GENESEO – The Vocális Chamber Choir is ready to herald the holiday season with a special performance of A Vocális Christmas this December, directed by a returning SUNY Geneseo alumnus.
According to a press release from the Vocális Chamber Choir, the performance will be a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas music, with a-cappella arrangements of Christmas standards including Jingle Bells, Simple Gifts, and The Twelve Days of Christmas as well as new compositions by Bob Chilcott, Don MacDonald, and Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds.
“I’m really excited to return to the village of Geneseo with this fantastic ensemble,” said James Burritt, a 1994 alunus of SUNY Geneseo. “I’m so grateful for my time at Geneseo and have so many fond memories.”
The program includes a new piece, O Gift of Glorious Sunrise, by Buffalo-based composer Caroline Mallonee, who also sings in the choir. Of her composition, Mallonée says she was inspired by Christmas morning, from the first Christmas to today.
“It’s a special moment, when the sky begins to lighten and it truly is Christmas Day,” said Mallonee. “Musically, I was trying to write a traditional carol, but one that illustrated the words. A listener will hear how the dark harmonies at the beginning open up to lighter ones, and how the melody begins staid and becomes florid.”
Also a composer of chamber and orchestral music, Mallonee’s music was recently performed by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and by the New York Philharmonic as part of its new music series.
The concert will be Saturday Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church at 31 Center St. in Geneseo.
There is no charge for this performance: a freewill offering is gratefully appreciated.
Classical 94.5 WNED is this season’s media sponsor.