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University Chorus, Canton’s Community chorus, performs music of Britten Sunday

Posted 11/13/15

CANTON -- Canton’s Community chorus, University Chorus, will celebrate the music of English composer Benjamin Britten in its fall concert beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, in Gunnison Memorial …

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University Chorus, Canton’s Community chorus, performs music of Britten Sunday

Posted

CANTON -- Canton’s Community chorus, University Chorus, will celebrate the music of English composer Benjamin Britten in its fall concert beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, in Gunnison Memorial Chapel.

Lead by University Chorus Director Barry Torres, director of music ensembles at St. Lawrence University, the concert will feature Britten’s cantata “Saint Nicolas.” The text, written by Eric Crozier, chronicles the life of the real Saint Nicolas, bishop of Myra in the fourth century. As patron saint of children and sailors, among others, Nicolas is also known as “the Wonderworker” due to the many miracles attributed to him.

Tenor Steven Brennfleck will return to the North Country to sing the title role of Nicolas. In February 2014, Brennfleck taught master classes and sang Schubert’s “Die Schöne Müllerin” at St. Lawrence.

The chorus will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra, featuring a piano duet by accompanist Samuel Whitesell and St. Lawrence senior Emily Goulet ’16 of Epsom, New Hampshire.

Players from St. Lawrence University’s String Orchestra will round out the ensemble, led by its director Christian Hosmer and featuring Organist and Musician-in-Residence Sondra Goldsmith Proctor and percussionists Kyle Tupper, wind ensemble director, and John Dixon. The Canton High School Select Women’s Chorus will join University Chorus from the balcony, with Kimberly Busch directing and Chloe O’Shea and Michael Busch singing the treble solos.

The program will open with Britten’s “Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac” for tenor and alto solo with piano. Torres will join Brennfleck and Whitesell as countertenor.

As Canton’s community chorus, University Chorus brings together the vocal talents of students, faculty and staff, and community members. Directed by Barry Torres and accompanied by Sam Whitesell, they perform a varied repertoire in theme-oriented concerts, often with instrumental accompaniment, in the best tradition of American community choral singing.

For more information, contact 229-5166 or visit www.stlawu.edu/music.