The Rockbridge Chorus, directed by William McCorkle, will present the annual Holiday Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Lexington Presbyterian Church.
Joining the chorus for part of the performance will be the Rockbridge Youth Chorale, directed by Lacey Lynch and Katelyn Roll.
As in previous years, the evening will begin with a community carol sing at 7:15 p.m.
Said McCorkle, “Sharing this tradition of singing with, and performing for, our wonderful community audience is a treasured experience for the chorus. It is a wonderful way to open a new chorus season, and we’re particularly glad to have the Youth Chorale singing with us again.”
This year’s program includes Choral Society favorites from recent years as well as a number of pieces new to many in the group. Repertoire will include compositions on Christmas and winter texts, and a wide array of carol settings. Pianists for the concert will be Anna Billias and William McCorkle. Vocal soloists will be soprano Christine Fairfield; tenors Scott Williamson and Evan Odson; and baritones David Sorrells.
The chorus repertoire for the concert includes 21st century pieces which have become classics: Martin Lauridsen’s “Sure on This Shining Night,” Scottish composer James MacMillan’s oracular “O Radiant Dawn,” and Matthew Culloton’s “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
Works from the 20th century tradition include Healey Willan’s “Hodie Christus Natus Est” and Edward Bairstow’s haunting setting of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.”
There will be two pieces composed around the 16th century hymn, “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star,” and featuring tenors Williamson and Odson, a contrapuntal motet by 20th century composer Sidney W. Boner, and the much-loved “The Three Kings” by 19th century German composer Peter Cornelius.
The chorus, with soprano Fairfield, reclaims William Mc-Corkle’s haunting “O Little Love” on a text by New Zealand’s treasured poet, Shirley Erena Murray. A new piece for this year is Steve Zegree’s version of “Joy to the World” in an upbeat vocal jazz a cappella arrangement.
The women of the chorus, with soprano Fairfield, will sing Peter Hurford’s “Blake’s Cradle Song” on a text by the English poet William Blake. The men of the chorus, with baritone Sorrells, will sing William Llewellyn’s arrangement of the lively calypso carol, “De Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.”
The children’s choir of the Rockbridge Youth Chorale will sing the lively “Cold Snap” by Mark Hayes. The youth choir of the RYC will offer three pieces: “Sim Shalom” (“Prayer for Peace”) by Will Lopez; Elizabeth Campbell’s arrangement of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”; and Chuck Bridwell’s medley, “Various Themes on Fa-la-la.” The RC and RYC singers will collaborate on two pieces: Jim Papoulis’s energetic “Sing for Peace,” and Rick and Sylvia Powell’s soothing “Peace, Peace,” a partner song for “Silent Night.”
In addition to the caroling preceding the concert, the audience is invited to join the choruses in a number of carols and intervals throughout the evening.
Advance tickets for the performance can be purchased online from the Rockbridge Choral Society website, rcs.org, at $12.50 per person and $35 for immediate family. Tickets will also be available at the door at $15 per person and $40 for immediate family.
The Rockbridge Chorus and the Rockbridge Youth Chorale are part of the Rockbridge Choral Society, which receives support form area individuals, businesses, and organizations. For more information, call (540) 460-9650.
