INTRODUCTION
The Valley Chamber Chorale is a unique artistic organization dedicated to providing classical, contemporary, jazz, and sacred vocal performances of the highest caliber. Our programs consistently reflect the rich cultural heritage of the St. Croix Valley and incorporate guest artists from across the country. The Chorale is widely regarded as one of the leading arts organizations in Washington County, the St. Croix Valley and the state of Minnesota.
HISTORY
The Valley Chamber Chorale was originally formed in 1975 as a creative outlet for adults with previous musical experience who sought an opportunity to perform sophisticated works not normally attempted by church choirs and other singing groups. The Chorale was incorporated in 1977, is a non-profit organization, and is a member of Chorus America. The 2009-10 season marks the Chorale's 35th year of producing and performing vocal programs in the St. Croix Valley area.
MISSION AND GOALS
Our mission is to produce and present high quality choral performances principally in the St. Croix Valley, providing enjoyment for the singers and the audience.
Specifically our goals are:
- To strive for musical excellence in performance.
- To seek new challenges artistically and technically.
- To produce and perform a minimum of three concerts each year.
- To produce and perform concerts which include a major work with professional instrumental accompaniments.
- To produce and perform concerts that remain affordable and accessible.
- To perform a varied repertoire within each season.
- To support and commission new choral works.
Each season, the Valley Chamber Chorale seeks to develop musical programming that stimulates our audience and enhances their appreciation of music as expressed by the human voice. The Chorale perfoms two concert series at the Historic Courthouse in Stillwater, Minnesota where audience members are treated to gourmet refreshments amid luxurious concert decor. Many lovely churches in the Valley provide additional venues, the perfect setting for our Classic Concerts.
STRENGTHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The strengths of the Valley Chamber Chorale lie in the immense talent and dedication of the singers (all concerts are self-produced by Chorale volunteers), and in our diverse and unusual programming. Artistic Director, Carol Carver, purposely fills every concert with selections that are familiar as well as obscure. Through creative programming, she challenges the audience to experience more than their old favorites.
Over the years, the Chorale has developed the technical and musical artistry required to successfully perform the most demanding of choral works. Notable accomplishments of the Chorale include numerous examples:
- Three world premieres of commissioned pieces in 10 years: 5 Parables, music for choir and jazz quartet composed by Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus Artistic Director Craig Carnahan, with lyrics drawn from the work of West Coast poet James Buchanan; Canticum Novum by Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus; and a piece by Jeanie Brindley-Barnett which is based on a book of poetry called I Never Saw Another Butterfly written by children at the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust. The Chorale performed this music in Stillwater at a Holocaust memorial service, at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, and at the Anne Frank Exhibit in St. Paul.
- Performances of major choral works including Beethovens's Mass in C, Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, Britten's A Ceremony of Carols and his Rejoice in the Lamb, Rossini's Petite messe solennelle, Bach's Wachet Auf, Henryk Gorecki's Totus Tuus, Steve Heitzeg's little tree, Bruckner's Mass in E Minor, John Rutter's Gloria, Handel's Dixit Dominus, Faure's Requiem, Poulenc's Gloria, Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes, Geoffrey Bush's Christmas Cantata, Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor and his Regina Coeli, Haydn's Mariazeller Mass, Durufle's Requiem, the Midwest premiere of Te Deum, a highly-acclaimed and very challenging new work by Estonian composer Arvo Part, and Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein.
- A concert of British music conducted by Simon Carrington of the world-famous "The King's Singers"
- Joint concerts with The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Stillwater Area High School Choir
- Performance and participation in Stillwater's "Partnership in Education" program.
- Performance of J.S. Bach's monumental Mass in B Minor with guest conductor Richard Erickson, five soloists, and full orchestral accompaniment.
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