On Saturday, May 11, the Choir, Chorus and MadriGals performed their annual Spring Choral Concert in the Meetinghouse. The concert featured excerpts of Carmina Burana for chorus, two pianos and percussion, as well as choral settings of poetry, including David Child’s setting of Where Your Barefoot Walks, based on a poem by Rumi; Vaughan Williams’ Valiant for Truth; two settings of Emily Dickinson poems by composer Raymond Schroyens; and excerpts of Eric Whitacre’s Hebrew Love Songs. Also included in the program: works for choir and percussion such as Mbiri Kuna Mwari and Peze Kafe, a Haitian folk song.
The Choir is an ensemble of 50 students selected by audition from grades 10-12. Directed by Stephen Kushner, the Choir performs frequently throughout the year, often collaborating with many of Philadelphia’s leading professional musicians. Recently, the group has performed with the Singing City Choir and with members of the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra, and has sung the Philadelphia premiere of “somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon.