FROM THE MORRIS CHORAL SOCIETY:
The 70-voice Morris Choral Society kicks off its 42nd Concert Season with A Joyful Winter Medley at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, with a second performance on Sunday, Dec. 14.
Under the direction of Wayne Walters, the chorus will perform seasonal favorites from around the world, excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, highlights from Frozen and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and some holiday surprises.
In keeping with the Choral Society’s history of providing an opportunity for students to take part in performances, Wayne Walters has invited the Parsippany Hills High School Concert Choir under the direction of Matthew Lee to be featured guest performers at the Holiday Spectacular Eleven concerts. The students will perform several holiday selections including Christophe Beck’s Choral Suite from Frozen and will join MCS for combined choral tunes.
Mr. Lee is in his second year at the high school where he directs the Combined Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, the Contemporary A Cappella Group, and both the Men’s and Women’s Choirs. He is also conductor of the Chinese American Children’s Choir in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Most recently, both the Combined Choir and the Concert Choir earned superior ratings at the High Note Music Festival in Allentown, New Jersey.
“The chorus always looks forward to this annual holiday celebration,” said Walters.
“It is a great way to get into the spirit of the season and we are particularly excited to have the 85-voice Parsippany Hills High School Choir on stage with us. With a combined group of more than 150 singers, it will be a spectacular performance guaranteed to fill the hall with smiles. We also will invite the audience to join in the much-loved sing-along.”
This is the 11th Holiday Spectacular for the Morris Choral Society, a mainstay in North Jersey for more than 40 years that has performed alongside many famous musicians including jazz legend Dave Brubeck and beloved singer Judy Collins.
The award-winning chorus has been recognized by Morris Arts as an Outstanding Arts Organization and founder and music director Wayne Walters has received the prestigious Outstanding Professional in the Arts Award. In addition to performing for enthusiastic audiences in New Jersey, the chorus has toured England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Bickford Theatre performances have been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Secretary of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Holiday Spectacular is in the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Place, on Friday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children under 18. Tickets are available at the Bickford Theatre box office, 973-971-3706. For more information, call 973-998-7239 or visit the choral society’s website.
