2017 – 2018 Season: New Horizons
A Message from Ars Musica’s Music Director, James Kennerley
I am deeply honored to lead Ars Musica as their new Music Director in the chorale’s 52nd season. Our theme is New Horizons, showcasing music that pushed the boundaries of art and culture to new and exciting heights. We look forward to presenting concerts of some of the most glorious and thrilling music of all time featuring many of the finest vocalists and instrumentalists of Ridgewood, New York City, and beyond.
This season we will perform well-known masterpieces by Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Johann Sebastian Bach. We’ll also explore music by George Gershwin, his contemporary, Francis Poulenc, as well as a Holiday celebration featuring readings and music for the Christmas and Hanukkah season together with our sister choir, the New Jersey State Children’s Chorus.
In this climate of uncertainty and division one thing is certain: we all need community and we all need music. The arts invite us to explore and understand ourselves and others in highly effective ways. Music allows us to gather in a singular space to enjoy timeless works of art in ways that audience members and performers alike can transcend the clamour of everyday life.
Ars Musica is committed to engaging in the cultural life of our community in Bergen County and beyond. The New Jersey State Children’s Chorus (NJSCC) was founded in 2016 and is the only choir of its kind to provide essential education and outreach in the area. The Encore Young Artist Program (EYAP) demonstrates our commitment to developing the careers of emerging professional vocalists by providing expert performance and educational experience.
Ars Musica Chorale is one of the finest and oldest choral groups in Bergen County. Come and experience the thrilling sound of 80 voices performing some of the greatest music in stunning venues. We can’t wait to welcome you, and I can’t wait to meet you!
With my very best wishes,
James Kennerley
Ars Musica’s concert season is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Ars Musica Chorale, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization.
Celestial Harmonies: heavenly choral music by Rachmaninoff and Samuel Barber
Saturday November 11, 2017 (Veterans’ Day Weekend), 7:30PM (no pre-concert talk)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Repertoire:
- Samuel Barber: Agnus dei (arrangement of the Adagio for Strings)
- Sergei Rachmaninov Vespers (All-night Vigil), Opus 37
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An Ars Musica Holiday Celebration: a joyful procession through many cultures and many centuries.
Saturday, December 9, 7:00PM (no intermission)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Repertoire:
- Works by Eric Whitacre, John Rutter, Vince Guaraldi, John Taverner,
- American spirituals,
- Hanukkah songs,
- and traditional carols for the audience to participate in.
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Porgy in Paris: music by Francis Poulenc and George Gershwin
Porgy in Paris: music by Francis Poulenc and George GershwinSaturday March 3, 2018, 7:30PM (no intermission)
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 155 Linwood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Repertoire:
- Francis Poulenc (1899–1963): Stabat Mater
- George Gershwin (1898–1937): Porgy and Bess (abridged)
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Masterworks Concert: J S Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Masterworks Concert: J S Bach’s Mass in B MinorSaturday May 19, 2018, 7:00PM performance (with intermission before Credo)
West Side Presbyterian Church, 6 South Monroe Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450
Repertoire:
- Bach Mass in B Minor
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