On June 28th, 48 choir members and friends will depart on a tour of France. Our travels will take us into the Loire Valley, up to Normandy, through Giverny, and finally, to Paris. There, we will take part in a mass choir festival with 330 singers and a professional orchestra led by renowned conductor Craig Jessops.
Throughout the trip, we will be singing at churches and historical sites. In Normandy, we will sing at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach and participate in a wreath laying ceremony, The final concert, at historic La Madeleine Church, will be tied to the 80th anniversary of D-Day (which is June 6th) and will include repertoire to remember the fallen and contemplate their sacrifice.
All members of the choir have been working overtime to prepare music for a pre-tour concert. The centerpiece will be Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem.” This beautiful and challenging work prominently features the organ. Our organist, Ronél Wishnuff, is pulling out all the stops (literally). If you see her around campus, I invite you to offer encouragement and praise.
On June 2nd at 4pm, the choir will perform “Requiem,” as well as Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine” and Wilberg’s “Let Peace Then Still the Strife,” in concert. This FREE concert will last one hour. We invite you to show your support for the music ministry by attending. Then, stick around for a French themed reception and bid the choir bon voyage.
If you are unable to make it in person, the choir will be live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel.
Elizabeth Virkler