Press Releases

COMPOSER MORTEN LAURIDSEN SPEAKS ABOUT VOCE

April 27, 2008

Voce is clearly already in the upper echelon of American chamber choirs. During my recent residence with the ensemble I was constantly astonished at the level of artistry displayed by both the singers and their conductor, Mark Singleton. I have no doubt that this superb chorus will soon be recognized throughout the United States as exemplifying choral performance at its finest.

VOCE ANNOUNCES THE PETER BAGLEY COMMISSION FOR NEW WORKS OF ART

April 12, 2008

On April 12, 2008 at a concert featuring the works of renowned American Composer Morten Lauridsen, Voce announced the creation of the Peter Bagley Commission for New Works of Art. The purpose of the commission is to (1) fund the creation of new works of art; and (2) promote and provide recognition to highly gifted aspiring artists. Initially the commission will focus on choral compositions, seeking to build the available repertoire of modern choral works and encouraging choral works reflecting a wide range of cultural influences. As the commission and Voce continue to grow, the commission may be extended to works in other areas of the performing arts (including, for example, dance and instrumental compositions), and to the funding of performances of commissioned works. Initial funding for the commission was provided by Dr. Bagley himself and by Voce, which intends to contribute proceeds from its concerts to the commission from time to time.

The Bagley Commission is intended to honor Dr. Peter Bagley for his lifetime devotion to working with young musicians to help them realize their full artistic potential. As Professor of Music at The University of Connecticut, his rigorous academic program and exacting standards, combined with his seemingly endless encouragement of and support for talented students, produced some of the finest choral musicians in the United States. Hundreds, if not thousands, of his former students are proud to consider him their mentor and friend. As Special Assistant to the Dean of the School of Fine Arts at The University of Connecticut and as a frequent guest conductor and choral clinician for numerous festivals and all-state choirs throughout the country, Dr. Bagley continues to inspire young musicians everywhere. In order to honor Dr. Bagley and to support him in his lifetime mission of helping young artists realize their ambitions, Voce is proud to announce the creation of The Peter Bagley Commission for New Works of Art.

The first recipient of the commission is Chilean composer Javier Farias Caballero, who has composed a piece to be premiered by Voce and Alturas Duo – an instrumental ensemble specializing in the performance of South American Music – in the fall of 2008. The composition, which draws upon the musical heritage of Chile, epitomizes the Bagley Commission’s goal of broadening the range of cultural influences in the choral repertoire available to American choral ensembles.

COMPOSER MORTEN LAURIDSEN IN HARTFORD FOR WORKSHOP, CONCERT

March 7, 2008

The Woodland Concert Series and Voce - Hartford's electrifying new professional choral ensemble - announced today that renowned American composer Morten Lauridsen will be coming to Hartford for a week in April, culminating with a choral workshop and a concert of his works on April 12, 2008. Lauridsen, who was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bush in November, 2007, will work with choral groups at Trinity College and Central Connecticut State College during the week.

He will conduct a workshop open to all community singers on Saturday morning, April 12, focusing on the performance of three of his best known works – O Magnum Mysterium, Dirait-On and Sure On This Shining Night. At 7:30 that evening, Dr. Lauridsen will join Voce and CCSU's highly-regarded University Singers in a performance of his works at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford.

"The choral arts are thriving in Hartford and I'm looking forward to my time there," said Lauridsen, who is recognized as America's most widely performed choral composer. "This is an unbelievable opportunity for singers in the Hartford area," responds Voce's Artistic Director, Mark Singleton. "Dr. Lauridsen is one of the greatest composers of all time – the opportunity to work with somebody of his caliber is a once-in-a-lifetime event."

Voce, which has used its performances to raise over $11,500 for other Connecticut-based not-for-profits, will premiere the first choral version of Dr. Lauridsen's Where Have The Actors Gone and will present the East Coast premiere of his Chanson Eloignee. "We are just thrilled to present these pieces," added Singleton, "and we are sensible of the magnitude of the honor Dr. Lauridsen has bestowed on us by giving us the opportunity."

VOCE CONCERT TO BENEFIT HARTFORD’S LOAVES AND FISHES MINISTRIES

Voce, Hartford’s professional choral ensemble with a mission of helping other not-for-profit organizations, will present a concert to benefit Loaves and Fishes Ministries on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT. The concert will feature classical works by Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen, modern works by Duke Ellington and Bobby McFerrin, American spirituals, and the world premiere of compositions by David Roggeveen Byrne.

VOCE TO SING BENEFIT CONCERT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

On Monday, May 21st at 7:30 p.m., Voce – Connecticut’s newest choral ensemble with a commitment to helping others through the performing arts – will present a benefit concert at Immanuel Congregational Church, 10 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT to benefit Habitat for Humanity’s interfaith housing project, the House of Abraham. All of the proceeds of the concert will be donated to the House of Abraham project, which brings together Hartford area Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith communities to build a house for a local low-income family. The project, which is also designed to foster open dialogue and understanding of and between the three Abrahamic faiths, is scheduled to begin in June, 2007 and will be completed by Holiday season 2008.

“This is exactly the kind of work Voce wants to support,” according to Mark Singleton, Voce’s Artistic Director. “Voce believes that music can and should be a force for positive change. By doing a concert to support the House of Abraham, not only do we get to help Habitat for Humanity reach its financial goals – we get to help the many, many people involved in the project come together to celebrate with one another. We also help Habitat and the different faith communities to get more public support for their good works.” Consistent with its mission, Voce’s first concerts in October, 2006 benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and a portion of the sales of CDs of the October concerts continue to benefit JDRF. After a collaboration with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra in December, 2006 Voce’s 24 singers were hailed as an “extraordinary chorale ensemble” by the Symphony’s Executive Director, and Voce has been praised for its “exquisite musicianship” by American Composer Jason McCoy.

“We are delighted to be working with Voce,” says Habitat for Humanity’s Director of Individual and Faith-Based Support, Jennifer Schimmel. “Habitat for Humanity has worked with the Hartford community for 18 years to build well over 100 houses for local low-income families, and we hope to build an additional 100 houses by 2009 – our 20th anniversary. Support like this from other community organizations, in addition to the incredible support we receive from individuals, is what makes our mission possible.”

The concert, which contains both classical and popular works, features all-American composers including Eric Whitacre, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Kern and Billy Joel. Voce will also premier a work – as it has done at each of its concerts – by rising composer Jacob Groff. “There is something for everyone in this program, and it gives us a chance to do works by artists of different faith backgrounds as well,” says Singleton.

General admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 by contacting Tom Cooke, Executive Director of Voce, at 860.246.8623 or voceinc@att.net, or by contacting Jennifer Schimmel at 860.541.2208 x102 or jenn@hartfordhabitat.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door ($25 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors).