Nothing But Treble to perform world premiere of 'When I Rise Up' May 19
Nothing But Treble will present their spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave., Elgin. Freewill donations welcome.
The program features the world premiere of Harvard University composer Katherine Pukinskis's "When I Rise Up," set to a Georgia Douglas Johnson poem. The early 20th-century poet and playwright was a member of the Harlem Renaissance.
The work was commissioned through a grant from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.
The concert also includes a piece by Stephen Sondheim ("No One is Alone"), an Afro-Caribbean folk song setting ("Duerme Negrito"), a setting of a Lewis Carroll text ("Jabberwocky") and local Bollywood dancers (Barso Re). Nothing But Treble was founded in 2016 and is led by director Rosalind Zager.
The ensemble's mission is to promote outstanding repertoire of every genre for women's voices, with a strong nod to female composers and music from around the world.
To learn more, visit nbtchorus.com or www.facebook.com/NothingButTrebleElgin/.
Nothing But Trouble also performed at Elgin's YWCA Leader Luncheon on Thursday, May 10, at The Seville in Streamwood. Other recent appearances include the Going Dutch Festival and Winter Wonderland in Elgin, and a Bread & Roses Choir Concert in DeKalb.
New members are encouraged to join the chorus in the fall.
Katherine Pukinskis is a composer-scholar based in Cambridge, Mass. She is currently a Preceptor in Music at Harvard University. She earned her Ph.D. in Music Composition in 2016 from the University of Chicago. She has had works premiered by eighth blackbird, Quince Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Akron Symphony Chorus, and the Spektral Quartet, as well as by members of the San Antonio Symphony and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Her scholarly research revolves around notions of nationalism and cultural identity, diaspora, traditional folk and choral music, and the 20th-century histories of Latvia and the Baltic nations.
With ages bridging five decades and voices together spanning over five octaves, Nothing But Treble is a group of female singers ages 18 and up. A diverse group, it is composed of women born and raised in Elgin, as well as transplants from far and wide.
Musical backgrounds range from high school and church choir singing, music teaching and performing, to singing with the Lyric Opera Chorus.
"Strong Women's Voices United in Song - Nothing But Treble!"