"The Ecstasies Above" - a benefit concert of new choral music

Anima Nova Chamber Choir presents “The Ecstasies Above” - a benefit concert of new choral music.

 Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

 On Sunday, May 8 at 7:30pm, Baltimore/Washington's newest and most exciting vocal ensemble, Anima Nova Chamber Choir, will present a concert of new choral music at St. Ignatius Church (740 N. Calvert St., Baltimore).  The professional ensemble, conducted by Jake Runestad, will be performing works by composers Eric Whitacre, Tarik O'Regan, Jake Runestad, Michael Rickelton, and Sean Doyle.  

 The concert is free but donations will be taken to support a scholarship fund for under-privileged students to study music at the Peabody Preparatory - specifically through Jr. Bach - an outreach program in which Peabody Conservatory composers work with students from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy helping them to compose their own pieces which are performed at the end of each semester by Peabody musicians.  A scholarship will be given to one outstanding student each year to receive lessons and musical training at the Peabody Preparatory - supporting a new generation of young composers.   

 The cornerstone piece, The Ecstasies Above (for choir, two solo vocal quartets, and string quartet) by British composer Tarik O'Regan, is a setting of Edgar Allan Poe's "Israfel" and one of the finest pieces written for choir in the last 20 years.  The concert also features the premiere of "Vocalise Mystique" by Baltimore-based composer Jake Runestad. 

 Anima Nova Chamber Choir is a professional vocal ensemble based in Baltimore, MD dedicated to performing new music by living composers.  The members are professional vocalists living and working in the Baltimore/Washington area.

 Contact:  

 Jake Runestad, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University

815-520-7543   

jake.runestad@gmail.com

www.jakerunestad.com