The Greater South Jersey Chorus will celebrate the unique musical relationship between America and Britain with, “My Spirit Sang All Day: Choral Music of Britain and the United States,” in spring concerts on May 15 and 17.
Two new venues will host the performances: The Catholic Community of Christ Our Light in Cherry Hill on May 15 at 8 p.m. and St. Joseph the Worker Parish, St. Vincent Pallotti Church, in Haddon Twp. on May 17 at 4 p.m.
“Our spring program explores the rich heritage of choral music by British and American composers from the Renaissance to modern times,” artistic director D. Jason Bishop said. “At its center is the only piece on the program not in English — Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, a miniature masterpiece celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. We look forward to sharing these choral gems with audiences at our two new venues.”
Bishop has crafted a wide-ranging concert repertoire. Sharing the program with the Bernstein are a Holst folk tale, a Copland foot stomper, a medley of British and American anthems, a classic hymn, a rousing arrangement of the spiritual “Daniel” and more.
Accompanying the Bernstein work are harpist Megan Landfair percussionist Sean Rode, and organist Max Esmus. Esmus, a Glassboro resident, is the regular accompanist for the chorus. He is also choral director and accompanist for the Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield and director of the Haddonfield Center and School for the Arts. The church is the host facility for the arts center.
Guest soloists include Rachel Ellis, principal cellist in the Rowan University orchestra, Jack Lindberg, countertenor, and Katie Poliero, treble soloist from ChildrenSong, a Haddonfield-based children’s chorus.
The GSJC Chamber Singers, a specially auditioned ensemble from within the chorus ranks, will perform other works from the two national traditions featuring varied compositions from across several centuries.
The chorus has been observing a season of firsts under Bishop. The new concert venues in Cherry Hill and Haddon Township offer the prospect of reaching new audiences. The chorus has also been named Ensemble in Residence at the HCSPA.
Tickets are $20 and are available at the door, through the chorus’s website at www.greatersjchorus.org, through any chorus member or by calling (856) 482–8282. Children ages 14 and under will be admitted at no charge.
