Oshkosh Chamber Singers Return To In-Person Programming
10 October 2021 News
OSHKOSH — The Oshkosh Chamber Singers will return to in-person programming with the concert “Things Old and New” Saturday, Oct. 23. To accommodate adequate social distancing, two performances will be presented at 4 and 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Algoma at Division, Oshkosh. Audience members are encouraged to be vaccinated. Masks will be required upon entering the performance venue.
Tickets to all performances are $15 for adults and $5 for students. They are available from singers, at Heid Music on South Park, Gardina’s on Main Street and at the door. More information is available at oshkoshchambersingers.org or by calling 920-312-8290. Tickets purchased for the May 2019 spring concert that was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic will be honored at the upcoming fall concert.
Herb Berendsen is the conductor of the Oshkosh Chamber Singers.
“Things Old & New” celebrates great texts that have been set to music by both contemporary and historical composers. The selections will explore two widely different settings of the same lyrics. A highlight will be the world premiere of Michael John Trotta’s “Te Deum,” a hymn of praise to God, which the Chamber Singers commissioned as part of a consortium with several other choirs.
Trotta (pictured) says “Te Deum” reflects a contrast of emotions. He says he feels a special affinity for the artistic needs and capabilities of choirs as well as the need to bring access to new music within the reach of smaller organizations. He has pioneered a consortium model of commissioning in which numerous choirs combine resources to commission a new work that they would not be able to afford on their own. Each has the opportunity to premiere a major work for choir and orchestra.
“It seems to be very popular because the choirs involved are able to take part in something bigger,” Trotta says. “It’s also a wonderful challenge for me to be able to write something which does justice to the text but also to do right by the choirs, writing a work that’s going to find a home among several different groups.”
Before becoming a full-time composer, Trotta was an educator at the elementary, middle school, high school and university levels, as well as a full-time church music director.
Other concerts in the 2021-2022 season include:
“A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” will be performed at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in Trinity Episcopal Church, Algoma at Division, Oshkosh. This annual celebration of song and Scripture honors the Advent and Christmas story. Performances will begin at 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in Trinity Episcopal Church, Algoma at Division, Oshkosh. Jared Stellmacher will be the organist.
“LUX: The Dawn from on High,” by Dan Forrest, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Alberta Kimball Auditorium, Oshkosh West High School. Guests will be the Oshkosh West High School and Oshkosh North High School chorales with orchestra. This modern work gains its enlightenment from LUX (Latin for “light”) and explores that theme through text and orchestration both ancient and modern.
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