NBC welcomes new Artistic Director Andrew Burger

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Singers! 

The Northern Berkshire Chorale is pleased to announce that it has a new Artistic Director, Andrew Burger.

Andrew Burger is a choral conductor and performer from Niskayuna, New York. He is currently in his fifth year as the Director of Music Ministries of the Niskayuna Reformed Church, and has conducted numerous sacred anthems and larger classical works for chorus and orchestra including Faure’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Recently he was appointed tenor section leader of Albany Pro Musica, where he has sung for many years. 

Andrew has a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Bard College. At Bard he served as Assistant Conductor and Choral Administrator, studied conducting with James Bagwell, and conducted in concert works including Bruckner’s Te Deum and Handel’s Coronation Anthems. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the College of Saint Rose. While not pursuing his musical career, Andrew helps on his parent’s greenhouse and vegetable farm in Niskayuna, where he is foreman and retail manager. 

Rehearsals for the fall concert will begin Monday September 17 at 7:15 PM in the Presser Rehearsal Hall, Bernhard Music Center, Williams College Campus, Williamstown. Dues are $40, and music will be available at the rehearsal. Please come early to sign in and pick up your scores.

The December concert is in Chapin Hall on December 14, and it will feature the glorious Beethoven Mass in C, with full orchestra. Also on the program will be the rarely preformed, gem of a work, the Mozart Kyrie in D Minor K. 341, and the complete scene ‘Achieved is the Glorious Work’ from Haydn’s The Creation (meaning the first ‘Achieved’, the trio interlude, and the second ‘Achieved’ which is often the stand alone anthem). All told it’s about an hour and 5 minutes of music, featuring some of the best choral works of the three undisputed greatest Classical Period composers.

Beethoven Mass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yfj6jVglok&authuser=0

SinAndrewBurgerPhotogers of all parts are welcome! For more info: email Jim Mahon: jmahon@williams.edu

Northern Berkshire Chorale announces Spring Concert April 27

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The Northern Berkshire Chorale will present a concert of choral music under the direction of Noah Palmer at 8PM Friday, April 27, in Thompson Chapel on the Williams College campus. The concert will feature music by Bernstein and Elgar.

In celebration of conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday this year selections from his Broadway musicals “West Side Story,” “Wonderful Town,” and “Candide” will be performed. Bernstein was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim and wrote in many styles encompassing symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and pieces for the piano. “West Side Story” remains one of his most popular works.

Elgar’s Op. 27, Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands, is a delightful and rarely performed set of gems. The set represents an artistic collaboration between Edward and his wife, Alice, who wrote the poetry. The lyric verse, by turns cheerful, rambunctious, and exalted, is inspired by the Elgar’s vacation to Bavaria in 1894 and traditional Bavarian folk songs.

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Rehearsals for spring concert begin February 12!

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If you like to sing, you are invited to come join the Northern Berkshire Chorale under director Noah Palmer at its first spring rehearsal on Monday February 12 in Presser Hall on the Williams College campus. Rehearsals are from 7:15 to 9:15, but please come at 7:00 PM to sign in and pick up music. Dues will be $40 to help defray costs of music and the director and accompanist.

The spring concert will feature primarily Broadway music by Leonard Bernstein in this 100th year since his birth. In addition there will be a piece by Elgar, Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands. The concert is on April 27th (dress rehearsal on the 26th) in Thompson Chapel. All voices are welcomed!

We hope you will consider coming to join us!

For past members, we did a number of the Bernstein pieces a few years back; if you still have the music, bring it along!

For additional information, email Jim Mahon at jmahon@williams.edu

Early Winter Concert 8:00 PM Friday December 15

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Join the Northern Berkshire Chorale under the direction of Noah Palmer on Friday December 15 at 8 PM in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus, Williamstown for their early winter concert.

Featuring Mozart’s exciting and joyful Vespers setting, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, one of Mozart’s most prized compositions, it has a little bit of everything–rhythmical celebration choruses, stately church fugues, and a fluid and mesmerizing solo for soprano. The Laudate Dominum movement contains one of the most gorgeous melodies that Mozart wrote for the voice. Sylvia Stoner, one of the Capital Region’s premier sopranos, will be featured in this performance.

The concert opens with Handel’s 4th Chandos Anthem, O Sing Unto the Lord. Handel composed the Chandos Anthems while working for the Duke of Chandos at the Duke’s estate in Cannons, England. They are modest psalm settings with minimal orchestration–almost like chamber music–yet with the rich variety of choral and solo forces. Tenor Alexander Turpin will sing The Waves of the Sea, featuring bouts of effervescent coloratura and great dramatic flair. Additional soloists are Ann Marie Adamick, mezzo soprano, and Keith Kibler, bass.

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Join us for our Spring Concert 8:00 PM Friday April 28, Thompson Chapel at Williams College

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Spring Concert

The Northern Berkshire Chorale’s Spring concert is Friday April 28 at 8:00 PM in Thompson Chapel on the Williams College Campus in Williamstown.

The Springtime of the Year: Five Centuries of American and British Songs will celebrate the music of a range of composers including Vaughan Williams, Aaron Copland and Stephen Foster.

Northern Berkshire Chorale rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7:15-9:15 in Presser Choral Hall in the Bernhard Music Center on the Williams College campus. nbchorale.org for more information.

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Join us for our performance April 29th!

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Spring 2016

The Northern Berkshire Chorale will perform Handel’s Coronation Anthems on Friday, April 29th, at 7:30 p.m. in Thompson Chapel on the Williams College campus. The performance will feature orchestral accompaniment and will also include works by Mozart and Brahms.

The chorale will be led by new artistic director, Noah Palmer and accompanied by Derek Galvin. Suggested donations are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and children are admitted for free. The performance is generously sponsored by True North and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. For additional information, please visit www.nbchorale.org or like us on Facebook.

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The Northern Berkshire Chorale Presents an Evening of American Music

The Northern Berkshire Chorale will present an evening of American music on Friday, January 22nd, at 7:30p.m. in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus.

The performance will feature two works from local composer Stephen Dankner as well as Randall Thompson’s Frostiana: Seven Country Songs, a series of Robert Frost poems set to music. Other highlights include works by Copland and Lauridsen.

The chorale will be led by interim director John Howland and accompanied by Patricia Ho, with a guest appearance by Jane Jenkins. Suggested donations are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students. Children are admitted for free.

Northern Berkshire Chorale Welcomes New Artistic Director, Noah Palmer

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We are excited to announce that we have hired Noah Palmer as our new artistic director. Noah’s diverse background began as a pianist, studying with the renowned Spanish pianist José Ramon Mendez at NYU (BA), and Bulgarian pianist Pavlina Dokovska at Mannes (MM). He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Europe, and China. More recently has has been coaching singers to prepare for numerous operas. We are very excited to have Noah on board and look forward to singing under him for our spring performance. Rehearsals begin on February 1 and of course, new and former singers are welcome – join us!

We’re looking for a new Artistic Director!

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The Artistic Director will be responsible for:

• planning and conducting concert programs
• supervising the accompanist
• assisting the librarian in obtaining necessary new music
• holding regularly scheduled rehearsals
• arranging for soloists and instrumentalists, as needed
• consulting with the Steering Committee regarding program, budget, schedule and any problems which may arise

The ideal candidate will be prepared to engage and, at times, challenge the Chorale, supporting and interacting with singers of differing abilities to encourage and teach an increasing level of skills necessary for tackling more complex compositions.

Application: Please provide a c.v. or resume, plus cover letter. Link to video of applicant directing a chorus in rehearsal or performance is also suggested. Reply to search@nbchorale.org.