Warwick Valley Chorale to perform spring concerts
WARWICK — The Warwick Valley Chorale, Orange County’s longest continually active and most distinguished community chorus, has announced its 73rd annual Spring Concert, “An All American Program,” featuring selections by Randall Thompson and George Gershwin.
Under the direction of Stanley Curtis and with accompaniment by Gail Johnson, Chorale members will perform a tribute to Randall Thompson with selections of “Glory To God,” “Alleluia,” “The Testament of Freedom,” and “The Gift Outright” from “A Concord Contata.” Gershwin selections include “Porgy And Bess,” a medley from the musical “Crazy For You,” and “Song of Spring” from the 1937 film “Damsels in Distress.” Completing the program will be Harley Ades' arrangement “Twentiana,” a collection of your favorite Broadway songs from the Roaring Twenties.
The Warwick Valley Chorale performance dates and venues are:
Friday, May 2 - Grace Episcopal Church, 58 North St., Middletown - 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4 - Warwick Reformed Church, 16 Maple Ave., Warwick - 4 p.m.
Friday, May 9 - Goshen United Methodist Church, 127 Main St., Goshen - 7:30 p.m.
These local concerts are presented with free admission; however, donations are gratefully accepted to support the Chorale.
Over the summer months the Warwick Valley Chorale will perform some Civil War era songs for the Town of Warwick’s U.S. Civil War plaque dedication, as well as performing selections from the “All American Program” at local nursing and retirement homes.
The Warwick Valley Chorale provides for people who may not attend traditional classical music performances with emotive, expressive, and professional performances of classical works. The Chorale also performs other varieties of music including spiritual, jazz, folk, and popular music.
The Chorale is a community chorus of approximately 80 members, which includes individuals ranging from high school age and into retirement age. The singers are all volunteers. No auditions are required to become a member of the Chorale. Therefore, there is a wide range of ability levels singing side by side, learning from Curtis, as well as from each other. As needed, singers are taught vocal skills and how to read music while preparing for the concerts.
Contact the Chorale’s president, Zoey Savale, at 845-477-8391 or zsavale@warwickvalleychorale.org, for further information. Also, visit the group's Web site at www.warwickvalleychorale.org or “Like” the Chorale on facebook.