Two in Two

That's two amazing events in two months... the first being the Fall concert - Toil and Triumph - a program of Spirituals (which happens to be my favorite genre) :-) Jeff has always told us to sing Witness like we were telling a story to a young child, and watching and listening to Marietta Simpson sing her solo rendition of Witness took me back to when I was a child and missionaries would come to our church and tell the most amazing stories about their work overseas. Marietta made me feel the nostalgia and wonder that I felt listening to those missionaries and for that, I am grateful. 17 numbers in the program took a lot of energy to sing, but this music really gets the adrenaline going and the excitement kicks in to high gear!

Second was last night's Messiah Sing-In at the Kimmel Center, watching and listening in amazement as 19-year-old organist, Nathan Laube, danced over some 278 keys on the Kimmel Center's massive pipe organ, and as some 1000(?) people joined us in singing Handel's Messiah. Combine that with four outstanding soloists, and what better way to usher in the Holiday season? Jeff looked absolutely delighted by the audience participation, and the young kids from Northeast High and Upper Darby did a great job performing this holiday favorite.

Now on to our Winter concert in February and a lot of hard work getting ready for both that and the Beethoven's Missa Solemnis next May. We have a lot on our plate, but I can't think of a better way to get motivated and energized for it than starting off with two amazing experiences. Life is good.

In Soviet Russia, Music Sings You!

Well, I suppose better late than never. This is Jeremy Lane, T1. I've been a little slow to start posting here at the Singing City blog, but I thought now would be a good time, as this evening and tomorrow afternoon mark out first performances of the 2007/8 season! And, this being our 60th Anniversary Year, we're going big, right from the beginning, with Alexander Nevsky, by Sergei Prokofiev. Not only that, but it is also Singing City's first time collaborating with Symphony in C (formerly the Haddonfield Symphony). The Camden waterfront will never be the same.

As a first tenor, let me vouch for the entire choir when I say this piece is exhausting to sing. Not only is the tessitura (the general range of pitch used most consistently in a piece of music) very high, but almost the entire piece needs to be sung full-blast, so the choir can be heard alongside the orchestra. And what an orchestra! Prokofiev's orchestration here is truly exciting--full of bombast, but also whimsy and pathos (the piece is about a terrible winter battle, after all)--and Symphony in C is really working it. Sometimes, I find it hard not to stop singing and just listen to the huge amount of beautiful sound being created. Let's just say that the piece is so big, our conductor, Rossen Milanov, had to conduct yesterday's rehearsal from Switzerland! (Well, okay, so he didn't actually run the rehearsal, but he was in Switzerland.)

In any event, it's real knock-your-socks-off stuff. There are still tickets available for Sunday's performance, so check out Symphony in C's website here for more information. And, after the performance, go rent Alexander Nevsky, the film for which this piece was originally the score, and you can tell us which one was better! Or does that only apply for books? Well, regardless, come and enjoy this wonderful piece of music, and help us get the season started right!

First Rehearsal Amazingness

Observations from a seasoned Singing City-er, but novice blogg-er:

• Smiles, hugs, positive energy flowing throughout the room: people were so happy to see each other, sing, and reconnect to our community.
• Professional sound: Even starting with the warm-ups, our sound was so good! I imagined that Jeff was pleased that he had helped shape a group that could pick up where we had left off in June so effortlessly and splendidly. We were in tune, we were strong, the tone was lovely, our solid attention was given to Jeff, the second sopranos blended beautifully [ : ) ] It was lovely. And then warm-ups were done and we sounded even better! : )
• Daunting schedule highlights singers' commitment: I am struck by the breadth of our calendar and how each of us will be making sacrifices to make time to be the fantastic choir that we are. What an amazing, dedicated, organized group Singing City is.
• Organized, focused, phenomenal: Sandy had 45 zillion extra copies of music, Elaine laid out our name tags, our chairs were filled with goodies, the new folks were introduced, Angela reminded us about movies, etc. etc. I maintain that this is one of the most organized organizations I've ever experienced.
• Missing people: there was an emptiness without some of our friends. The second soprano section was missing terribly Deedee, Linda, Meredith and Anne (who's actually a first sop, but I miss her so much, I'm putting her here). Of course all of our positive energy, light and blessings are being sent towards Jared and Anne. There are others that we are missing as well and hope that this blog is a helpful link back to Singing City.

Well - that wasn't so bad. Blogging is fun -especially with the funky colors. I will now go back to work (don't tell my boss) so that we can have ourselves a wonderful government come January.

Peace,

Gili

Film Premiere - We Need Your Help

As we prepare for our September 23, film premiere at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute we ask two things. Number One: LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE PREMIERE! Number two: Please let us know your favorite Singing City moment. We would like to collect them and post them on our website and in our Winter newsletter.

Got Blog!

We are beginning this blog at Singing City to open yet another avenue of communication for all of us. We hope current choir members can talk about the music we are working on, share stories and invite people to join you for a meal or drink before or after rehearsals. We also hope that this web log will serve as a continuing connection with retired members of the choir as well as those on hiatus. Right now get out your date book and pencil in the September 23 film premier at 4pm at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute in Bryn Mawr as well as Singing City's October 7 performance of Alexander Nevsky with the Haddonfield Symphony (now known as the Symphony in C).

About Us

Singing City was founded as an integrated choir in 1948 in Philadelphia by Dr. Elaine Brown. The Choir was born out of the Fellowship House movement, which believed that differences between races, religions, and cultures could be bridged by ordinary people coming together in shared activities. In addition to performances in and around Philadelphia, the Choir traveled to the South during the 1950s and '60s struggle for civil rights, performing before integrated audiences.

As a result of critical acclaim through performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the choir was invited to perform in Israel with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic and also in Jordan and Egypt while on tour in the 1970s and 80s. Singing City was the first western choir to perform with the Leningrad Philharmonic in Leningrad in 1990. In May 2000, Singing City was the lead choir at the First International Choral Festival de Cuba. The choir toured Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the summer of 2004. In 2008, the choir will embark on a 10-day tour of Brazil.

Singing City, comprised of approximately 115 voices under the guidance and direction of Music Director Jeffrey Brillhart, continues to bring choral music to the underserved, performing not only in concert halls, but also in homeless shelters and nursing homes in and around Philadelphia. Singing City's nationally recognized schools residency program, Singing City in the Schools, has brought music rudiments, choral singing, and composition techniques to children in the Philadelphia public schools and to some private schools in the area. Singing City in the Schools was taken to a new level with the launching of the Singing City Prize for Young Composers in the Spring of 2004. This is a composition competition for area high school and college students. The winners benefit from a monetary prize, a performance of their work by Singing City, and a year under the tutelage of a professional composer.

Under the banner of Performance, Community and Education, Singing City strives to be an artistic, social and spiritual force, bringing people together through choral music.