The Monmouth Civic Chorus
Dr. Mark Shapiro, Artistic Director
Close to Perfect, Close to Home

In this issue:

Singers Invited to Summer Sing
Singers Invited to Audition for MCC
MCC Announces a Year of Bach
Monmouth Christmas Carolers for Hire
We Knew Them When – Update on MCC Musicians by MCC Member Warren Moe
What's on your mind?

Singers Invited to Summer Sing

The Monmouth Civic Chorus invites singers to a Summer Sing of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn. The Sing is on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the air-conditioned Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 112 Middletown Road, Holmdel NJ 07733. The admission fee of $5 at the door includes refreshments and score loan.

Elijah is a masterpiece, last performed by the Monmouth Civic Chorus in 2000. The music is full of warmth and grandeur as it tells the story of the Biblical prophet. Choral music lovers will recognize classic choruses like "He watching over Israel" and "Lift thine eyes." The Sing includes guest soloists and piano accompaniment, under the baton of MCC Artistic Director, Dr. Mark Shapiro.

Singers Invited to Audition for MCC

Singers are invited to audition for the 2010-11 season, which features Handel's ever-popular Messiah, Bach's majestic B Minor Mass, and a musical portrait of Bach's life and work. Audition appointments are available on Tuesday evenings beginning in September. Singers may sit in on a rehearsal and get acquainted before they audition. For membership information, call 732-933-9333 or visit www.monmouthcivicchorus.org

Monmouth Civic Chorus Announces a Year of Bach

The award-winning Monmouth Civic Chorus will devote its 2010-2011 season to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, in an entertaining and enlightening concert series conceived and led by Dr. Mark Shapiro, Artistic Director and Conductor.

Bach: the Man and His Music will start the season on Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 255 Harding Road (Tower Hill), Red Bank, New Jersey. Bach's instrumental and vocal works will be sampled in a theatrical setting of music and spoken word, inspired by his life and times. Single tickets are $25 ($22 seniors, $20 groups, $5 students).

This year's traditional holiday performance of Messiah is on Sunday, December 19, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank. The Christmas portion of Handel's beloved oratorio will be paired with selections from Bach's Christmas Oratorio. For many music lovers, it won't be Christmas without it. Single tickets are $45 for premium seating ($40 seniors, $35 groups, $10 students), and $25 regular seating ($22 seniors, $20 groups, $5 students).

The Chorus returns to Tower Hill with Bach's B Minor Mass on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. This towering masterpiece was acclaimed in its first publication as "the greatest musical work of art of all times and all peoples." Never before performed by the Monmouth Civic Chorus, this music is recognized world-wide as a supreme achievement of spiritual and emotional expression. Single tickets are $25 ($22 seniors, $20 groups, $5 students).

The Monmouth Civic Chorus is the proud recipient of the 2008 ASCAP/Chorus America Alice Parker Award, given to only one chorus in North America each year. Under Artistic Director Dr. Mark Shapiro, the Chorus has been called "close to perfect" (Asbury Park Press), "alive and evocative" (The Star-Ledger) and "exceptional" (Red Bank Green).

Subscriptions are $75 for all three concerts. Subscribers get premium seating and a 20% discount over single-ticket prices. Student subscriptions are only $20. Call (732) 933-9333 or visit www.monmouthcivicchorus.org for subscriptions, tickets and information.

Monmouth Christmas Carolers for Hire

The Monmouth Christmas Carolers will brighten holiday gatherings with beautifully sung carols. Groups of singers are available to add merriment to festivities at home, office or community settings. For bookings and rates, e-mail caroling@monmouthcivicchorus.org or call (732) 933-9333.

We knew them when – Update on MCC Musicians by MCC Member Warren Moe

I have often said that the greatest blessing I have been given in life is to have wonderfully talented friends. Most of them are avocational musicians like me. But I thought I'd use this note to highlight some of the people that you first heard locally who are now making waves professionally.

I'll start with the quartet of soloists for Monmouth Civic Chorus's performance of Stravinsky's "Les Noces" a few years back. This was our "Million Dollar Quartet". All four soloists from that performance, Jennifer Zetlan, Sasha Cooke, Hak Soo Kim, and Dean Elzinga continue to draw better and better roles and reviews. We heard them all in Red Bank.

Jennifer: http://www.jenniferzetlan.com/
Sasha: http://www.yca.org/cooke.html
Dean: http://www.deanelzinga.com/
Hak Soo: http://www.laopera.com/yap/pdf/Kim.bio.pdf

Most of you know that I have been the "voice" of the Monmouth Civic Chorus Scholarship Awards for many years. I cannot tell you how much it pleases me to meet these young singers and then follow them as their careers develop.

Check out what baritone Corey Grigg (remember "Tigeroo"?) is doing next (2003 – that was an especially talented field) http://coreygrigg.com/

Jo Ellen Miller (1999) is singing beautifully here at home and so many other places. Jo Ellen will be performing for the second time with the Met Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, directed by James Levine, on January 30, 2011 at 5:00, in music by Johannes Brahms, Lukas Foss, and contemporary composers. http://www.joellenmiller.com/

Eric Einhorn (1998) http://www.ericeinhorn.com/ - Oh boy is it fun to see Eric's career take off. He is working regularly at the Metropolitan Opera but makes time for the MCC – such as providing stage direction for the MCC "American Folk" performance this past May and our 2008 world premiere of "Golden Gate".

Corinne Schaefer (2000) is taking her Musetta on the road http://www.corinne-schaefer.com/welcome. Quando "l'en" vo, indeed.

Aja Nisenson (from that hyper-talented year of 2003) is opening a one-woman show "Piccola Cosi". Check it out at http://ajanisenson.blogspot.com/

Amy Palumbo (also 2003) was just Cinderella in Phoenix Productions' show in Red Bank. http://www.redbankgreen.com/2010/04/former-miss-nj-sashays-into-cinderella.html

Chelsea Rose Friedlander, 2006 Scholarship winner, will be attending the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York for her Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance. Ms. Friedlander will be singing the roles of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance: Gilbert and Sullivan and Adele in Die Fledermaus: Johann Strauss in Ridge Light Opera's September Song. Ms. Friedlander will be performing on these two days and times:
Friday, September 24, 2010 8:00PM, Saturday, September 25, 2010 2:00PM
For more information and to purchase tickets please visit: http://www.ridgelightopera.org/tickets.html

Some other folks that sang here locally and memorably:

Charlotte Paulsen's "He Was Despised" from MCC's 1998 "Messiah" was unforgettable. She returned for Szymanowski's "Stabat Mater" last year. http://www.dispeker.com/page/paulsen.html

Barbara Dever is a long-time friend of the Monmouth Civic Chorus. I have seen/heard her at the Met several times and always feel like a proud dad when I do. http://www.barbaradever.com/

My best wishes to all who follow their musical dreams – whether professionally or as devoted amateurs.

Find out more on our web site: http://www.monmouthcivicchorus.org/success_stories.php

What's on Your Mind?

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