Make Beautiful Music: Join the Hudson Chorale

Few things in life are as satisfying as joining a group of talented, enthusiastic singers and making beautiful music together every week.

Since 2010, Hudson Chorale, Westchester’s largest chorus, has been performing in venues throughout the County, bringing the best in choral singing to the Hudson Valley. Concerts have included traditional choral pieces such as the Brahms Requiem, lesser known works such as the Mass in D by John Knowles Paine, more contemporary work by composers such as Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre, selections from Broadway, and even newly composed pieces by Music Director, Michael Conley, commissioned just for Hudson Chorale.

As membership has grown, so has audience size, and the chorus now enjoys a region-wide reputation for outstanding programming and superb artistry.

The Chorale’s goal is to provide both audience members and singers with the best possible experience in choral singing, offering exciting programs that include the entire choral repertoire - from the great masterpieces of the past to engaging contemporary compositions. Singers looking for a new or additional choral family are encouraged to consider the Hudson Chorale.

Following a January 2015 concert dedicated to compositions for chorus and brass from around the world and from different centuries, the Chorale is welcoming new members in all voice parts (SATB) beginning in February when rehearsals will begin for a May 9, 2015 program that will feature American composers and their poet/writer muses.

Inspired by newspaper articles that appeared in American Mercury magazine (the news equivalent of the Readers Digest), Randall Thompson created musical parodies reflecting life in the 1930’s in a suite called Americana. The same program will feature three other 20th-21st century American composers whose works contain lyrics from American poetry: in a suite called Four Pastorales, Cecil Effinger, a Coloradan, sets his music to the words of Colorado’s most famous poet, Thomas Hornsby Ferril, who wrote lovingly of the West; Normal Dello Joio, known for his lively and uniquely rhythmic compositions, captures the spirit of his favourite poet, Walt Whitman, in a piece titled Song of the Open Road; and Hudson Chorale’s Music Director, Michael Conley, will debut his tribute to the poetry of Emily Dickinson entitled This Bequest of Wings.

It will be a star-spangled event exploring the richness and beauty of American culture.

Michael Conley, Music Director of the Hudson Chorale, enjoys a multi-faceted career as a conductor, composer, pianist, organist and singer. In addition to serving as Music Director of the Hudson Chorale, Mr. Conley is the Music Director of the highly popular West Village Chorale and the Judson Memorial Church on Washington Square in Manhattan, one of the country’s most historically progressive and unique congregations.

He is the worship pianist, conductor of the Judson Choir and founder of Judson Arts, a concert series which celebrates an eclectic mix of musical styles and ensembles.

The New York Times has said of his conducting, “first-rate;” of his choirs, “proficient” and “well-blended sound;” and of his compositions, “tuneful,” “handsome,” “ambitious,” “piquant,” and “surprising.”

“Singer-friendly” auditions will begin on Monday, February 2, 2015, by appointment and on subsequent Mondays prior to rehearsal. Rehearsals also begin on February 2, 2015, from 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm and will take place on subsequent Monday evenings at the Pleasantville Presbyterian Church, 400 Bedford Rd, Pleasantville, NY.

To receive additional information and/or to schedule a time for an audition, contact Jeanne Wygant at JeanneWygant@optonline.net or call (914) 478-0074. To learn more about the chorus, visit the website at www.HudsonChorale.org. To hear sample music performed by the chorus, click on the YouTube link on the website.