SANTA FE DESERT CHORALE TO PRESENT SOLD–‐OUT COMMUNITY SING, SANTA FE SINGS!, CONDUCTED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR JOSHUA HABERMANN.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF PARTICIPANTS IN MASTERCLASS TO BE LED BY DAVID HOLLOWAY.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 10, 2016: Executive Director, Janice L. Mayer announced today that Santa Fe Sings!, a community engagement program of The Santa Fe Desert Chorale, is completely sold-‐out.
Open to singers of all backgrounds, “Santa Fe Sings!” is a multi-‐ generational community sing organized by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale in fellowship with choral singers residing in New Mexico. The event will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 10:00 am -1:00 pm at Palen Hall at The Church of the Holy Faith (311 East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501).
One hundred and twenty-five participants ranging from 8th graders to amateur singers over 80 years of age will join together in a joyful exploration of choral music led by Music Director Joshua Habermann. Composers Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Heinrich Isaac and Antonio Salazar, as well as arranger Alice Parker, will be represented in the repertoire for the community sing.
In the afternoon, from 2:00-4:00 pm, David Holloway, internationally-renowned baritone and Director of the Apprentice Program at the Santa Fe Opera, will lead a public masterclass on vocal technique; demonstrating with emerging singers who will have been pre-selected by noted mezzo-soprano and voice teacher Nina Hinson. Invited to participate in the masterclass are: soprano, Mary Brzezinski (age 25) from Windermere, FL, a Master of Music student; soprano Connor Murphy-White (23) from Greenville, AL, a Master of Music student; mezzo-soprano Autumn Scott, (20) from Albuquerque, NM, a sophomore; and baritone Joseph Mitchell (22) from Belen, NM, a senior. All of the masterclass participants are students at the University of New Mexico.
Nathan Salazar, a native of Los Alamos, has been engaged as the collaborative pianist for the day.
The consortium of sponsors for Santa Fe Sings! includes foundations, local businesses, and individuals. The Santa Fe Desert Chorale expresses it gratitude to the McCune Charitable Foundation, Chocolate Maven, Clafoutis French Bakery & Restaurant, The Coca-‐Cola Bottling Company of Santa Fe, and Whoo’s Donuts. The Church of the Holy Faith has donated the space for the event. Individual sponsors include: Lynn Bickley, Mary Ferguson, Roxanne Howe-‐Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jones, Lynn Lee, and Eugene and Priscilla Zimmerman.
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About the Santa Fe Desert Chorale:
The mission of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, one of the nation’s premier professional vocal ensembles, is to excite, engage and inspire diverse audiences with the beauty and power of great choral music.
Now entering its 34th season, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale is one of the longest continually performing professional music organizations in New Mexico, as well as one of the most distinguished. A recipient of the 2006 Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, in 2015 the Santa Fe New Mexican named the ensemble one of the Best of Santa Fe in the Music Performance category. Scott Cantrell of
The Dallas Morning News characterized the Chorale as presenting “stunning singing…incredible power,” during the 2015 Summer Festival.
Now in his eighth season as Music Director, Joshua Habermann leads the 24-voice professional Chorale in repertoire spanning seven centuries, from Medieval polyphony to contemporary works. The critically- acclaimed ensemble performs at historical sites in Santa Fe such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis and the Loretto Chapel, as well as other venues throughout the Southwest. A recent highlight was an invitational appearance at the 2015 American Choral Director’s Association National Conference in Utah which was later broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio.
The Santa Fe Desert Chorale presents both summer and winter festivals of concerts featuring a wide range of literature from around the world. The 2016 Summer Festival Season will take place from July 19 through August 15, 2016.
The composition of the Chorale is truly national in scope with artists drawn from coast-‐to-‐coast; many sharing the stage with peer groups from Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society to the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and including Chanticleer, Conspirare, and Seraphic Fire.
The Desert Chorale prides itself on its strong relationships within the community of Northern New Mexico, and enjoys collaborations with the Creativity for Peace, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, New Mexico History Museum, National Dance Institute – New Mexico, Performance Santa Fe, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus, Santa Fe Pro Musica, and The Santa Fe Opera.
Community engagement is an integral part of the Desert Chorale’s mission.
