Press Release
For immediate release – May 1, 2011
609-683-5122
PRINCETON PRO MUSICA FOUNDER TO “PASS THE BATON” IN 2012
Princeton Pro Musica has announced that Frances Fowler Slade, Founder and Music Director, will “pass the baton” at the end of the 2011-2012 season. To begin a national search for Slade’s successor, the Princeton Pro Musica Board has appointed a search committee composed of members of the chorus and board as well as professional musicians and community representatives.
Slade founded Princeton Pro Musica in 1979, first as a joint program of the Princeton YWCA and YMCA, and then as an independent non-profit organization (1980). Over the past 32 years, the organization has fulfilled its mission of performing major choral works “with uncompromising artistic excellence.” Slade has conducted Princeton Pro Musica in most of the major choral works with orchestra, ranging from the Bach B minor Mass to the Britten War Requiem. She has also conducted choral and orchestral works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Wagner, and Barber.
When asked about her decision to move on, Slade said, “Making music with Princeton Pro Musica has surpassed my wildest dreams. Now, the time seems right to pursue my other interests–contra dance, English country dance, hiking, travel, and other music-making. I am tremendously proud to “pass the baton” to another artistic director for Princeton Pro Musica at a time when the organization is thriving.”
Princeton Pro Musica has been preparing for the transition since last November when Slade told the board of her decision. The Princeton Pro Musica Endowment Fund has been earmarked for the Artistic Director position, since its inception. Board President John Phelan said, “Of course we will miss Frances, but we are ready: sustainability has been a priority for years.”
Information for candidates including a position description and application requirements is available on the Princeton Pro Musica website: www.princetonpromusica.org.
About Princeton Pro Musica Chorus and Orchestra
Recognized as the premier adult choral and orchestral ensemble in Central New Jersey, the group mainly performs major choral/orchestral works and on occasion, other choral literature. The organization is committed to collaboration. The Princeton Pro Musica chorus has performed with other area orchestras including the Princeton Symphony, the Opera Festival of New Jersey, the Westfield Symphony, the Greater Trenton Symphony, and several appearances with the Opera Orchestra of New York in Carnegie Hall. In 2010 the chorus was invited to sing for the American Choral Directors Association regional conference in Philadelphia. The Princeton Pro Musica chorus and professional orchestra have performed with many area dance and choral organizations including the American Repertory Ballet, the Trenton Children’s Chorus, the Princeton Girl Choir, the Reverence Dance Company, Sharim V’Sharot, the Bright Hope Baptist Church Celestial Choir of Philadelphia, and several local high school choirs.
Princeton Pro Musica’s Chamber Chorus of 20 select voices has been invited to perform in smaller community venues such as The Early Music Festival at the nationally acclaimed Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ, and for various civic and professional organizations throughout the region.
Princeton Pro Musica has received three grants from Chorus America, two from the N.J. Cultural Trust, partial support from several foundations, and funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State.
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