Chorale Connecticut will celebrate the Spring in grand style with Mendelssohn's triumphant “Gloria” and “Magnificat”, featuring a 21-piece orchestra and professional vocal soloists.  This ambitious program offers our audience a musical experience seldom experienced so close to home.

So, save the date, Saturday, May 17, 2008 at First Congregational Church, 62 Colony St., Meriden.  A reception in Smith Hall follows the concert giving the audience an opportunity to mingle with the singers, soloists and instrumentalists.

Order tickets   Meet the Soloists
Directions to the First Congregational Church

Chorale Connecticut‘s 11th concert season began on Saturday, December 8th at 7:30 at the First United Methodist Church in Meriden.  The program featured Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols," accompanied by the gifted harpist, Susan Knapp Thomas.  Britten’s use of medieval poetry and haunting harp interludes gave life to the traditional Christmas story. This masterpiece celebrates the joyous birth of hope. 

We also offered selections of popular holiday favorites including “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, “Ding Dong Merrily on High”, “Once in Royal David’s City” and “Three Kings of Orient”.  This section included The First United Methodist Church Hand Bell ensemble and costumed surprises. A special holiday reception followed the concert at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center.

Chorale Connecticut began its 11th concert season on May 5, 2007 with a musical program based on the "Love" theme. Selections ranged from 16th-17th century selections to music by modern composers such as Stephen Chatman, Elton John and Gwyneth Walker. Broadway favorites and a medley of Gershwin tunes were also featured. The concert was performed at the First United Methodist Church in Meriden. A special reception followed the concert at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center.

On December 2, 2006 at 7:30, Chorale Connecticut performed Holiday Memories, a concert composed of Dorothy Barnhart's favorites from past winter performances.  The selections ranged from  caroling with audience participation to magnificent classical pieces accompanied by brass fanfare.  A sampling included Carol of the Bells by Wilhousky, Advent Joy by F. Mendelssohn, O Magnum Mysterium by Gabrieli, and Pinkham's Christmas Cantata accompanied by organ and brass ensemble.  This reprise included a special guest appearance by Marvin Beloff, who recounted to the children in our audience his childhood memory of lighting the Menorah.  While the children watched, he lit a Menorah as the Chorale performed Boruch Atoh. 

On Sat. May 6, 2006 at 7:30 pm, Chorale Connecticut performed a concert titled "Remembrances"  which incorporated a unique blending of favorite selections sung by the Chorale during the past 10 years. The Chorale was celebrating its 10 year Anniversary. A slide show and pictures coordinated with the music to create a multi-media presentation which delighted audiences of all ages. This was a "not to be missed" performance.

In a tribute to hope and renewal, Chorale Connecticut reprised its triumphant performance of Handel's Messiah, last performed in 1999.  This holiday program was performed on Saturday, December 10, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. to a standing-room-only crowd at the First United Methodist Church in Meriden.

For this performance, Chorale Connecticut was elated to feature:
> Beverly Myers (Soprano) from New York City, Master singer and teacher
> Laura Mashburn (Mezzo-Soprano)
> Wayne Rivera (Tenor)
> Ted Stasiuk (Bass)
> A fifteen-piece professional chamber orchestra

Chorale Connecticut was excited to share this Spring concert with the Special Singers Ensemble of J. A. DePaolo Middle School of Southington, led by their vocal director Mrs. Patti Altieri.

We featured the music of Connecticut composer Paul Halley (back by popular demand). The Special Singers sang several of their favorites, including a Swahili piece they performed for the Regional Competition, Dansi Na Kuimba. The Chorale performed Halley’s song set Love Songs for Springtime, as well as other folk songs and spirituals. The Chorale and these special singers then united to perform Halley’s tremendous arrangement, Freedom Trilogy.

Hear Freedom Trilogy

Chorale Connecticut’s Mosaic Christmas, led by Dorothy Barnhart with flutes, oboe, harp, organ and hand bells, combined the Baroque and the Modern.  Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s sensuous and grand Baroque style blended with Stephen Paulus’s Modern lyrical favorites. On December 4, 2004, the capacity audience was enchanted with the hauntingly beautiful Messe de Minuit pour Noel (Midnight Mass) by Charpentier accompanied by flutes and organ. Next they were intrigued by A Stephen Paulus Christmas, a medley of nine familiar carols set by Paulus. The instrumentation, which included harp, flutes, oboe and hand bells, added yet another exciting dimension to his music.