(MORRISTOWN, NJ) – Experience holiday magic with seasonal music from four of New Jersey's top choral arts organizations beginning with The Somerset Hills Chorus conducted by Stephen Sands on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 3:00pm & 5:00pm in the Gothic S.W. Bowne Hall at Drew University, conveniently located right behind the Shakespeare Theatre. The program will feature a selection of timeless Christmas carols spanning the ages, accompanied by harp and percussion.
Following The Somerset Hills Chorus concert will be Harmonium Choral Society, a 100-voice chorus led by Dr. Anne Matlack on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm & Sunday, December 8 at 3:00pm at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown. The concert features Snow Angel an evocative piece by Sarah Quartel with cello and piano, and works by Buxtehude, Bruckner, Hailstork, Betinis, Rossi and more. It also features the East coast premiere of Joseph Gregorio’s Unbound Angels with the composer in attendance. The Choral Society will also perform at First Night Morris on New Year’s Eve at Church of the Redeemer at 6:00pm & 7:00pm.
On Sunday, December 8 at 4:00pm at Chatham United Methodist Church, The Masterwork Chorus, under the baton of Music Director Martin Sedek, rings in the holidays with selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio along with other classical and holiday gems from Gustav Holst to Irving Berlin. Then on Sunday, December 15 at St. Elizabeth University’s Dolan Hall at 3:00pm. The Masterworks Chorus will perform the Handel Messiah with full orchestra and soloists.
The binge on holiday choral music culminates on Sunday, December 15 at 3:00pm when Michael Wittenburg conducts the Morris Choral Society in a program entitled Home for the Holidays. The program explores the different celebrations all around the world and not only features the Chorus, but also the women’s treble ensemble, High Society, the men’s group, Express Male, and the Frelinghuysen Middle School Select Choir. High Society. They will perform a Spanish Carol, “A la nanita nana,” as well as selections from Benjamin Britton’s brilliant A Ceremony of Carols. Express Male will sing a variety of holiday favorites including I’ll Be Home for Christmas. The Frelinghuysen Choir, under the direction of Gillian Erlenborn will perform their own set as well as join MCS for the popular sing-along. MCS will feature songs from around the world culminating with selections from the Home Alone movie scores of John Williams.
For details and information on all concerts visit this website.
Tickets for the various choral groups range from $40 to $25 plus handling depending on the group. For Harmonium, go to www.harmonium.org. The advance sale tickets for Somerset Hills Chorus are sold out, but it you are interested in the program, go to www.musicsh,org/music-in-the-somerset-hills-chorus. Masterwork Chorus tickets are available on www.masterwork-chorus.ticketleap.com. To learn more about the Morris Choral Society’s holiday program, go to www.morrischoralsociety.org.
Funding for the Morris Choral Society and for the Harmonium Choral Society has been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Music in the Somerset Hills is supported in part by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission and a list of patrons. The Masterwork Chorus is funded by the Bergen Foundation, New Jersey Cultural Trust and many corporations.
Harmonium, one of New Jersey's leading choral arts organizations, is a 100-voice chorus is directed by Dr. Anne Matlack and based in Morris County. Harmonium is widely recognized for its eclectic programming, choral excellence, and community spirit. To advance the choral arts, Harmonium has commissioned new works and has sponsored a high school composition contest for more than twenty-five years. This innovative program won the prestigious Chorus America Education and Outreach Award. A subset of the chorus performs in schools and senior living facilities.
The Somerset Hills Chorus (SHC) was developed to help all those who love to sing become better musicians in a supportive yet challenging environment. Open to anyone aged 14 and up, with or without experience, the model enables local amateur singers to perform extraordinary repertoire in fine venues within and around the Somerset Hills region of New Jersey. Since its founding in 2010, the SHC has given a number of concerts under the artistic direction of Stephen Sands.
The Masterwork Chorus, founded in 1955, is dedicated to enrich, delight and support the cultural life of the community through high-quality inspiring choral performances. With rehearsals on Wednesday evenings, the chorus typically performs three major concerts each year and has performed in venues throughout New Jersey as well as in New York City. For major events, the chorus is supported by the Masterwork Orchestra and renowned soloists.
The Morris Choral Society has two purposes: to make available to all Morris area residents varied choral music programs and to give residents an opportunity to perform in a choral organization. New members are accepted twice a year by audition, in September and in January.
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