Biting the Big Apple

Carbonear -

A Conception Bay North choir has been invited to perform at New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall.

The Cantare Youth Choir directed by Deanne Hiscock of Brigus will perform at NYC's most celebrated concert hall in May 2010.

Acclaimed conductor, clinician and adjudicator Susan Quinn invited the Cantare Youth Choir to participate in her performance of Vivaldi's Gloria.

A "very excited" Hiscock told The Compass last week that her choir performed with Susan Quinn's choir and the Boston City Singers during a concert in Brigus in July as part of Festival 500.

"She was so impressed with our choir, she invited us to go to New York with them," Hiscock said.

Founded in 1998, the 45-member Cantare Youth Choir come from the Brigus to Carbonear area of Conception Bay North.

While this will not be their first performance outside the province - they performed at the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2000 and hosted a choir from England in Harbour Grace in 2001, "but nothing as exciting as this," Hiscock said.

Quinn - director of the award-winning choral and string ensemble at Holy Heart of Mary High School in St. John's and founder and director of the Quintessential Vocal Ensemble - will conduct Vivaldi's "Gloria" at Carnegie Hall.

Hiscock said the "Gloria" is a multi-movement piece backed up by a full orchestra.

Dennis Loy, conductor-in-residence for MidAmerica Productions, says, "the choir received this invitation because of the quality of musicianship demonstrated by the performers, a clear reflection of their exceptional director, (Hiscock) and an initial recommendation given by other music colleagues who recognize their musical quality is deserving of MidAmerica Productions' attention.

"It is an elite honour to be invited to perform in Carnegie Hall. These wonderful musicians not only represent the quality of music and education within the area, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community," Loy said.

"This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community's recognition and support," he added.

Loy encourages local business owners, civic leaders and the public to "be generous in their moral and financial support for this venture."

The performers will spend five days and four nights in the Big Apple in preparation for their concert. "The choir will spend time in rehearsals during the five-day residency, culminating in a performance in Carnegie Hall," Loy said.

"Not all of the time is spent in rehearsals, though, since there is so much history and culture to experience in New York City. However, the performance in Carnegie Hall is the primary purpose for their visit to the city."

Hiscock said while they will be in rehearsals during the day, they will have their evenings free and are looking forward to taking in some Broadway shows, as well as the sights of New York City, including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

Over the past 25 years, MidAmerica Productions has brought together conductors, orchestral ensembles, choruses and soloists for performances at some of the world's greatest venues, especially New York's Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.

In addition to presenting instrumental and classic choral works, MidAmerica Productions has also championed the works of contemporary composers.

On MidAmerica's series in Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, there have been 67 world premieres, 15 United States premieres and 68 New York premieres.

Meanwhile, the Cantare Youth Choir is accepting new members (singers in Grades 5-12). A meeting for singers and parents is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at Amalgamated Academy in Bay Roberts. Registration will follow the meeting.

The Compass