Summer Sings…We’re Back!*
On Monday, August 19th, 2019, after welcoming an enthusiastic group of approximately 200 Summer Singers, we packed away our Mozart Requiem scores, snacked on the last of the Oreos, and shut the lights off in the Judson Meeting Room. Little did we know it would be three summers before we could welcome our fellow choral enthusiasts back to our musical home!
After a summer of lockdown (and virtual Sings) in 2020, and an abbreviated series cancelled due to the rise of Delta in 2021, we’re looking forward getting back to a (modified) normal series weekly of Sings at Judson Memorial Church—with some necessary adjustments for our current and evolving reality.
Never been to a Summer Sing? Here’s what it is, and what to expect:
Our Summer Sings—begun by our founding director, Gwen Gould, in 1972(!)—are open sings of (mostly) well-known choral works, designed to offer singers and choral enthusiasts the opportunity to keep their vocal and sight-reading skills in shape while most area choruses are on their summer hiatus.
Each Sing is led by a different area conductor, who will offer their commentary, work with the sections on tricky and interesting passages of that night’s piece(s), and conduct the group in a sing-through. Conductors may bring soloists, or may offer the sections the ability to sing the solos as a group. You can bring your own score for the piece(s) being featured in that week’s Sing, or we’ll lend you a copy from our library.
And you don’t need to have sung a piece to participate in a particular week’s Sing—in fact, for some Sings of very popular pieces, we’ve welcomed people who just like to listen! And you’re welcome to try out a different part than you usually sing—if, say, you find your soprano self experiencing alto envy on the Fauré Requiem!
This summer, we are putting the following protocols into place, to allow for a safer singing space for all of our participants:
- All participants must show proof of vaccination at the door. People (age 12+) must have received their final vaccination dose at least 14 days (about 2 weeks) before the Sing date (i.e., a second dose of Pfizer/Moderna or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson). We will accept all forms that show vaccination, i.e., card, photo of the card, print out, etc., and a corresponding government-issued ID.
- Attendance may be somewhat capped, to allow for more spacing between seats (it will not be a full 6′).
- No refreshments will be served, but singers are welcome to bring their own water bottles.
- Masks that cover the nose and mouth must be worn at all times.
…so, not a “normal” Summer Sing series (à la 2019 and earlier!), but these few accommodations will allow us to sing together for the first time in three summers!
Have questions, or suggestions for a piece we should feature in a future Sing? Email us at westvillagechorale@gmail.com.
Admission is $15 general/ $10 student
Sings are *mostly* Mondays at 7:30pm
June 20th
Maurice Duruflé: Requiem
Phillip Cheah
Music Director, Amuse Singers
Co-Artistic Director, Cheah Chan Duo
Artist, Quire of Cheahs
June 27th
Joseph Haydn: Creation (choral movements)
Mark Shapiro
Music Director, The Cecilia Chorus of New York
Artistic Director, Cantori New York
Tuesday, July 5th
J.S. Bach: Magnificat
Tyrone Clinton
Director, The Unsung Collective
July 11th
Joseph Haydn: Paukenmesse
Dusty Francis
Director of Choirs, The American School in London
July 18th
Francis Poulenc: Gloria
Randall Thompson: Choose Something Like a Star
David Recca
Artistic Director, New York City Master Chorale
July 25th
Beach: Gloria (from Mass in E-flat Major)
Dawson (arr.): Soon Ah Will Be Done
Maurice Duruflé: Ubi Caritas
Jason Asbury
Artistic Director, Grace Chorale of Brooklyn
August 1st
Handel: Messiah (excerpts)
John Maclay
Music Director, The Choral Society of Grace Church
August 8th
Gabriel Fauré: Requiem
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Colin Britt
Artistic Director and Conductor, West Village Chorale
August 15th
Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
Ryan James Brandau
Artistic Director, Amor Artis
August 22nd
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem (K. 626)
Patrick Gardner
Director, Riverside Choral Society
Director of Choral Activities, Rutgers University – Mason Gross School of the Arts
*knock wood. Seriously, find something (a chair, a tree, a well-used cutting board, your souvenir pair of Dutch clogs) and do it. For all of us!