New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Sing in the Season – Experience holiday magic with Four of NJ's Top Choral Groups

originally published: 12/02/2024

(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.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



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.




Promote your shows at New Jersey Stage! Click here for info



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Damn

Damn The Torpedoes - The Music of Tom Petty

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

There,

There, There (A Tribute to Radiohead)

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Asbury Lanes
209 4th Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
category: music


 

Band

Band Infusion Musical Night by GG

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
category: music


 

Annual

Annual Jazz, Health and Food Truck Festival 2025

Saturday, July 12, 2025 @ 11:00am
Monte Irvin Orange Park
S center and South Harrison Street, Orange, NJ 07050
category: music


 


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Lizzie

Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. Griffin is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller. Touring and making records for over 20 years, House has a discography that includes over 13 albums.



Grammy

Grammy Award Winner Raphael Saadiq to Bring "No Bandwidth" Tour to NJPAC

(NEWARK, NJ) -- Get ready to experience an exceptional performance by Raphael Saadiq at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 8:00pm. This highly regarded one-person show, entitled "No Bandwidth," will highlight Saadiq's extraordinary talents through a compelling blend of storytelling and musicianship. Attendees can anticipate an unforgettable evening filled with artistic excellence.



Dave

Dave Koz brings his Summer Horns tour to MPAC in August

(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- Get set for a night of smooth summer jazz and funk with a touch of the sounds of the 1970s when Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) as part of his Dave Koz & Friends Summer Horns 2025 tour on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 7:30pm.



A

A Chat with Jasper Smith of Straight No Chaser Which Brings its "Summer: The '90s Part 2" Tour to STNJ on July 16

Straight No Chaser is bringing its Summer: The '90s Part 2 Tour to State Theatre New Jersey on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The nine-member a cappella group originated in 1996 at Indiana University in Bloomington and has gone on to sell three million albums, earn two gold records, and amass over 1 billion streams on Pandora.



Centenary

Centenary Stage Company presents Yacht Rock Gold Experience

(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company's 2025 Summerfest Series continues with a one-night-only concert event featuring Yacht Rock Gold Experience on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at Centenary University. The band celebrates the soft rock and smooth sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Showtime is 8:00pm.