark’s Downtown. If the group had a signature song this could be it. The lyrics speak to them of their own lives.

Since November 2012, ...continue reading

Art Alert: Two Choirs join forces to sing works by Egyptian composers -Ahramonline

Conducted by Nayer Nagui, two Egyptian choirs — the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) Choir and the Cairo Celebration Choir (CCC) — will join forces Saturday, 20 September, to perform works by Egyptian composers in an evening dubbed "Aghani Bel Arabi" (Songs in Arabic). The concert at the ...continue reading

Steeton Male Voice Choir musical director marks 20 years -Keighley News

ALAN CLARK has celebrated 20 years as musical director of Steeton Male Voice Choir.

He has conducted the Steeton singers at more than 570 concerts across the district, the country and on European tours.

He is only the fourth musical director the choir has had since it was founded in 1908.

Choir spokesman Eric Parker said ...continue reading