The Break is Over!
January 2, 2009
Well, the Holiday Season is at an end! It's time to get going with the rest of our season! Our singers will be returning to a retreat (really a triple rehearsal) on the weekend of January 9 & 10. It's a good time to catch up with the happenings over the break and get a first peek at the music for the rest of the season.
We would like to say Thank You to everyone who made it to our Holiday Concert. That's the time of year when the weather is pretty dicey AND the odds of having a cough are pretty good. We certainly enjoyed ourselves--and we hope you did too!
We also want to thank everyone who responded to our call for a new Artistic Director. We've had a very good response; the Board of Directors is working hard on the decision now. We hope to let you know pretty soon what the results will be.
Our next concert, American Voices, should prove to be a very good one! Our Composer-in-Residence, Paul Carey, will be up to conduct us in some of his work AND more importantly, in our newest commission! The Middleton High School Choir will also be singing with us. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, you can either get them from us (now!), or check out one of our ticket outlets beginning in February.
Remember: interested singers are welcome join us for the second half of our 2008-9. Click here for more information!
You may have noticed (or maybe not) at our October concert that we have a new addition to our
table of CDs & t-Shirts -- coffee mugs! These aren't any old coffee mug though--they hold 12 ounces of coffee (or cocoa if
you prefer! These mugs are available for $12 each. You can get them at our February 28 concert or at our May 9 concert. Of course,
if you can't wait until then, you can contact the choir office and get one right now!
Choir Happenings!
October 28, 2008
The Festival Choir of Madison's season is in full swing! Our Visions of Eternity concert was very lovely. Thank you to everyone who was able to come and see the concert! Our next concert, Rejoice!, is fast approaching. Until November 3rd, you can still purchase advance or group tickets directly from us. Tickets for this concert will NOT be available at our usual ticket outlets. Click here to order individual advance ticket from us. Click here for more information on group rates!
We have sad news: Drew Collins, our artistic director, has informed us that we should be looking for someone more local to direct the choir. Maestro Collins has been commuting from Ohio. We invite candidates who are interested in applying for this post to download our announcement AND send a note to our search committee for detailed instructions!
We are actively seeking singers to join us for the second half of our 2008-9 season which begins on January 9th with a weekend retreat. Click here for more information!
The Festival Choir of Madison will be singing in the Rotunda of the Overture Center on Saturday, November 29! Join us for Carols in the lobby at Noon and again at 2pm.
Our 36th Concert Season
The Festival Choir welcomes you to its 36th season of choral music! This season begins with the contemplative Visions of Eternity concert, presenting works by Durufle, Faure' and Tavener. Set in the renovated First United Methodist sanctuary, accompanied by candlelight, this concert aims to connect us all with that which lies beyond the ordinary, the quotidian. Get more details...
Our holiday concert, Rejoice!, returns to the Capitol Theater in the Overture Center. A must-see holiday celebration with familiar carols in new arrangements, like Rutter's Away in the Manger, and less familiar lovely holiday fare like Paulus' Splendid Jewel. Get more details...
The third concert of the season, American Voices, presented at Middleton's Performing Arts Center, presents our Composer-In-Residence, Paul Carey, conducting a piece commissioned for the Festival Choir and written by him--an exciting world premiere! The concert will also feature past premieres by the Choir by composers Ann Heider, Elizabeth Alexander, Joshua Shank and Jean Belmont. Get more details...
Fourth in our subscription series is the Cantata Concert, featuring Purcell's Come, Ye Sons of Art, Debussy's Trois Chansons and Lauridsen's Mid-Winter Songs. The new auditorium at the First Unitarian Society of Madison will be the spectacular site for the making of this beautiful choral music. Get more details...
The Festival Choir was also honored to be invited to perform with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in one of their season concerts in March, singing Schubert's Mass No. 2 in G Major. Additionally, the Choir will be presented as guest artist for the Stoughton Opera House subscription series, performing there in May.
It is shaping up to be an inspirational season. We hope you will join us! And remember, there's an early bird discount if you buy your subscription tickets before June 30, 2008
Festival Choir 2008-2009 Subscription Series
October
18, 2008 • 7:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison
December 7, 2008 • 2:00 p.m.
Capitol Theater
Overture Center for the Arts
201 State St., Madison
February 28, 2009 • 7:30 p.m.
Middleton Performing Arts Center
2100 Bristol Street, Middleton
May 9, 2009 • 7:30 p.m.
First Unitarian Society of Madison Auditorium
900 University Bay Dr., Madison
Experienced, hardworking singers ages 20 to 70 are invited to join the Festival Choir for the 2008-2009 season.