Come “Welcome Spring!” with the Chester River Chorale, as 70 voices celebrate Mother Earth’s vernal awakening from its icy winter sleep.
The CRC will present its spring concert, “Welcome Spring!” on Friday, March 18 at 8 p.m. at Kent County High School in Worton, and Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Centreville.
This performance marks the spring equinox when the hours of daylight surpass darkness.
“The program explores the season of renewal from many viewpoints: the changes we see in the natural world, the sowing of crops and planting of gardens, and the chance encounter with new-found love,” said CRC Artistic Director Douglas D. Cox.
Selections include an excerpt from Franz Josef Haydn’s oratorio from 1801, The Seasons, featuring guest soloists Mark Huseth, baritone; Dan Erbe, tenor; and Janet Hjelmgren, soprano. This early, turn-of-the-century Viennese perspective is contrasted with such contemporary works as “Make Our Garden Grow,” from Leonard Bernstein’s Broadway opera, Candide; “Come to My Garden,” from the British musical sensation The Secret Garden; and “Morning Has Broken,” arranged by Mack Wilberg, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The Chester Chamber Singers, a 20-voice ensemble drawn from the Chorale, will turn the focus from the love of Nature to the nature of Love. The joys and heartaches of youthful infatuation will have a voice in several contemporary settings on courtly lyrics of 17th century Elizabethan England and tunes from 20th century Broadway.
The program will also feature several 4-hand piano accompaniments played by the Chorale’s pianist, Sam Marshall, and guest pianist Darren Lael.
“There is an optimistic tone throughout the program that reflects the pulse of the season. It’s that feeling of anticipation we all experience as winter retreats,” said Cox. “Our hope with this program is that our patrons’ connection to the new season—for all the beauty it portends—will be magnified through the music they hear from The Chester River Chorale.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students. Children under 12 are free but must have a ticket so that seats are not oversold.
Tickets are available at Scotties, Compleat Bookseller, and Towne Stationers in Chestertown; Galena Pharmacy in Galena; Java Rock in Rock Hall; and Optical Galleria in Centreville.
The Chorale’s Christmas Holiday Concerts were sold out and people were turned away, so the Chorale is urging patrons to get their tickets early and to arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain to be assured of being seated.
Chorale members are amateur singers drawn mainly from Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. The CRC’s mission is to provide opportunity and inspiration for amateur singers to strive for artistic excellence. No audition is required. Rehearsals are held Mondays at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Chestertown.
The Chester River Chorale performances entertain diverse audiences and enrich the cultural life of the community. It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Kent County Arts Council and by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. For more information visit www.chesterriverchorale.org or call 410–810–1438.