News and Notices

We have a number of singers with physical challenges — they find it difficult to stand for long periods of time. We usually accommodate them with chairs or stools. But that means putting those singers in the front row on the floor. There are some singers that I would prefer to place on the back riser or on a middle riser, but then that precludes using a chair. Does anyone know of any good solutions to this dilemma?

The Ember Ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson, founded in 1995 by Artistic Director, Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D., has announced that it will launch its 25th anniversary season on November 9th and 10th with a choral concert titled “Civil Discourse.”

Ember annually selects a socially relevant topic around which to construct a full season of concert programming. Of great concern currently – and, hence, the focus of Ember’s 2019-2020 season – is a perceived undercurrent of anger, even active confrontation in our society, seemingly avoidable if informed listening were to be employed. Is a return to civility, even in the context of disagreement, a viable alternative?

“I chose listening as the theme and title of our anniversary season because we believe it is at the heart of what is lacking and sorely needed in our world today,” says King. “Throughout the season, Ember will explore listening on multiple levels: listening to each other with civility; listening wisely to our own internal voices; listening for the discernment of truth in confusing times; listening respectfully to those on the fringes of society; listening to the earth and to the universe.”

As the first of three concerts in the season entitled Listening, “Civil Discourse” will initially provide the audience with very different forms of musical discourse demonstrated by Ember singers (echo vs statement and reaction, etc.), using them as a metaphors for spoken communication. Then, a choral arrangement of Mr. Rogers’ well-known theme song, “Won’t You be My Neighbor?,” and a commissioned world premiere on Robert Frost’s poem, “Mending Wall,” combine to pose the question of who we choose to hear, and through what filters do we listen. PROJECT : ENCORE and award-winning composer Bill Heigen is the composer of “Mending Wall,” to be premiered at the concert. Other selections include “All of Us,” by Craig Hella Johnson; “Unclouded Day” by Shawn Kirchner; “Pilgrim’s Hymn” by Steven Paulus; and “Peace Song” by Tim Brent.

The Ember Ensemble will perform under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor, Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D. The concert will take place on Saturday, November 9th at 7 P.M. at St. John’s in the Village Church, 218 W. 11th Street (at Waverly Place), NYC, and on Sunday, November 10th at 5 P.M. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ.

Tickets for both concerts can be purchased in advance online for $20, or at the door for $25. Seniors/students, $15; children 18 and under are free of charge. For more information go to www.EmberEnsemble.org or call 888-407-6002 Ext.5.

About Ember

Ember is the performing ensemble of Schola Cantorum on Hudson, founded in 1995 by Deborah Simpkin King, Ph.D., as an independent nonprofit organization. Ember performs its entire concert season in Manhattan and in Northern NJ. Its unique programming features new music (largely by living composers) with a socially pertinent message. The internationally recognized new music initiative, PROJECT : ENCORE ™, was founded through Schola and the organization supports multi-pronged education and engagement programs in addition to its performing activities. Ember draws singers from eleven counties throughout New York and New Jersey. Schola is supported by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the Marjorie Bunnell Foundation, and many other generous individuals, foundations and business partners.

Brick City Chorus is a new initiative now in its second year.

A community concert choir based at Grace Church in Newark, NJ, directed by the British prize-winning organist and conductor, Tyrone Whiting. Best of all, it’s completely FREE!

The chorus rehearses on Tuesdays, 7pm-9pm, every week, beginning Sept 10, 2019!
We welcome new singers to join us at any time throughout the year! 
New singers should please email . 
950 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102

Now in its second year, Brick City Chorus has already built itself a strong reputation for music making in Newark, NJ. We have performed at Prudential Center in Newark, as well as at events in Newark, Montclair, and Paterson! Please do come along, join us and bring your friends. 

More information and recordings/pictures can be found at www.GraceChurchinNewark.org

The Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco is seeking applicants for its Choral Fellow Program for the 2019-2020 season.The Program is designed to give aspiring young conductors experience and expertise in the art of choral conducting. The program is for one academic year. The Fellow will assist with weekly rehearsals and performances in San Francisco with our premiere Young Women’s Chorus under the leadership of Artistic Director Dr. Susan McMane. The Fellow will receive feedback on conducting and also assist in other tasks associated with an excellent choral program. This internship runs from September 2019 – early June 2020 and includes a stipend of $2,500.

Cantores, a small vocal ensemble in the Philadelphia PA area performing primarily a cappella choral music from the 15th through 21st centuries, is seeking Altos, Tenors and Basses/Baritones to round out the roster.

Cantores is made up of a group of friends who love to sing – choral musicians all. We are committed to excellence through choral performance. Our members have years of singing experience and are familiar with singing in various languages.

We rehearse weekly from 7:30-9:15 on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, based on members’ schedules. We meet in the homes of some of our members on Philadelphia’s Main Line, making about equal parts music and fun.

Our repertoire is drawn from madrigals, anthems, motets, love songs, folk songs, spirituals, octavos, jazz arrangements and occasional popular music in settings for two to eight voice parts. We prepare one or two programs a year and give concerts in area retirement communities.

The current program is called Singin’ in the Spirit. It is a program of sacred and secular works from Renaissance madrigals and motets to 20th century octavos. Included will be works by Hassler, Pitoni, Vecchi, Morley, Weelkes, Distler, Finzi, and Gawthrup, among others.

Previous programs have included:

• A Musical Journey from Morning ‘til Night, including music by Pilkington, Brahms, Sullivan, Vaughan Williams, Dvořák, Finzi, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Rodgers and Hammerstein;

• Music that’s truly for the Birds, a varied program from Renaissance madrigals to vocal jazz about or describing birds;

• Heart & Soul: Songs Sacred, Sentimental, and Silly including sacred and secular pieces from the 15th – 17th and 20th centuries;

• Comings and Goings, music describing the comings and goings of our lives;

• A Celebration of Love, madrigals to vocal jazz;

• A Celebration of Psalms, psalm settings from Germany, Italy, Great Britain and the Americas.

For additional information, please see our website (Cantorespa.org) and/or contact the director, Carol Grey, at cantorespa@gmail.com or 267-847-4314.

Join us for our second season under the helm of Dr. David A. McConnell – our first rehearsal is Monday, September 9, 2019. New prospective singers are welcome to join for warm-ups, listening and experiencing rehearsal. Gathering and refreshments will begin at 7:00 PM.

DETAILS: Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM
Location: Music Together Worldwide, 225 Pennington-Hopewell Rd, Hopewell, NJ 08525

AUDITIONS: Do you enjoy singing varied repertoire including classical choral masterworks and the music of contemporary composers? We are especially seeking Tenors and Basses to join our community; however, singers of all voice parts are welcomed to audition.

DETAILS: Auditions will be held prior to rehearsal on September 9, 16 and 23. Please contact Audition Coordinator, Jen Goings to arrange for a brief, stress-free audition. jengoings8@gmail.com

HOLIDAY CONCERTS:
The program will focus on the wonder of stars; hopes and aspirations for peace with selections from well-known and new composers. Program highlights include:
• “Stars” -Ēriks Ešenvalds
• “The Bird of Dawning” – Bob Chilcott
• “Can We Sing the Darkness to Light?” Kyle Pederson
• “And Peace on Earth” – Bob Chilcott, Performed in collaboration with the Princeton Children’s Girls’ Choir
• World premiere of new work by Laurel Christensen, “I Saw a Star”
• Fabulous new arrangements of traditional carols by Philip Stopford

DETAILS: Concert Venues and Dates
Friday, December 20, 2019 at 8:00PM, Pennington Presbyterian Church, 3 S. Main St, Pennington, NJ 08534
Saturday, December 21, at 4:00 PM, Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer St, Princeton, NJ 08540

ABOUT VOICES CHORALE NJ
Voices Chorale NJ is an auditioned chorus with members from throughout central New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Under the direction of Dr. David A. McConnell, who took over in August of 2018, Voices Chorale NJ performed concerts in December 2018 and May 2019. Voices was founded by Dr. Lyn Ransom in 1987. Voices Chorale NJ carries that legacy forward with its mission to inspire audiences with outstanding music, provide performance opportunities for skilled singers, and to provide musical education opportunities to youth and adults.

ABOUT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID A. MCCONNELL
Dr. David A. McConnell founded Vox Philia in 2012, a chamber choir comprised of professional and gifted amateur singers, and co-founded the Berks Sinfonietta chamber orchestra in 2014, both of which feature an intergenerational approach. Dr. McConnell teaches music courses at Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus and Alvernia University in Reading, PA. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

https://www.voiceschoralenj.org/