Choral Artistry takes audiences to Russia in January then hosts community choral festival

In early January, start your new year on a high note with the rich sounds of Rachmaninoff’s “Vespers” from the “All Night Vigil” service of the Russian Orthodox Liturgy.
There will be performances at Sanibel Community Church (Friday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.), at St. Mary’s Episcopal in Bonita Springs (Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.), and at Trinity by the Cove Episcopal in Naples (Sunday, Jan. 9 at 4 p.m). Admission is free.
Formerly performing as The Symphonic Chorale of SWFL, this is Choral Artistry’s first community-wide performance under its new name, which was announced in August at the beginning of its 10th Anniversary – Take 2 Season.
“Sung in Russian, Vespers is all acappella (voices only), definitely a challenge, and remarkable for the musical independence of each line,” says Choral Artistry’s artistic director Dr. Trent Brown. “Rachmaninoff was most excited and passionate about this work and it is his only choral composition.”
This concert will also include Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise” featuring soprano soloist Kate Lucander, Alexander Gretchaninoff’s “Our Father,” and a Russian folk tune or two.
Then on the last weekend in January (Jan 28 – 29) Choral Artistry will host a 10th Anniversary celebration of its popular Sing Out! SWFL Choral Festival in Fort Myers, where all community singers and visitors get to “join the chorus” for a weekend of singing and fun.
This year, Sing Out! repertoire will feature “greatest hits” from Handel’s Messiah, a most beloved work sung by choruses around the world.
This theme commemorates the Symphonic Chorale’s inaugural performance “Messiah at the Mann” at Barbara Mann Hall in 2011 as well as its first Sing Out! SWFL Festival in 2012. After a day-long workshop led by our dynamic Artistic Director Dr. Trent Brown, on Saturday, Jan. 28 and a dress rehearsal on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 29), The Festival will conclude with a free live concert performed by the Festival Chorus and Chamber Orchestra at 4 p.m.
The festival is back at the beautiful New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers again this year.
For more information about the January concerts and festival participation and registration, visit www.choralartistry.org, email contact@choralartistry.org or call 239-896-6431.