Choir welcomes new Artistic Director, Doreen Rao
CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Chicago Chamber Choir’s 2015-16 season, Around the World in the “Most American City,” launches a multi-year exploration of Chicago’s rich cultural diversity as represented in the city’s 77 neighborhoods. From choral music inspired by the natural world and indigenous cultures to new and familiar music by Canadian, Latin American, and Irish composers, The Chicago Chamber Choir’s 20th Anniversary Season celebrates the power of choral music as an expression of Chicago’s strong communal identity.
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The season begins with From Canada to Chicago (October 24-25), featuring contemporary choral music of North America as inspired by the natural world and indigenous cultures. Works by R. Murray Schafer, Stephen Hatfield, Imant Raminsh and Srul Irving Glick combine with new works by Chicago composers.
Fiesta de las Americas (December 19-20) marks The Chicago Chamber Choir’s debut in the Pilsen community with a spirited selection of traditional songs, holiday carols, and contemporary music by Chavez, Villa-Lobos, and Astor Piazzolla, celebrating Latino culture in Chicago with Mexico and Central America’s folk and traditional music.
The Chicago Chamber Choir’s season closes with Be Thou My Vision: All Things Irish (April 16-17, 2016), celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, one of the defining moments in Ireland’s struggle for independence with a Celtic mosaic of traditional, popular, and contemporary music of Irish and American composers.
This season marks the official debut of The Chicago Chamber Choir’s new Artistic Director, internationally-renowned choral conductor Doreen Rao. Praised for her “significant and lasting contribution to the cause of American music” and “commitment to choral excellence,” Rao’s ambitious plans for the choir include an increased focus on the music of Chicago composers and collaborative performances with the area’s many youth music ensembles.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
From Canada to Chicago
Saturday, October 24, 7:30pm
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
1509 Ridge Ave., Evanston
Sunday, October 25, 3:00pm
Chicago Sinai Congregation
15 W. Delaware Pl., Chicago (Gold Coast)
Fiesta de las Americas
Saturday, December 19, 7:30pm
St. Procopius Church
1641 S. Allport, Chicago (Pilsen)
Sunday, December 20, 3:00pm
St. Paul United Church of Christ
2335 N. Orchard, Chicago (Old Town)
Be Thou My Vision: All Things Irish
Saturday, April 16, 2016, 7;30pm
Old St. Patrick’s
700 W. Adams, Chicago (Loop)
St. James Cathedral
Sunday, April 17, 2016, 3:00pm
65 E. Huron St., Chicago (Gold Coast)
ABOUT THE CHICAGO CHAMBER CHOIR
The Chicago Chamber Choir is passionately committed to creating a moving experience for our audience by performing exceptional choral music that celebrates the unlimited potential of the human voice. We are an ensemble of highly accomplished singers dedicated to the choral art, who desire to be part of a vibrant musical community.
