Free Christmas Concert this Saturday, December 7, 2019, 3 PM, First United Protestant Church

Please join us this Saturday (December 7, 2019) at 3PM for our annual Christmas concert, “Carols for Christmas.”  The concert is free (donations welcomed). The location is First United Protestant Church (above Kaiser and the hospital), 1350 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo HI 96720 (click link to open a new window in Google Maps).

The concert will feature works from two composers:

Sir David Valentine Willcocks (1919-2015) started as a chorister and progressed through a career as chorus master, organ master, composer and decorated hero of World War II. His choral arrangements ground audiences in tradition and familiarity with a few surprises and sophisticated departures from the expected.

John Milford Rutter (1945-present) was likewise educated in England, also beginning his career as a chorister. Notable in his long career as prolific composer and sought-after conductor is his founding of the Cambridge Singers. Rutter’s original carols are influenced by traditional English and French styles. They also reach into popular idioms of the 20th century that delight the ear without losing the deep spirituality and emotion associated with carols for the Christmas season.

Carols celebrating the birth of Christ originated with medieval nativity plays attributed first to the influence of St.Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century. These plays became the foundation for teaching scripture to a broad spectrum of society, using drama, costume and music.

Surviving the centuries, Christmas carols have evolved from simple 14th century chants and the use of dual languages — Latin for the church and a local tongue for the people — to the melodies associated with traditional and modern Christmas celebrations.

Walter Greenwood will assist on piano and organ. Featured soloists are drawn from the chorus.

Thanks Hilo Tribune Herald for the nice feature:

Hilo Community Chorus to perform at First United Protestant Church

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Hilo Community Chorus Presents Free Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 1, 2018, 3 PM, at First United Protestant Church

The Hilo Community Chorus will present Norwegian composer Kim Andrè Arnesen’s “The Christmas Alleluias” with harp accompaniment by Tatyana Shapiro-Leiste and guest soloist Amy Horst on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at First United Protestant Church in Hilo (click link to open location in google maps). Also featured will be Suites IV (“Carols of Central and South America”) and V (“Carols of North America”) from Mark Hayes’ “International Carol Suites,” and a selection of carols arranged by John Rutter, all accompanied by Walter Greenwood, piano.

“The Christmas Alleluias” sets to music the work of librettist Euan Tait, whose text “Unfinished Remembering,” commemorating the outbreak of the First World War, was performed in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in 2014. He has worked extensively with Arnesen and other composers.

Guest soloist Amy Horst is well known to Hilo Audiences for her crystal clear soprano voice. She is Instructor in music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Hawaii – Hilo. She has been soloist with the Hilo Community Chorus on a number of occasions.

Tatyana Shapiro-Leiste is a professional, classically-trained concert harpist from St. Petersburg, Russia. She grew up in a musical family and graduated with a Master’s degree from the world-famous St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory of Music in 1998. After moving to the United States in 1999, she received her second Master’s degree and worked on her PhD in Music and Harp at the University of Arizona where she studied under Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. She was the principal harpist with the El Paso Opera Company and El Paso Symphony Orchestra and was part of the world’s largest harp touring ensemble “HarpFusion.” She has performed with a number of symphony orchestras. Tatyana has done recordings at Capital Records and at other recording sessions. She has also performed on TV, most recently at “Dancing with the Stars.”

“International Carol Suites” is a work of five geographically themed suites representing 20 countries. The chorus performed the first three suites last year, and the two remaining suites, which will be performed in this concert, include carols from Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United States. Soloists from the Chorus will be Danielle Kwami, Belinda Hall, Pressley Sutherland, Kevin Reardon, and Adrianna Zablan.

Composer/arranger John Rutter is one of the most recognized names in Christmas music. The collection to be performed include “Child in a Manger,” “Flemish Carol,” “Sans Day Carol,” and “In dulce jubilo” (which was edited by Rutter but this arrangement is by R. L. Pearsall). Soloists for “In dulce jubilo” from the Chorus are Adrianna Zablan, Joan Derbyshire, Connie Leyendecker, Roni Koscik, Len Miyazono, Pressley Sutherland, Doug Albertson, and Mike Kingston.

Hilo Community Chorus is a 501(c)(3) organization and is conducted by Tom McAlexander. For more information, call 985-7192 or email tommac@hawaii.rr.com.

11TH ANNUAL MESSIAH SING-ALONG, SUNDAY DECEMBER 10, 2017, 2:15 PM, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Jesus-Christ-The-MessiahHilo Community Chorus will host Hilo’s annual Messiah sing-along at 2:15 PM, December 10, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church, 595 Kapiolani St, Hilo HI, 96720. (click link to go to location in Google Maps)

YOU ARE THE CHORUS.  Scores will be provided for use by the singing public, or bring your own score.  Listeners also welcome.

From Wikipedia: “Messiah was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742 and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music.”

The sing-along will consist of Part 1 plus the famous Hallelujah chorus.  Soloists for the event will be Amy Horst, Gerdine Markus, Ian McMillan and Barry Brandes.

Hilo Community Chorus presents free concert “An Olde World Christmas” Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2:00 PM

Poster by Greg

The Hilo Community Chorus will present its annual holiday concert of carols and seasonal music at 2 PM Saturday, Dec. 2, at First United Protestant Church.

Tom McAlexander, the group’s longtime musical director, will conduct the performance and Walter Greenwood will accompany on organ and piano. Admission is free.

The concert features the hauntingly beautiful new “Magnificat” for chorus and soprano soloist by up-and-coming Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arnesen. HCC is excited to present the work of such a young composer.

Arnesen was born in 1980 and already is receiving worldwide recognition. His “Magnificat,” written and first performed in 2010, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016.

The soprano solos will be sung by Amy Horst, who is well known to Hawaii audiences for her frequent recitals and concerts and for her portrayal of Mary Poppins in the Palace Theater’s recent musical production. Horst also is director of choral studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The second half of the concert features seven chorus members as soloists in the “International Carol Suites” by American composer Mark Hayes. The three suites are newly composed for 2017. They compile various traditional and seasonal songs from Western and Eastern Europe and the British Isles in inventive and surprising ways.

The First United Protestant Church is located at 1350 Waianuenue Ave. above the Hilo Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Hilo Clinic . (click above link to go to location in Google Maps).

An interview with composer Kim Andre Arnesen can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Ksw0UDX2A .  An interview with composer Mark Hayes can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sSgY1oeTkA

In addition to the First United concert, the Hilo Community Chorus will host Hilo’s annual Messiah sing-along at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 10 at Christ Lutheran Church, 595 Kapiolani St. Soloists for the event will be Horst, Gerdine Markus, Ian McMillan and Barry Brandes. Singers and listeners are welcome.

The Hilo Community Chorus is a nonprofit organization. Members are not auditioned. Anyone interested in singing with the group can contact McAlexander at tommac@hawaii.rr.com.  (some text copied from Hawaii Tribune Herald article here , no author attributed)

2017 University Holiday Card to Hilo, “The Festive Season,” Sunday, November 19, 2017, 2:00 PM

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From dressing up at Halloween to ringing in the New Year, this time of year brings excitement and joy.  Join UH Hilo’s Kapili Choir and University Chorus, the Orchid Isle Orchestra, the Hilo Community Chorus, and and special guests for a concert celebrating the festive season.  This annual concert, beloved by Hilo audiences, welcomes all – e komo mai!

Invitation to Sing – Messiah Parts 2&3, Spring 2017, Rehearsals start January 9, All Welcome

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2017 marks the 275th anniversary of the premiere of Handel’s Messiah. For the 1742 premiere of Messiah in Dublin, it is estimated that Handel had a combined ensemble of approximately 50 performers, with almost the same number of vocalists as instrumentalists. Experienced singers from the better church choirs made up the chorus; two different soloists shared the roles for each voice part. While the chorus had no female singers, the soprano and alto solo parts were sung by women.

The Hilo Community Chorus will present Parts II & III of Messiah in concert on Sunday, May 21 at the Palace Theater in Hilo with chorus, organ, continuo, and trumpets. Choral rehearsals will begin at 6:30 pm on Monday, January 9, at the UH-Hilo rehearsal room (next to the Performing Arts Center, click link to view location on Google Maps)

The Hilo Community Chorus is a non-auditioned community-based chorus directed by Tom McAlexander and accompanied by Walter Greenwood. Anyone who loves to sing choral music and is willing to devote two hours each week for rehearsals is welcome to join. Dues are $45 for the semester, and music cost is $8 for the Leonard Van Camp Messiah score. Scholarships available if cost would prevent you from singing. For more information, call McAlexander on 985-7192 or email tommac@hawaii.rr.com.

Palace Theater’s 2nd Annual Holiday Concert, Sunday, December 18 2016, at 7:00 PM

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THE PALACE THEATER AND THE HILO COMMUNITY CHORUS PRESENT

2ND ANNUAL PALACE HOLIDAY CONCERT
SUNDAY, DEC. 18 at 7pm
Doors open at 6pm

Come celebrate the season at the Palace Theater with the Hilo Community Chorus accompanied by Walter Greenwood on the organ.

Selections from Handel’s Messiah, John Rutter’s Magnificat, songs of Hanukkah, plus a fun holiday sing-along!

Advance Tickets: General -$10; Center Reserved – $15
All tickets will be $5 more on Day of Show.
Tickets can be purchased at the box office or over the phone with a credit card at 934-7010, M-F, 10am-3pm.
A benefit for the Palace Theater!

10TH ANNUAL MESSIAH SING-ALONG, SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, 2016, 2 PM, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

 

hallelujah-on-notes-smlOn Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 2:00 pm, the Tenth annual “Messiah” sing-along will be presented at Christ Lutheran Church, 595 Kapiolani St., Hilo (opposite Hospice, click link to view location in Google Maps).

The Hilo Community Chorus and Christ Lutheran Church Choir will join the audience in singing the great choruses from Part I, the Advent/Christmas portion of the oratorio, with the addition of the Hallelujah chorus from Part II and Worthy Is the Lamb/Amen from Part III. The choral numbers will be conducted by Tom McAlexander, and the accompaniment will be provided by Walter Greenwood, organ; Rick Mazurowski, piano; and Armando Mendoza, trumpet. Soloist are Amy Horst, soprano; Andrea Christensen and Lucia Samuels, alto; Ian McMillan, tenor; and Barry Brandes, bass.

So bring your own score if you have one, or borrow one as you enter the church. Or, if you prefer, just come and enjoy the music. You may sit with your section (look for the signs on the pews), or sit wherever you please. No rehearsals are required, but there will be an open rehearsal on Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 PM at the church. For more information, call 985-7192 or email tommac@hawaii.rr.com .

Magnificat and Other Seasonal Songs

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John Rutter’s “Magnificat” and Other Season Songs, presented by Hilo Community Chorus, Tom McAlexander, Conductor, and Walter Greenwood, Accompanist.  Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 PM, First United Protestant Church, 1350 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720 (click for location on Google Maps) .

The Hilo Community Chorus will present “John Rutter’s Magnificat and other seasonal songs” in concert at the First United Protestant Church (above the Hospital and Kaiser) in Hilo on Saturday, December 3 at 2:00 PM. Amy Horst will be guest soloist in the Magnificat. The Harmonizers from Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences in Pahoa, directed by Lisa Lilja Wells, will join with the chorus to sing “God’s Love Made Visible” by Dave Brubeck; and they will sing a set of songs on their own. Other guests will include Herb Mahelona, cello and violin, and Elan Kobel, clarinet.

The program will also include a set of Hanukkah songs and two choral favorites: Christmas Day by Gustav Holst with Andrea Christensen as soloist, and Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams with Allan Anderson as soloist. Holst and Vaughan Williams were contemporaries, born two years apart, friends, and colleagues; and both were deeply influenced by the English Folksong.

This concert is free as a gift to the community. Donations are accepted. Hilo Community Chorus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.