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Ensemble bios |
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B. Flocco
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Bedford Presbyterian Senior Choir (NH) The Bedford Presbyterian Senior Choir is an ensemble of approximately 30 singers who rehearse weekly and sing 10 months of the year on Sunday mornings. They are well-versed in liturgical music of all stylistic periods. They have also appeared at Carnegie Hall for a premier performance of Mark Hayes' Magnificat and are hosting a weekend choral reading session and concert featuring Mr. Hayes' works this coming fall. They have performed with the Nottingham Brass Quintet: Piper Runnion-Bareford, harp, Christine Stuart and Adam Gray, violin, Sarah Hale and Trisha Craig, flute, and Paul Loefstedt, oboe. They were also featured in a performance of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater with Chamber Ensemble and Sirens' Song as well as Alice Parker's Masterpiece, Melodious Accord with trumpeter Robert Stibler and harpist Melinda McMahan. Barbara Flocco is currently Music Director / Organist at Bedford Presbyterian Church, Bedford NH where she has served for the past 8 years. Prior to this, she directed music at Hampton Falls Baptist Church, Hampton Falls, NH for 25 years. Graduating summa cum laude from West Chester State University with an undergraduate degree in piano, she has also earned a Master's Degree at University of NH. Her principle teachers were Robert Schick of Curtis Institute, Victor Rosenbaum of New England Conservatory, and Marion Metson of Boston University. She has served as Professional Concerns Chair in the NHAGO and is a member of AGEHR having directed handbell choirs for some 25 years.
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J. Brandon
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The Concert Singers, the oldest independent choral group in Los Angeles, was established in 1948 and has performed at many venues throughout Southern California including the Nokia Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. They have performed a wide variety of choral repertoire including traditional choral works, world premieres of new works, as well as Broadway and vocal jazz standards. Under the direction of Jenni Brandon since 2005, The Concert Singers strive to preserve and promote awareness and appreciation of choral music as an art form that transcends cultural, generational, and ethnic barriers. Visit www.theconcertsingers.com. Jenni Brandon (b. 1977) is an award-winning composer with music commissioned and recorded by many ensembles, and published by Boosey & Hawkes, Graphite Publishing and Jenni Brandon Music. She makes guest composer appearances at universities and festivals across the country. Her first self-produced CD, Songs of California: Music for Winds and Piano, released in 2010, was nominated for an Independent Music Award. As a conductor, Jenni frequently makes guest appearances, leading her own works as well as standard repertoire and premieres of new choral works. She is the Music Director of The Concert Singers, the oldest independent choir in Los Angeles. Visit www.jennibrandon.com.
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L. Wenz
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George Fox University's Concert Choir (OR) The George Fox University Concert Choir is the school's premier large choral ensemble and consists of 65 advanced singers. Membership is open to all students regardless of their major chosen by audition each fall. The purpose of the ensemble is to provide high quality musical experiences for undergraduate students. Performance literature includes a wide variety of music styles from standard concert repertory. In addition the choir has also performed the following major works; Haydn's "Creation", "Estampie Natalis" by Nehlybel, "Hodie", written by Randall Stroope, the Vivaldi "Gloria" and most recently Mozart ‘s "Requiem". The choir has performed at the OMEA State Music Educators Convention (Oregon Music Educators' Association) in 2006, the MENC Northwest Division Biennial Convention in 2007, and the 2010 ACDA regional Conference in Seattle Washington. Loren Wenz received his B.A. degree in Music Education from Whitworth College, in Spokane Washington and his M.A. degree in Music Education from Eastern Washington University in Cheney Washington. Mr. Wenz has taught high school and junior high choral and instrumental music in the Spokane and Mead Washington school districts. He has also taught choral music and been the department coordinator of the fine and performing arts, foreign language, ESL and industrial education departments at South Salem High School. Loren has been an adjunct instructor at Gonzaga University, Whitworth College, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Western Oregon University and Willamette University. He has also been very involved in church music for over twenty years.
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R. Verner
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The Manassas Chorale is an auditioned community chorus of 110 members. Besides their four formal concerts each year, they have performed as part of the Candlelight Concert series at Bruton Parish Church in historic Williamsburg for the last ten years. The Chorale also sings for community events, church services, and retirement facilities. In 2009, they were chosen by CD audition to be part of the Seventieth Anniversary Celebration for Shawnee Press at Carnegie Hall (62 singers participated), and in 2011 they were invited to be a part of "An American Salute" in Germany and France (27 singers participated in this nine-day tour with 150 singers and instrumentalists). Rebecca D. Verner, Artistic Director of the Manassas Chorale, holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with additional organ studies and graduate church music studies at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. She serves as Director of Music at Manassas Baptist Church, where she oversees a large program of vocal and handbell choirs. Professional affiliations include the American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild and the American Guild of Organists (past Dean of the Northern VA chapter). Becky also serves on two state committees for her denomination. She and her husband Dan have two adult daughters.
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The Master Chorale of Fargo-Moorhead (ND) The Master Chorale of Fargo-Moorhead, made up entirely of men and women from the Fargo-Moorhead area, represents a deep commitment to enriching the cultural life of our ND/MN communities. Chosen by individual audition, members of the Master Chorale are drawn together by their love of great music and the joy of using their talents to uplift and inspire. For over 25 years, the Master Chorale has developed a reputation as one of the premier performing groups in the area. Dr. René Clausen is the current Director of Music.
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J. Klein
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In October 2006, the Prescott Master Chorale, under the direction of James L. Klein, presented the Arizona premiere performance of Rene Clausen's Memorial. Many of the Master Chorale singers were privileged to present the European premiere performance of Memorial in Helsinki, Finland in May 2007, also under the direction of James L. Klein. Twenty-three of the Prescott Master Chorale members who traveled to Scandinavia in May and June 2007 are now joining the Moorhead, Minnesota groups to perform Memorial on 9-11-11 at Lincoln Center in New York City under the direction of composer Rene Clausen. James L. Klein holds a BA in choral music and piano performance from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a Master's degree from the University of Iowa. Presently in his 21st year as full-time Minister of Music at American Lutheran Church in Prescott, Arizona, Mr. Klein directs six vocal choirs, five hand bell choirs, and a chime choir for disabled adults. He directed the Yavapai College Master Chorale for 14 years having toured central Europe, Italy and Scandinavia in three separate occasions. Jim and his wife Eileen, have two grown children, a son Eric and daughter Julie.
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J. Harms
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Windsong Southland Chorale (Ontario, CA) In 1995, Dr. Harms founded Windsong Southland Chorale, a multigenerational community chorale, with members ranging from high school students through senior citizens from an astonishingly large area of Southern California. This unique ensemble's splendid and impressive success is the fruit of sixteen years of effort with Dr. Harms at the helm as its founder and Artistic Director. Windsong has been privileged to premiere René Clausen's Memorial in Southern California in 2003; in Greece in 2004 presenting five performances; and in Carnegie Hall, 2005, with Warwick Valley Chorale, Warwick, NY. Maestra Dr. Janet Harms, cited in Who's Who Among American Women 2007, is an internationally-known organist and conductor who founded Windsong in 1995. Born and raised on the East Coast, she was awarded a scholarship to the renowned Juilliard School of Music at the age of thirteen by the Jersey City Philharmonic. She holds an advanced degree from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and a Doctorate from New York's Columbia University. Her enthusiastic embrace of choral music from all periods encourages composers to have Windsong debut new compositions (ten West Coast premiers).
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What People Said...
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From New York Concert Review: 9/11 Commemoration Concert at Avery Fisher Calls for Peace |
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From The Epoch Times: 9/11 Commemoration Concert at Avery Fisher Calls for Peace |
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From WalesOnline: Welsh conductor Karl Jenkins' special performance for the 9/11 anniversary |
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From cityArts: Facing the Music of 9/11 |
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From Tillamook Headlight Herald: Tillamook student joins choir trip to New York to sing at 9/11 memorial concert |
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From Keizertimes: Two Celt alums head to New York for 9/11 memorial |
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Mary Ornelas
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Barb Flocco
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James L. Klein, Minister of Music
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Audience comments
This was the most beautiful way I could have thought of to heal from this tragedy. I was A Red Cross volunteer for 3 months and also lost a very close friend and this helped very much. Thank You - Goldstar Member This event was exceptional, it was very inspirational, and touching; it was a memorial service for all those who perished in September 11 2001. I am happy that I was able to be there. - Joan Modeste A really special tribute concert for 9/11. Wonderful choral pieces sung by an enormous group of over 200 singers! Seeing Jessye Norman as a surprise guest narrator was a treat. - Goldstar Member I thought it was excellent and moving since it was in commemoration honoring the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Seats were terrific giving a perfect view of the musicians and chorus which was the largest group I had ever seen. The first piece was Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, a short familiar piece which is often played in times of national mourning. The other two pieces were lengthy, dramatic and perfect for the occasion. A treat was Jessey Norman who read a letter from Mayor Bloomberg, and then narrated several of the sections of the Mass for Peace, one of the other two monumental works. - Goldstar Member It was a very stirring concert overall. I feel that having such a large chorus of voices gave it greater impact and made it particularly moving. - Cindy Quillinan The concert was simply wonderful, a great way to spend the afternoon. Thank you so much. - Goldstar Member The music was awesome! This was my first opera experience. I'll definitely attend another. - Goldstar Member |
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Members of The Really Big Chorus
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