Tag: Pro Arte Chorale

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Pro Arte Chorale is excited to announce its 2017-2018 season under the skillful direction of Maestro Steven Fox. In early September, the chorale will begin rehearsing for the group’s first concert, A Christmas Celebration, to be held on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 4.p.m. All concerts this season will take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ.

Guests who attended Pro Arte’s performance of the works of Anton Bruckner last June will remember the orchestral accompaniment by members of the NJ Wind Symphony (formerly the Ridgewood Concert Band). The chorus is delighted to be joined again by these fine instrumentalists for our December concert.

The program will feature sacred works by twentieth century artists, including Daniel Pinkham, Francis Poulenc,  Ralph Vaughn Williams  and Philip Ledger. Following the concert, audience members will be invited to join with the chorus in celebrating the season by singing some traditional carols.

The whole family will enjoy Pro Arte’s spring concert to be held on Sunday March 18, 2018 at 4pm. The lighthearted choruses and solos from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, Pirates of Penzance and H.M.S. Pinafore will be familiar to many. These precursors of our modern musicals were   immensely popular during the Victorian era in which they were written and continue to draw crowds entertained by the wit and humor of these operettas. The chorus will be joined by baritone Richard Holmes of the Metropolitan Opera and the NY Gilbert and Sullivan Players. You won’t want to miss this concert!A pre-concert lecture by Andrea Covais will give you background about the music and will illuminate the performance for you.

Masters of the Baroque is the chorale’s final concert on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 4pm. In 1727, shortly after George Friedrich Handel was naturalized as a British citizen, he composed his Coronation Anthem for the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline. It’s grand music for a grand occasion. Vivaldi’s Gloria is a traditional Gloria from the Latin mass. Vivaldi wrote it in the early part of the eighteenth century for the choir of the Ospedale della Pietå, an orphanage for girls.  Vivaldi’s Gloria was lost for two hundred years and was finally rediscovered in the early twentieth century in a pile of old manuscripts.  For this concert the chorale will be accompanied by members of the Clarion orchestra and soloists,  mezzo- soprano Mikki Sodergren and  soprano Esteili Gomez.

Special Events:

Do you want to improve your vocal skills? Save the date for an afternoon Master Class with Maestro Steven Fox on Saturday, September 16, 2017. He will lead participants in a warm up followed by a discussion of vocal and choral techniques. He will then guide the group through a rehearsal of some choral pieces in a variety of styles from different periods. Check the Pro Arte website for updates on this event: info@proartechorale.org

On Monday, December 11, 2017, Pro Arte invites you to join in the Christmas tradition of an open reading of Handel’s Messiah. Novice singers, professionals, non-singers and families are all welcome. Admission is $10. Scores will be available to borrow. After singing this monumental work together, we will gather for refreshments.

Interested in adding your voice to Pro Arte Chorale? Auditions are held by appointment only. If you are interested in performing with Pro Arte, please email info@proartechorale.org or call the office at 201-497-8400 to schedule an audition. Rehearsals are Monday evenings starting at 7:30.

All concerts take place at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave., Ridgewood, N.J.  The venue is wheelchair accessible. Advance discounted tickets are available online atwww.proartechrorale.org