News and Notices

Catch NYC’s Choral Chameleon Ensemble on their first multi-State tour, beginning this week in Brooklyn, NYC.

Confirmed Dates & Locations:

Saturday, January 18, 2020 | 7:00 PM
St Nicholas Roman Catholic Church | Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, February 22, 2020 | 7:30 PM
Unitarian Church in Westport | Westport, CT

Saturday, March 21, 2020 | 3pm & 7pm
Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth | Wernersville, PA

Sunday April 26, 2020 | 3pm
Mead Memorial Chapel | Middlebury, VT

All available ticketing & location information can be found at http://www.choralchameleon.com/concerts

These are confirmed dates. Additional dates and locations may be added at a later date.

—

Program:

If I Left the Zoo
A concert statement on running away, only to find yourself right where you have always belonged.

When we turn on the news, it doesn’t matter if we are leaning to the right or to the left. We throw up our hands and dream out loud about moving somewhere else where we can start over again.

But what if the slate were actually wiped clean? What if we could just put all of our foregone national pride behind us and pretend like none of this ever happened? What if we left this zoo? Would we each eventually find Utopia or would we fall into the same never-ending search as the rest of humanity since the beginning of creation?

The Choral Chameleon Ensemble explores the primal instincts in humans and the stories and fables of earth’s creatures and transformations in this epic narrative concert.

At the center, the profound “Prayers from the Ark” of British composer, Ivor R. Davies gives a vulnerable empathetic voice to bird, cat, raven, mouse, and dove – but only after showing us a mirror of ourselves in Noah, ever complaining of his exhaustion from the daily grind of work and the world around him.

The program also features the world premiere of Edward Thompson’s whimsical new a cappella trilogy, “Aphorisms of the Zookeeper”, Lauren Bydalek’s deeply moving “Pieces of My Heart”, a new choral adaptation of Billy Child’s 2014 arrangement of Laura Nyro’s “Save the Country”, and more!

Don’t miss this shape-shifting and life-affirming concert event with one of New York’s best ensembles.

—

About Choral Chameleon Ensemble:
The core of Choral Chameleon, the Ensemble, represent the best combination of musicianship and diversity of musical backgrounds in NYC. They are fearless pioneers in the world of new choral music and adventurous programming, and they are honored to bring Choral Chameleon’s signature experience to audiences beyond the City.

The Ensemble has been described as ‘stellar’ by National Sawdust Log, and in a recent performance of Philip Glass’ Madrigal Opera, the New York Times described the performance as ‘weightless…the music unfolded in contemplative beauty, with the juxtaposition of the instruments’ throaty individuality and the even-tempered coolness of the voices’.

Founded in New York in 2008 by Artistic Director Vince Peterson, Choral Chameleon has expanded to encompass a semi-professional Chorus of 50+ and an annual week-long Summer Institute for composers and conductors.

Choral Chameleon is known for championing new music for voices, programming multiple musical genres together and for frequently presenting programs with non-traditional staging. In its first 12.5 Seasons, the choirs have premiered over 170 original compositions and arrangements to date.

The culture of the organization marries informality, loving support, and joyful curiosity, with the expectation of solidly technical musicianship, constant learning and openness towards the unexpected.

Examiner.com said of the ensemble: “It is…a great credit to the musicians of Choral Chameleon and especially their director, Vince Peterson, that the group can so superbly and aptly tackle new works of varying aesthetic proclivities, perform each idiomatically, and yet not compromise its particular sound…”

Honors include:
★ 2018 Chorus America Louis Botto Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Zeal (awarded to Founding Artistic Director Vince Peterson)
★ 2017-2018 Group in Residence at National Sawdust
★ 2015 Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming

Valdosta State University is accepting applications for a Graduate Assistant in Choral Conducting beginning the Fall semester of 2020.

The Graduate Assistant will work directly with the Director of Choral Activities and will direct an assigned ensemble. The Graduate Assistant will also conduct in the performances of all major ensembles each semester of enrollment and will assist in the Administration of the choral area (consisting of four choral ensembles).

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive regional university located in south Georgia with a strong and growing Department of Music.

Interested applicants should contact Dr. Clell Wright, Director of Choral Activities at or at 229-333-5812

Anybody out there have a choral composition burning a hole in your pocket? Deadline for the THE PETER & LOIS FYFE CHORAL COMPOSITION PRIZE (sponsored By The Sewanee Church Music Conference) is FEB 15, 2020.

Opportunity: The Sewanee Church Music Conference seeks original, unpublished works for mixed chorus (SATB) with organ, or unaccompanied.

1st Place Award: Cash prize of $2000.00 US will be awarded, PLUS the winner will have his/her work performed at the 2020 Sewanee Church Music Conference.

2nd Place receives a cash award of $1000.00.

3rd place receives $750.00.

Submission fee: $25.00 US per composition

Application deadline: Submissions must be received on our website at www.sewaneeconf.com/2020-fyfe-prize by February 15, 2020 Award notification: March 1, 2020 (More details and all requirements listed on website)

Just passing the word along…

Generous funding from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. provides full fellowships to all participating students, allowing the Pro Musica International Choral Festival to waive the $1,200 festival fee, which includes student tuition, room and board, and transportation within the festival. Participants will be responsible only for their own transportation to and from the festival sites. In light of this new opportunity, we anticipate a large volume of applicants and have extended the application deadline by two weeks to February 15, 2020. Only 150 students will be accepted, and early applications are encouraged. Visit https://promusicafestival.org/ for more information!

NJ/NY Singers!

Grace Church in Newark, NJ invites singers of all voice parts to join us for a special High Mass in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 20, at 12pm. Combining the choirs of Grace Chruch we wish to invite singers to participate in this unique event! Grace Church is located in downtown Newark NJ, 950 Broad Street, just 1 block south of City Hall. 

Interested singers should sign up at this link, where you will also find all details for the event, including dress code, rehearsal time, and music. Please, do sign up and invite your friends either to participate or to come to the service!

We look forward to welcoming you! 

www.gracechurchinnewark.org

Summer@Eastman announces two choral conducting institutes for 2020! Join Eastman’s Director of Choral Activities William Weinert for “Choral Masterworks – Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem” (July 25-28; in-depth analysis and rehearsal, with guest faculty Jerry Blackstone, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan) and “The Complete Conductor – Focus on the Renaissance” (July 30-August 2; daily sessions in conducting, singing, musicianship, class performance, vocal pedagogy, repertory selection, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics; guest faculty Monica Dale). Participants conduct Voices, the institutes’ professional choir-in-residence. Each class is limited to 14 conductors.

These institutes pair well together: students are welcome to register for one or both. Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2020, or until all spaces have been filled (whichever comes first)–apply early to secure your spot! Visit https://summer.esm.rochester.edu for course details and registration information.