WVC's Glorious 75th Anniversary Year
A look back at WVC's 75th anniversary year featuring two world premieres,
a resolution from the New York State Senate,
as well as service to our Orange County community
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The WVC participated in a world premiere performance in Carnegie Hall on May 28th, 2016,
of Ivo Antognini's A Prayer for Mother Earth.
Members of the Warwick Valley Chorale getting ready to enter Carnegie Hall.
They are ready for the final rehearsal and the world premiere performance of Antognini's A Prayer for Mother Earth, May 28, 2016.
Stanley Curtis, the Conductor of the Warwick Valley Chorale, congratulates the composer, Ivo Antognini,
on the marvelous score for his A Prayer for Mother Earth.
Dr. Curtis along with 65 other members of the WVC joined
about 150 other choristers from New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas and Switzerland
in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium accompanied by the composer on piano and the New England Ensemble.
Andrew Crane masterfully conducted the performance to a standing ovation from the audience.
Here is a "pep talk" directly from our new friend Ivo:
"Dear Stanley,
It has been a fantastic experience at the Carnegie, acoustically and artistically speaking!
Thanks again, for bringing your singers to the event....
Take care and bring my regards to your singers, and I will cross my fingers for your concerts with "A Prayer for Mother Earth" :-)))
IVO"
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Click to download this flier and to see the Press Release announcing these concerts.
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"Our next New York City appearance will be on May 28, 2016, as the central chorus performing the world premiere of Ivo Antognini’s A Prayer for Mother Earth, at Carnegie Hall. This will be followed by two local concerts in early June, 2016 featuring the same piece, a glorious modern “oratorio for life” with lyrics in English that are drawn from Native American prayers, Saint Francis of Assissi and Archpriest Grigori Petrov, among others. In our local concerts we will also sing a selection of American Spirituals arranged by John Rutter, plus a few other surprises."
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See: http://midamerica-music.com/carnegie-hall-concerts/May-2016 Click here to download this poster
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In February, 2016, the New York State Senate, courtesy of Senator John J. Bonacic, passed a resolution commemorating WVC's 75th anniversary.
Click here to view and download a copy of this commemoration.
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June 14th, 2016: Members of the Warwick Valley Chorale
participate in a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando Pulse massacre.
Video by Erika Norton, courtesy of The Warwick Advertiser
Members of the WVC visited 5 nursing and rehabilitation centers on Tuesday, July 12th, 2016.
Here’s our line-up which was enjoyed by some very appreciative audiences:
1) Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
2) Steal Away
3) Bound For Jubilee
4) There’s a Little Wheel a-Turnin’
5) I Got a Robe
6) Sing-along with residents
7) When the Saints Go Marching In
Facilities visited included the Promenade and South East Towers in Middletown, Valley View Center in Goshen, plus Mt. Alverno Center and Schervier Pavilion in Warwick.
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Gwyneth Walker's arrangement of Down to the River to Pray, premiered by the Warwick Valley Chorale at their December 2015 concerts and by popular demand was performed again at WVC's June 2016 concerts in Middletown and Warwick.
Audio by Tom Venable and video by Rachel Rosen
The Warwick Valley Chorale prepares for its 75th Anniversary Concerts Photo by Ed Bailey
The WVC in concert at St. Stephens Church, Warwick, NY, Dec. 13, 2015 Photo by David Nieves
Photo courtesy of The Warwick Advertiser
Click here to see the article in The Warwick Advertiser about the December 13th concert at St. Stephens Church
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Click here to see the article in "Dirt Magazine" about WVC's commission with Gwyneth Walker.
Click here and see James Cotter's review of the WVC concert in Middletown.
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The program includes the world premiere of a new composition by our favorite composer, Gwyneth Walker.
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Click here to see or download the press releases this season - WVC's 75th year!
Click here to see Dr. Walker's web site.
Here is the composer's notes about our commissioned work: "Down to the River to Pray."
Gwyneth Walker, WVC's favorite composer
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Members of the WVC greeted
Santa in Sugar Loaf - Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015
Photo by Ed Bailey at last year's festivities.
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Members of the Warwick Valley Chorale caroling down Main Street
on Sunday, Nov 22, 2015, at Warwick's Home for the Holidays.
Photo by Roger Gavan, Warwick Advertiser
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The 2nd Annual Fantastic WVC Ceili at the Landmark Inn, Rt 94 Warwick.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, at 6 PM.
WVC members singing Christmas carols for Warwick's "Home for the Holidays"
Thank you, Leslie Collins, for putting together this fabulous party.
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