UVA Chamber Singers Concert: Music for Choir & Organ - Ticket Sales End at 1PM Today
The UVA Chamber Singers will present a special concert of music for choir and organ, celebrating the newly restored 1926 E.M. Skinner organ at St. Paul’s Memorial Church. The concert takes place Friday, November 17th – 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s (1701 University Ave.) Tickets are available –only in advance– at the UVA Arts Box Office in the Culbreth building, online at http://tickets.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or by calling (434) 924-3376. The concert, led by UVA faculty conductor Michael Slon, also features organist Deke Polifka (Music Director at St. Paul’s), and several selections performed jointly with the St. Paul’s Parish Choir. Join us for this special occasion!
The program includes a variety of standout works for chorus and organ, including Cecilia McDowall’s “O Sing Unto the Lord,” Edgar Bainton’s “And I Saw a New Heaven,” and C. Hubert Parry’s “I was Glad.” In addition, the Chamber Singers perform Benjamin Britten – widely considered one of the leading composers of the 20th century, in part for reinvigorating genres with new musical life and tremendous imagination. His Rejoice in the Lamb, a setting of 18th century Christopher Smart poetry, resonates with music alternating between the solemn and playful. The evening’s music also includes the premiere of a short work by Michael Slon written for both choirs, and several solo selections with organ.
The UVA Chamber Singers is a select ensemble drawn from the University Singers (UVA’s flagship chorus), and committed to broad programming perspectives, performs a wide variety of repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary compositions. In addition to a performance for the Governor and other distinguished guests at UVA’s 2017 Bicentennial Celebration, performances have included Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia, Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas (with Three Notch’d Road Baroque ensemble), programs of Latin American choral music, choral music from film and Broadway, and new music by Meredith Monk (performed with the Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble.) Other collaborations include concerts with the Staunton Music Festival, Victory Hall Opera (in pioneering presentations of Poulenc and Gluck operas with deaf actors), the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, and a 2022 presentation of Defiant Requiem (honoring the prisoners at Terezin who performed the Verdi Requiem) at the Strathmore Music Center with five other universities. They’ve sung in workshop with UVA Chamber Singers Peter Phillips and members of the Tallis Scholars, and in 2014, were honored to perform for composer Philip Glass. They’ve also been heard in major works, at VMEA, and on tour in the U.S. and Europe with the University Singers.
The Parish Choir of St. Paul's Memorial Church, directed by Deke Polifka, is the principal musical ensemble of St. Paul’s, singing each week for the 10 a.m. Sunday service, as well as for major feast days, Choral Evensongs and special concerts. This choir consists of 30-35 singers with a wide range of ages and varying musical backgrounds. Regarding the refurbished Skinner organ, the A. Thompson-Allen firm of New Haven, CT is nearing the completion of a comprehensive restoration of this classic instrument, including a new 4-manual console and expanded specifications, using period pipework.
Tickets for the concert are $15 general / $5 students/ Free for UVA Students who reserve in advance; and are available at the UVA Arts Box Office in the Culbreth building, online at http://tickets.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or by calling (434) 924-3376. Tickets will not be available at the door.
St. Paul's Memorial Church is located on the Corner at 1700 University Avenue, Charlottesville, 22903.
For more info visit:
http://music.virginia.edu/chamber-singers
http://music.virginia.edu/usingers
Auditions: Auditions for the University Singers & Chamber Singers take place at the beginning of each semester.
To make a gift: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/21729/donations/new or write the choral ensembles at: university-singers@virginia.edu
All programs are subject to change.