Northwest Choral Society in concert Dec. 3, 4
The Northwest Choral Society will perform its holiday concert, “Gloria,” Dec. 3 and 4.
The program will feature the Vivaldi “Gloria” and the lesser-known “Magnificat” by Pergolesi, as well as newer works such as John Purifoy’s “Et In Terra Pax,” David Waggoner’s “A Winter Night” and Laura Farnell’s “Angels’ Gloria.”
Familiar songs of the season are included in “Carolers’ Noel” and Jeffrey Biegel’s “Hanukkah Fantasy.”
Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St., River Forest; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Edison Park Lutheran Church, 6626 North Oliphant Ave., on the northwest side of Chicago.
A complimentary preconcert lecture and discussion of the program’s music will be hosted by chorus member John Morrison 45 minutes prior to the concert on both days.
Tickets are $20; $15 for students and seniors. Get them online at nwchoralsociety.org, at (224) 585-9127, or an hour prior to each concert.
NWCS Artist Director and Conductor Alan Wellman is on the faculty of The Catherine Cook School in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. He has been music director for the Windy City Performing Arts choruses; program coordinator for the Ravinia Festival; director of choral activities for Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago; director of music for First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange, and conductor and founder of the Chicago Cross-Collegiate Chorale.
NWCS pianist Lori Lyn Mackie was featured in 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2008 as piano soloist with the NWCS chorus and orchestra. She is currently director of music at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Burbank, and is pianist for Anshe Tikvah in Arlington Heights.
“Gloria” is the first of three concerts the Northwest Choral Society will perform for the 2011-2012 season. Founded in 1965, the Northwest Choral Society is a nonprofit organization that promotes and encourages the appreciation, understanding and performance of a wide variety of outstanding choral literature. Its adult membership resides in Chicago and the northwest suburbs.
The Northwest Choral Society invites singers of all levels to audition to join the organization. The chorus is Des Plaines-based, and rehearses at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 1095 Thacker St. (Dempster) in Des Plaines. Visit nwchoralsociety.org.