Love to sing? Harmonium and the Morris Choral Society have some openings

Harmonium Choral Society, Dec. 11, 2022. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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Love to sing?  Two top Greater Morristown choral groups have some openings.

The Harmonium Choral Society is looking for experienced basses and baritones for its March concert, Moondance.

And the Morris Choral Society seeks more voices for its May performance of Carmina Burana.

Read on for details.

From the Harmonium Choral Society:

Harmonium Choral Society has openings for Bass Singers   

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Acclaimed Harmonium Choral Society has a few mid-season openings for experienced choral basses and baritones with good sight-reading skills. Email here  to arrange a short in person audition.

Rehearsals are held at in Madison on Sunday nights at 7pm beginning Jan. 8, 2023. The March 4-5 concert, Moondance includes global repertoire about the moon from Melissa Dunphy to William Billings, with flute and percussion.

Harmonium Choral Society, based in Morris County, is one of New Jersey’s leading choral arts organizations. The 100-voice choral society has been recognized for its musical excellence and innovative programming, and has commissioned and premiered works by Amanda Harberg, Matthew Harris, Elliot Z. Levine, Harmonium’s composers-in-residence Mark Miller and Martin Sedek, and others. All Harmonium singers are vaccinated and currently masked for rehearsals and performances except for solos.

To learn more about Harmonium, please visit Harmonium.org.

Our Vision: To inspire and enrich our community through the shared experience of exceptional choral performance and the advancement of choral art.

Our Mission: To perform a diverse repertoire of choral music and to offer innovative and inclusive programming, artistic collaborations, educational opportunities and community partnerships, while creating challenging and uplifting experiences where excellence flourishes.


 

Morris Choral Society to Sing ‘Carmina Burana’ in Morristown
Interested Singers can Audition Monday evenings in January
at the Frelinghuysen Middle School Band Room

Morristown, NJ – The Morris Choral Society will perform Carl Orff’s signature piece Carmina Burana on May 20, 2023, at the United Methodist Church on the Green in Morristown.

Interested singers should come to the Frelinghuysen Middle School, 10 Jane Way, Morristown, at 7:30 on Mondays starting Jan. 9, 2023. The program will use the 1956 version authorized by Carl Orff which is for two pianos and percussionists. The score has short solos for baritone and tenor.

Anyone interested in singing with the community chorus, which was founded in 1973, is welcome to audition during the month of January. The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. However, choral experience and a blending voice are requested.

The Morris Choral Society at the Morristown United Methodist Church, Dec. 19, 2021. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The chorus is led by Michael Wittenburg, only the sixth Musical Director in the organization’s long history. He is not only a popular conductor, he is also an accomplished musician. Hailed as a “real virtuoso” by the great classical pianist Ruth Loredo, Mr. Wittenburg is active with many organizations. In addition to his leadership for the Morris Choral Society, he serves as Director of Music at Christ Lutheran Church of Paramus and Chorus Master for the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera.

A graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, he earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music and from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Osher Scholar Prize from the internationally known Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestral Musicians. He is also very much in demand as a guest artist.

“I enjoy my role as Music Director for the Morris Choral Society,” said Mr. Wittenburg. “We are excited to be performing Carmina Burana this spring and welcome new singers who wish to join us for this performance.”

As it nears its 50th anniversary, the Morris Choral Society continues as one of North Jersey’s leading community choruses. It has been recognized by Morris Arts as an Outstanding Arts Organization and has performed alongside many famous musicians including jazz legend Dave Brubeck and singer Judy Collins.

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. Funding is provided in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State. Donations to the chorus are always welcomed.

For more information, call 973-723-6424 or visit the Morris Choral Society website at www.morrischoralsociety.org.

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