What's New with The Chorale...
The Prescott Chorale is delighted to announce that we are in the process of returning to performing for our audiences. After more than a year of not seeing one another in person due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and only singing together in a virtual, computer screen environment, we are looking forward to preparing for our “grand reopening” on October 9, 2021. In a live concert titled “Out of the Storm” featuring themes of hope and new beginnings, the Chorale will feature the contemporary works Requiem for the Living and You Are the Music by Dan Forrest and the classical work, Der Sturm, by F.J. Haydn, with orchestra.
This is the Prescott Chorale’s sixth season of performing outstanding choral music in the Quad Cities area. Our Holiday Concert on December 18, 2021, with both matinee and evening performances, is called “A Season to Celebrate”. We will be making merry as we once again have you in our audience. The concert on April 23, 2022, “Awake to Spring”, will highlight the Coronation Mass by Mozart, joined by several other works of hope and new beginnings.
In the last six months, the Prescott Chorale has produced three recordings, using technology to meld the images and voices of our individual singers into one “choir”. These Virtual Choirs are available on our YouTube channel (see links below). We were pleased to join with Prescott United Methodist Church under the leadership of their Music Director and the Prescott Chorale Assistant Director, Jacob Gilbert, for their latest Virtual Choir production for the Easter Season.
As we move forward, following Center for Disease Control guidelines and local community decisions, we will be preparing to welcome you, in person, in October. The Chorale is grateful for your continued support, and we will see you at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Prescott, soon.
Just Listen...
This is the Prescott Chorale’s sixth year of performing outstanding choral music in the Quad Cities area, and the first time that we brought together some of its singers for these special choral endeavors.
Having to suspend its 2019-2020 season in early March 2020 due to the dangers of performing choral music during the pandemic, the Chorale needed to stay in touch with the music we love and those we sing for. In an effort to continue that connection with our audience, and to allow singers to make music, Artistic Director, Dennis Houser, commissioned the creation of these special performances.
It was a new experience for our singers to create its first virtual choir by recording their individual voices in their living room, or office, or at a friend’s house, on an smart phone or computer. All their recordings were then sent to Assistant Director, Jacob Gilbert, who provided the technical expertise to pull it all together and produce the sound you hear of “one chorus”.
ENJOY!
My Country Tis of Thee
Memorial Day is an important holiday in our country as we honor our military men and women who died in the service of United States. The Prescott Chorale is proud to perform this patriotic song for this Memorial Day, 2021.
“Just wonderful, very professional, inspirational! Sharing with all my friends on this special occasion.”
– Monte Anderson
“Well done friends!”
– Brian Schiff
“Very nice! Blessings our friends!”
– Mountain Reformed Church
“Bravo!”
– Denise Widtfeldt
MAY 2021
The lyrics of “America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)”, a favorite American patriotic song, were written by Samuel Francis Smith and has been arranged by Dan Forrest for this performance.
APRIL 2021
The wonder of music will always be one way for us to share some happiness. To that end, many people have worked to overcome the absence of in-person concerts during the pandemic and have triumphed through the digital production of music for your hearing pleasure.
Risen Today and Joyful Joyful
The Prescott Chorale was pleased to share another Virtual Choir recording with you in celebration of a most holy time of year, Easter. This is our third recording using Chorale singers who made individual recordings which were edited to become ONE extraordinary performance.
Three Talented Groups Join Together
Jacob Gilbert, Director of Music at Prescott United Methodist Church, brought together singers from the United Methodist Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Prescott Chorale to make the music and has provided the technical expertise to bring us together for this recording, virtually.
We hope you enjoy the performance!
If Music Be The Food Of Love
The Prescott Chorale wished everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day with our next virtual performance of “If Music Be the Food of Love” by David Dickau. The Chorale has performed this work several times “live” and it has become a favorite.
Music IS the food of love – love of friends, family, and life. The Prescott Chorale is grateful for the opportunity to share our love of music with you this Valentine’s Day as we move into the spring of 2021 and look forward to singing for you, virtually today and in person in the fall.
FEBRUARY 2021
“If Music Be the Food of Love” was commissioned for the Minnesota All-State Choir in 1998 and premiered by conductor Paul Oakley. The poem was written by Henry Heveningham in the late 17h century.
NOVEMBER 2020
“The Lord Bless You and Keep You” by Peter Lutkin, an American composer at the beginning of the 20th century. This benediction has been a staple of a cappella choral music and includes a well-known seven-fold “Amen”.
The Lord Bless and Keep You
The Prescott Chorale wished our audience, families and friends, a warm Thanksgiving season as they joined together, safely, in small groups and “virtually”, to celebrate a time of overcoming challenges and great changes to our lives during the pandemic. This musical benediction was presented in gratitude for giving us a chance to sing again, and share the healing power of music with you.
This beautiful piece is appropriate at any time though, and we present it here for your enjoyment.
You can make a difference
Support the Prescott Chorale and help bring incredible vocal music to our community!