Local High School Singers Invited to Perform with all-Professional CONCORA on November 12

CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), the region’s oldest all-professional choral ensemble, opens the 2016-2017 concert season by joining with five of Connecticut’s finest high school choirs to present a concert of music inspired by William Shakespeare, marking the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death.

“Extraordinary Shakespeare” will be performed on Saturday, November 12, at 7:30 PM, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church at 872 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.

Participating high school choirs include:

The Glastonbury High School Concert Choir, Ethan Nash, director
Greenwich High School Chamber Singers, Patrick Taylor, director
Guilford High School Voices, Kevin Buno, director
The Hall High School Choraliers, West Hartford, Lorri Cetto, director
Manchester Roundtable Singers, Edward Tyler, director

This is the tenth edition of the “Extraordinary Concert” series, which began in 1993 as part of CONCORA’s education and outreach programming.

CONCORA’s Artistic Director Chris Shepard has collaborated with the five high school directors in choosing the concert repertoire and planning and leading rehearsals. CONCORA and the five high school choirs will rehearse independently, then come together for joint rehearsals prior to the public concert on Saturday, November 12.

In a feature new to this year’s production, Shepard will share the conductor's podium during the concert, when each of the five high school choir directors will take a “solo” turn to conduct CONCORA in concert.

“Most conductors never have a chance to work with a professional ensemble, and I’m glad to be able to offer this opportunity to these fine high school conductors,” said Shepard, now in his second season as CONCORA’s Artistic Director. “And CONCORA’s professional singers are enjoying the experience, too. Every conductor brings a unique perspective to rehearsing and performing, and we all benefit from a fresh approach, whether it's with well-loved choral classics or with music that is new to us — and this concert includes some of both.”

For the young singers, an event like the Extraordinary Concert can be a life-changing event.

“Rehearsing and performing with professional singers can inspire a young musician to pursue a career in music,” said Christine Laird, CONCORA’s Director of Operations and a long-tenured CONCORA singer. “These singers are our future music teachers, church musicians, composers, and arts supporters. It’s not unusual for us to hear from participants years later; they contact us to say, ‘Singing with CONCORA made a difference in my life.’ ”

Only a few venues in the Hartford area have performing space large enough for the 180-voice combined choir, as well as an acoustic appropriate for choral music.

“We are so fortunate to be able to return to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford for this edition of the Extraordinary Concert,” said Shepard. “The acoustic is magnificent for choral music – the sound of 180 voices will wash over and around the audience and will fill every corner of that beautiful space. It will be a memorable experience for everyone.”

EVENT DETALS:

Extraordinary Shakespeare

Saturday, November 12, 2016 7:30 PM

St. Thomas the Apostle Church

872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT

Tickets and Information: Tickets are available at http://www.concora.org/extraordinary-shakespeare.html, by phone at 860-293-0567, by email at contact@concora.org, or at the door. $55 preferred seating; $35 general admission seating; $30 senior; $15 student. Order before November 9 to take advantage of early-bird pricing on most tickets. 2-for-1 general admission tickets are available with Let*s Go! Arts card; contact the CONCORA office for information.