A Collection of Song

NEC Chamber Singers and Concert Choir under the leadership of Director of Choral Activities, Erica Washburn present a program of songs from a variety of traditions. Tonight's concert offers songs that draw on universal themes of joy, love, and the singular beauty of nature. The music spans hundreds of years, and highlights the power of a chorus of voices raised together. The program features former member of NEC's faculty, and beloved member of Boston's Early Music community, Daniel Pinkham's Wedding Cantata.

The Wedding Cantata introduces  a much anticipated collaboration between the NEC Concert Choir and the NEC Youth Chorale. This collaboration brings the combined efforts of the choristers of the NEC Concert Choir and Chamber Singers this spring semester full circle; since late March 2012 NEC choristers have been participating in an advocacy and leadership program with local and national high school choral departments. The culmination of the efforts of these promising young musicians has led to the performing for, and the mentoring of, more than 400 high school singers.

The Complete Program:

NEC Chamber Singers:
Scarlatti:Exultate Deo
Tallis:If ye love me
Stanford:  The Blue Bird
Sarah Yanovitch, soprano
Messiaen: O sacrum convivium
Erika Danielle Littlejohn, mezzo-soprano
Schafer:  Gamelan
Handel: Hallelujah, Amen from Judas Maccabaeus
Samantha Angstman, piano
Brahms:Der Abend, Op. 64, No. 2
Samantha Angstman, piano
Parton/Johnson:Light of a Clear Blue Morning
Erika Danielle Littlejohn, mezzo-soprano
Shaw/Parker:  My God is a Rock
Zachary Johnson, bass

NEC Concert Choir:
Pinkham: Wedding Cantata
Rebecca Lynne Wright, soprano, Alexander Sheerin, tenor, Sangyoung Kim, piano
NEC Preparatory School Youth Chorale
Monteverdi:Crucifixus
Darrel Whidden, graduate conductor, Tenors and Basses of NEC Concert Choir
Yina Tong, cello
Tippett: Five Negro Spirituals from A Child of Our Time
Paulus:Pilgrims’ Hymn from Three Hermits