Children’s voices will chime in as the 95-voice Chester River Chorale heralds the joy and awe of Christmas and Chanukah in this year’s presentation of A Chester River Holiday.
Two performances will be given in the beautiful sanctuary of the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, the first on Friday evening, December 6 at 8:00 p.m., and the second on Sunday afternoon, December 8 at 3:00 p.m.
The newly formed Chester River Youth Choir and the Chesapeake Montessori School Choir from Annapolis will open the concert in the joyful salutation, “Merry Christmas,” leading in the Chester River Chorale, whose full-throated rendition of George Frideric Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus will conclude the program.
“This is the premier performance by the Chester River Youth Choir,” said Douglas Cox, the Chorale’s artistic director. “We are thrilled to be joined by these talented young singers,”
“These children make a marvelous sound,” Cox continued. “Not only will they open the program, but we will also feature them with the adult Chorale and our guest artists, soprano Janet Hjelmgren, and Cantor Gary Schiff. This concert will have something on it for everyone to enjoy and reflect upon throughout the holiday season.”
Soprano Hjelmgren, the combined children’s choirs, and the Chorale women will be featured on a charming medley of French, German, and Italian carols, which captures the essence of childlike innocence and curiosity as the carols are woven together with intermittent strains of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
With Sam Marshall on piano and organ backed by a small chamber orchestra, the audience will hear a mix of music, including a suite of 18th Bach, and Handel, and rousing renditions of old Christmas favorites, such as O Come, All Ye Faithful and Joy to the World. And they will be invited to croon along on the American classic White Christmas.
Chestertown’s own Cantor Schiff returns for the seventh consecutive holiday concert, leading the Chorale in traditional music of the Jewish synagogue arranged especially for the program and sung in Hebrew, Mah Tovu (How Goodly Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah, the Prophet). Then Schiff and the Chorale will switch to Yiddish and English to join in on the rousing folksong Chanukah, Oh Chanukah.
The 26-voice Chester Chamber Singers, drawn from the ranks of the full Chorale, will recall the Virgin Mary narrative, setting the scene with the 6th with four songs derived from 16th and the Nativity. century sparkling Baroque choruses by Vivaldi, century chant Ave Maria, and following century Europe that center on Mary, Joseph the Annunciation,
Suggested donations at the door are $15. No tickets will be sold. The Chorale has been performing to full houses for the past several years, so patrons are urged to come at least 15 minutes early to be assured of being seated.
Chorale members are amateur singers drawn mainly from Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. No audition is required. The Chester Chamber Singers are drawn from the Chorale ranks.
The Chester River Chorale is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Kent County Arts Council and by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.
For more information visit www.chesterriverchorale.org or call 410–928-5566.
Maria Wood says
Editor,
I am sure this concert will be a wonderful continuation of the Chester River Chorale’s marvelous holiday tradition. The addition of a children’s chorus will surely make the event even more festive and magical.