The New Jersey Choral Society celebrates Jubilee Season with Celebration of Carols

RIDGEWOOD, NJ, UNITED STATES, November 9, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Bergen and Essex County – Begin your holiday festivities with joyous music of the season as the New Jersey Choral Society presents Celebration of Carols, a holiday concert series. The concerts will be held on Saturday, December 2 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 3 at 3:00 pm at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave, Montclair, as well as Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 pm at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe St., Ridgewood. These concerts begin the Jubilee Season for the New Jersey Choral Society, celebrating the 30th anniversary of artist-in-residence Linda Sweetman-Waters.

The festive program, under the direction of conductor Eric Dale Knapp, focuses on music about peace and praise, including “Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace,” “The First Song of Isaiah,” “Before the Marvel of This Night,” “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre, based on the poem by Edward Esch, and “Venus, The Bringer of Peace” from The Planets by Gustav Holst. Other program highlights include Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music,” “Welten Singen Dank Und Ehre” (“Hallelujah unto God’s Almighty Son”) by Beethoven and “Christmas Day” a choral fantasy on old carols by Gustav Holst. NJCS members Rita Blacker (tenor) and Christopher Vehmas (baritone) will also receive world premieres of their compositions “Grant Us Peace” and “Laudate Dominum” respectively.

Organist, Linda Sweetman-Waters, and a brass and percussion ensemble will accompany the chorus. Guest soloists are Erika Bourque (mezzo-soprano), and Edward Schmiedecke (baritone). The NJCS chamber choir, Camerata, and the NJCS Festival Youth Chorus, directed by Noelle Dachis, will also be featured.

Advance tickets are $30.00 for adults and $25.00 for students, seniors, and patrons with disabilities (add $10.00 if purchased at the door). A 10% discount for groups of 10 or more is also available. Come one hour prior to performance time for The Inside Line, a complimentary lecture for all ticket holders that provides an intimate and entertaining preview of the music. For reservations or more information, visit www.NJCS.org or call the New Jersey Choral Society at (201) 379-7719.

Established in 1980, the New Jersey Choral Society is one of the state’s most prestigious choral groups, well-known for presenting outstanding and unique programs. Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, NJCS performs three major concerts annually in Bergen and Essex counties. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House and have toured internationally in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, China, Australia, England, France and this summer in Italy. In 2016, they received “honorable mention” in the Jersey Arts People’s Choice Awards for “Best Choral Group” in New Jersey.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception and Westside Presbyterian Church are both wheelchair accessible. Large print programs and assistive listening devices are available with two weeks advance notice. Funding has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Edward Thomas
New Jersey Choral Society
201-379-7719
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