DuPage Chorale with the DuPage Chorale Orchestra Provide an Evening of Inspirational Music at the MAC Dec. 6

DuPage Chorale, under the direction of Lee R. Kesselman, with the DuPage Chorale Orchestra provide an evening of inspirational choral music composed by Leonard Bernstein, Wolfgang Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn and Vaughan Williams at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located on the campus of College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. Guest artists for the concert include vocalists Ian Brown (boy soprano), Mary Lutz-Govertsen (soprano), Melissa Arning (alto) Nathan Ward (tenor) and Vince Wallace (bass) and renowned accompanist, chamber musician, adjudicator and clinician William Buhr.

“Composer Leonard Bernstein said, ‘This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.’ In dedicating this concert to victims of violence it is our hope that this evening will serve to ease the minds and feed the souls and lift the spirits of our audience,” says Kesselman. “First and foremost thought, this concert features great and beautiful music.”

The concert program will include the following works:

“Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, KV” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Mozart wrote two sets of Vespers. This is the second of the two. Mozart’s Salzburg church works use no violas in the orchestra. Trombones double the voice parts. The ceremonial trumpets and timpani are only used in the first and last movements. The solo quartet is fully integrated into the choral/orchestral texture.

“Chicester Psalms” by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Bernstein was the quintessential conductor, composer, pianist, teacher, and statesman musician who rose to a level of celebrity beyond any other classical musician of our nation. The first movement incites us to “Awake” and “Make a joyful noise”. The second movement contraposes the comforting words of the 23rd Psalm sung by the boy and women against the stormy, warlike words of the 2nd Psalm (“Why do the nations rage?”) sung by the men. After a reflective interlude, the last movement unfolds like a gently swaying, Middle Eastern prayer of hope and calm. The work closes with a hymn of peace, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

“Christus” by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

Mendelssohn unfinished oratorio, “Christus” was published posthumously as Op. 97. It is separated into two sections: The Birth of Christ” and “The Passion of Christ,” the first of which is being performed tonight.

“The Hundredth Psalm” (“O Be Joyful in the Lord”) by Vaughn Williams (1872-1958).

Williams sets the Psalm text in sections. The first section is comprised of an opening fanfare, a dance-like interlude and then return to the opening music. The middle section is a flowing pastorale in 12/8 time. The closing doxology (“Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost”) is a brief return of the opening fanfare.

DuPage Chorale is a college/community chorus that presents quality concerts of fine choral music. Its seasons present a broad range of literature ranging from oratorios to Masses to operettas and musical theater. Through the years, members have found the joy of singing masterworks by composers like Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Fauré, Copland and Bernstein. They have also explored major works in the jazz and popular idioms by Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Gilbert & Sullivan, Kurt Weill, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and Lerner & Loewe. The Chorale toured Europe in 2000 and 2003. DuPage Chorale was the first music ensemble created at College of DuPage. For more information about this ensemble and other music opportunities at College of DuPage, visit cod.edu/programs/music.

Music Director, Lee R. Kesselman, has been director of Choral Activities at COD since 1981 and was named Outstanding Faculty Member at College of DuPage in both 1994 and 1995. Kesselman is a conductor, pianist, teacher and award-winning composer; he directs the DuPage Chorale, New Classic Singers and College of DuPage Chamber Singers and Concert Choir. Among Kesselman’s compositions are the opera “The Bremen Town Musicians and Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand” for children’s chorus and orchestra. Kesselman has received 20 consecutive ASCAP awards as a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His compositions have been published by Boosey & Hawkes, Roger Dean Music Co., Colla Voce and Kesselman Press. Kesselman is a sought out guest conductor, lecturer and clinical and composer-in-residence worldwide. Kesselman holds undergraduate degrees in piano and composition from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn. and a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Southern California.

Accompanist, William Buhr has a reputation as an accompanist, chamber musician, adjudicator and clinician in more than countries and six continents. He has served on the accompanying staff of the Chicago Symphony Chorus at the invitation of founder/director Margaret Hillis, and has accompanied James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, Yo-Yo Ma, June Anderson, Berndt Weikl and others at the Ravinia Festival. He has also worked with Stephen Sondheim, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris in the Ravinia Festival productions of “Sunday In The Park With George” and “Anyone Can Whistle.” Buhr has also served on the faculty of the Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education since 1986. He has played for numerous Broadway musicals including “Showboat,” Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Ian Brown (boy soprano). As a 5th grader in the Wheaton schools, his favorite subjects are P.E., math, and music. He enjoys being part of Anima Young Singers and singing at his church, as well as playing piano and clarinet. Brown describes himself as hard-working, determined, and passionate about Scouting and physical fitness.

Mary Lutz-Govertsen (soprano) has previously performed with DuPage in Mozart’s Mass in c minor and Mendelssohn’s Christus and Vom Himmel Hoch. She has performed with numerous local and regional companies and was an apprentice at Opera New Jersey. Lutz-Govertsen is a member of both VOX3 Vocal Music Collective and of Lingerie Lyrique and was a founding member of OperaModa, a company dedicated to performing 20th and 21st century works.

Melissa Arning (alto) has appeared with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Grant Park Chorus, Main Street Opera, American Chamber Opera, The North Shore Chamber Arts Ensemble, Opera for the Young, Petite Opera, Music by the Lake, Chamber Opera Chicago, Chicago Folks Operetta, Music of the Baroque, The William Ferris Chorale, Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, and The Cleveland Chamber Symphony.

Nathan Ward (tenor) holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University where he has played Howard Boucher in Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking” and Richard Dauntless in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Ruddigore.” Recent highlights include Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Chicago Summer Opera and Peter Quint in “The Turn of the Screw” with Chicago Fringe Opera.

Vince Wallace (bass) has been singing chorus for Lyric Opera Chicago since as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has performed with Opera Naples. Other local credits include William Ferris Chorale, Bella Voce and Lakeside Singers. He can also be seen performing the national anthem at various Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs games throughout their respective seasons.

DuPage Chorale joins DuPage Chorale Orchestra for a concert Sunday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Belushi Performance Hall at the McAninch Arts Center. Tickets are $16 adult/14 senior and student. For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000.