The Sippican Choral Society resumes rehearsals on Monday, January 18 at 7:15 pm in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church’s Reynard Hall on Church Street. New members are welcome to join the chorus simply by coming to the first rehearsal.
The chorus will be rehearsing for its spring concert on Saturday, April 30 in Marion and will present a program with a French theme. Some of the music the chorus will perform includes: Haydn’s “Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo in B flat,” “Cantique de Jean Racine” by Gabriel Fauré, and “Notre Pere” by Maurice Duruflé. Leonard Bernstein’s “Make Our Garden Grow,” from Candide and a Les Miserables medley will also be on the program.
In addition, a small chamber choir, to be chosen by the Music Director from among chorus members, will sing three pieces: “Il est bel et bon” by Pierre Passereau, “El Grillo” by Josquin des Prez, and Morten Lauridsen’s beautiful “Dirait-on.”
In its continuing effort to encourage choral singing among young people, the chorus has invited the Sippican School Chorus, under the direction of Hannah Clark Moore, to sing with them this spring. They will sing several songs by themselves and will join the chorus in singing two pieces: “Ave Maria” by Bach/Gounod and Cesar Franck’s timeless “Panis Angelicus.”
Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:30 pm every Monday evening, but singers are asked to arrive by 7:15 pm for the first rehearsal in order to register and receive music. All voices – soprano, alto, tenor, and bass – are welcome, and tenors are especially encouraged to sing with the chorus this year.
In addition, the chorus would like to invite young people still in high school and college to join us as well. As always, everyone who has sung with the chorus in past years will be welcomed back.
Dr. Tianxu Zhou, director of the chorus, requests that both returning members and new members who, for good reason, cannot make the first rehearsal call Nancy Sparklin at 508-763-2327 to let her know they intend to sing this year.
Now in its 51st season, the chorus is under the direction of Dr. Tianxu Zhou, with Michelle Gordon of Mattapoisett as accompanist. The group performs at least two concerts every year, singing the works of the world’s great composers as well as more modern music.
For further information about singing with the Sippican Choral Society this year, please contact Nancy Sparklin at 508-763-2327.