The Chorus of Westerly Presents SONGS OF LOVE
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Westerly, RI ??? Love is in the air at Kent Hall! Continuing their 59th season, the Chorus of Westerly and conductor Andrew Howell present Songs of Love on Saturday, March, 17 at 6pm and Sunday, March 18 at 2pm, two concerts of choral music themed around love.
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The performances will take place in the George Kent Performance Hall, 119 High Street in Westerly, Rhode Island. Tickets for both performances are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Kent Hall Box Office, or by calling 401.596.8663. Tickets are also available online at chorusofwesterly.org??
The charming concert program is a unique way to experience the 190-voice Chorus of Westerly in an intimate staging, with piano accompaniment and a cappella arrangements.?? The men, women and children vocal sections will also each be featured with their own pieces. With each work, the concert???s theme of love will evoke a range of emotions from joy and happiness to peace and wonderment.
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The program will feature works including Chilcott???s God so loved the world, Durufl?????s Ubi caritas, Miller???s Draw the circle wide, All of us by Craig Hella Johnson, and How can I keep from singing? arranged by Gwyneth Walker. Also on the program are several works by the celebrated local composer, Peter Niedmann. A Connecticut native and alum of The Chorus of Westerly, Mr. Niedmann???s music is widely performed throughout the United States and has garnered critical acclaim. In 2013, the Chorus presented the world-premiere of his work Five New England Songs, commission in honor of retired Chorus of Westerly maestro George Kent.??
The Chorus of Westerly???s March performances are presented in a relaxed lecture-performance style format with Andrew Howell offering commentary between each work. Past March concert themes have included ???The Chorus Straight Up!??? featuring the Chorus a cappella, and ???American Choral Sound??? exploring America???s rich culture with choral music written or arranged over the past century.
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The Chorus will offer performances of Songs of Love on Saturday, March 17 at 6pm and Sunday, March 18 at 2pm. The performance length is approximately 65 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $23-$65 and student discounts are available.
Contact the Kent Hall Box Office for more information at 401.596.8663. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Performance hall doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. The George Kent Performance Hall is handicapped accessible.??
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The Chorus of Westerly???s March concerts are made possible through generous support from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.?? The Chorus is also thankful of its media sponsors: Sun Publishing, Classical 95.9 FM WCRI, The New London Day and WBLQ 1230 AM.
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The 190-voice Chorus of Westerly is the nation???s only intergenerational symphonic choral ensembles. For each concert in its professional concert season, children ages 8 to 18 sing alongside adult singers as ensemble members of equal rank and expectations. Founded in 1959 by George Kent and today directed by Andrew Howell, the Chorus has had more than 2,500 area residents sing in its program, with more than 1,500 singing as child members.
It is 59 seasons, the Chorus has presented nearly 700 performances to over 1.7 million people. The Chorus has performed in concert over 100 major choral works with fully professional orchestra and soloists, and has presented 13 major American premieres.
While its home is in Rhode Island, the Chorus has toured internationally five times, singing in such venues as Smetana Hall in Prague, Stephansdom in Vienna, Westminster Abbey, and St. Peter???s??Basilica in the Vatican while also receiving countless awards for its work.
The Chorus has also established regional traditions such as their annual Summer Pops??performance which is attended annually by 25,000 people. In addition to its extensive performance season, the Chorus also offers a broad reaching musical??education program to its singing members and area children. This includes an?????in rehearsal??? music fundamentals class for all child and adult singers focusing on sight-singing, theory, and other musical techniques, as well as an introductory music and movement class for children ages 4 to 6.
The Chorus is also one of only three American choral organizations to own and operate its own performance venue – the??historic George Kent Performance Hall.