October 2015

October 25, 2015 4:00 p.m.
 Master Singers of Worcester , Malcolm Halliday, Artistic Director
Mechanisc Hall, Worcester
Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemorative Concert: The Armenian Church of Our Saviour, the first Armenian Church in America,and the Master Singers together commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a concert featuring sacred and secular music of Armenia, the world premiere of “A New Armenia!” by Worcester composer StephanBarnicle, and the Worcester premiere of Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living” with chamber orchestra and organist William Ness. The Master Singers are joined by singers and dancers from the Armenian community, and the children’s choirs of First Congregational Church and St. Mary’s Church of Shrewsbury.

October 30, 2015 7:00 p.m.
 Worcester Chorus , Dr. Christopher Shepard, Artistic Director
Mechanics Hall, Worcester
Music Worcesters Opening Night Gala!  Worcester Chorus performing Carl Orffs Carmina Burana with soloists and Festival Orchestra. Concert will be followed by reception, live and silent auction, and Cabaret, featuring Dr. Shepard at the piano with soloists.

November 2015

November 7, 2015 7:30 p.m.
 Salisbury Singers , Dr. Michelle Graveline, Music Director
Salem Covenant Church, Worcester
Life and Remembrance: Salisbury Singers will present acclaimed composer John Rutters new major work The Gift of Life: Six Canticles of Creation. This glorious celebration of life will be one of the first performances in New England. In addition, the chorus will present Dan Forrests Requiem for the Living. With soloists and small orchestra.

November 13, 2015 8:00 p.m.
 Assabet Valley Mastersingers , Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Westborough
The acknowledged favorite, “Requiem in d” by Mozart, featured in AVM’s first concert in 1978 will be revisited with orchestral accompaniment and vocal soloists soprano Elissa Alvarez; mezzo Margaret Lias; tenor Matthew Anderson; and baritone Thomas Jones.  Opening the concert will be the brilliant and joyous “Te Deum” of contemporary composer Karl Jenkins.

November 22, 2015 3:00 p.m.
 Sounds of Stow , Barbara Jones, Artistic Director
Hale School, Stow Center
Monteverdi’s monumental Vespers of 1610, performed with full orchestra and soloists

December 2015

December 5, 2015 7:30 p.m.
December 6, 2015
3:00 p.m.
 Harvard Pro Musica , Carey Shunskis, Resident Conductor
December 6 – Unitarian Universalist Church of Harvard, Harvard
December 14 – St. John the Evangelist Church, Clinton
J.S. Bach, Weinachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), Dietrich Buxtehude, In Dulci Jubilo.

December 5, 2015 8:00 p.m.
 Worcester Chorus , Dr. Christopher Shepard, Artistic Director
Mechanics Hall, Worcester
Annual performance of Handels Messiah with soloists and Festival Orchestra.

December 6, 2015
3:00 p.m.
 Nashoba Valley Chorale , Anne Watson Born, Music Director
First Church Unitarian, Littleton
Messiah Sing:  Bring your own score or borrow one of ours; Come to sing or to listen!

December 12, 2015 4:00 p.m.
 Master Singers of Worcester , Malcolm Halliday, Artistic Director
Wesley United Methodist Churchl, Worcester
Boar’s Head Festival: Celebrate the advent of winter and usher in the yuletide with this spectacular Renaissance costumed pageant, featuring the Master Singers with organist Brett Maguire, along with the Shrewsbury Youth Singers, a Morris and Rapper Sword Dance Troupe, and the acclaimed handbell choir, the Shrewsbury Ringers.This lively intergenerational event is very suitable for all ages.

December 13, 2015 3:30 p.m.
 Assabet Valley Mastersingers , Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director
First Church Congregational, Marlborough
“MESSIAH” Sing!    with Audience Participation, Organ and Professional Soloists
Come to lend your voices or listen in this beloved AVM holiday tradition of singing the Christmas portion plus “Hallelujah Chorus” of Handel’s MESSIAH.
Scores are available to share.  Reception following.

December 13, 2015 2:00 p.m.
 Salisbury Singers , Dr. Michelle Graveline, Music Director
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester
Holiday Concert at Worcester Art Museum: Salisbury Singers will usher in the holidays with their annual Holidays at WAM concert.  Free with Museum admission.

December 13, 2015
 Greater Gardner Community Choir , Diane Cushing, Director
First Congregational Church, Gardner
Winter Concert 2015 – Rutter’s Magnificat and other Holiday Pieces, with oboe accompaniment.

December 19, 2015 7:30 p.m.
 Quabbin Valley Pro Musica ,
Charles Heffernan, Conductor
Dukakis Performing Arts Center, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg
Thayer Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops Concert” including four choruses from Handel’s “The Messiah” sung by the Quabbin Valley Pro Musica (#4 “And the glory of the Lord”, #12 “For unto us a Child is born”, #17 “Glory to God” and #44 “Hallelujah!”).

January 2016

January 10, 2016 7:00 p.m.
 Shir Joy ,
Wendy Damoulakis, Director
Congregation B’nai Shalom, Westborough
Shir Joy Winter Concert

January 16, 2016
8:00 p.m.
 Nashoba Valley Chorale , Anne Watson Born, Music Director
Littleton High School, Littleton
Great Mass in C minor by Mozart with members of the Orchestra of Indian Hill and professional vocal soloists.

January 23, 2016  8:00 p.m.
 Acton Community Chorus , Paul Johnson, Director
Acton Congregational Church, Acton
Winter Lights: featuring Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn and short works by John Rutter.

January 24, 2016 3:00 p.m.
 Assabet Valley Mastersingers , Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director
 Shir Joy , Wendy Damoulakis, Director
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Westborough
With One Voice:  A choral concert of Renaissance Madrigals, Folk Songs, Israeli Songs, Vocal Jazz and more–   A delightful way to brighten a Winter’s afternoon.   Freewill Offering to Benefit Westborough Pastoral Counseling Center

January 31, 2016 3:00 p.m.
 Quabbin Valley Pro Musica ,,
Charles Heffernan, Conductor
Central Congregational Church, Orange
Handel’s “The Messiah”, the complete oratorio.  Accompanied by the Quabbin Valley Chamber Orchestra and featuring guest soloists mezzo soprano Allison Pollitt, soprano Brenda McDonald Salvi, soprano Candi Fetzer, tenor Ethan Bremner and baritone John Salvi.

January 30, 2016 7:30 p.m.
January 31, 2016 3:00 p.m.
 Westford Chorus , Jim Barkovic, Music Director
January 30 – All Saints Episcopal Church, Chelmsford
January 31- Union Congregational Church, Groton
Our January concerts will feature music from a variety of composers from the 1640s, 1740s, 1840s and 1940s, including Randall Thompsons Alleluia and Benjamin Brittens Rejoice in the Lamb.

February 2016

March 2016

March 4, 2016 8:00 p.m.
 Worcester Chorus , Dr. Christopher Shepard, Artistic Director
Mechanics Hall, Worcester
Mozarts Requiem and Poulencs Gloria with soloists and Festival Orchestra.

March 13, 2016 3:30 p.m.
 Assabet Valley Mastersingers , Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director
St. Mark’s School, Southborough
The dramatic and colorful ALEXANDER’S FEAST (The Power of Music) by G.F. Handel will be enjoyed with orchestral accompaniment and stellar soloists soprano Lynn Eustis; tenor Charles Blandy, and baritone Philip Lima.  The court musician at Alexander the Great’s feast demonstrates music’s power over human emotions and its ability to bring about harmony between man and the universe.

March 20, 2016 3:00 p.m.
 Sounds of Stow , Barbara Jones, Artistic Director
Hale School, Stow Center
Faur Requiem and Mendelssohn Lauda Sion, as well as Schumann Piano Concerto, performed with full orchestra.

April 2016

April 9, 2016 7:30 p.m.
 Salisbury Singers , Dr. Michelle Graveline, Music Director
Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester
Bach: Father and Son: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a great composer in his own right. His first major choral work, the Magnificat, shows some of the influence of his brilliant father, J. S. Bach. Come and hear J. S. Bachs rarely performed Missa Brevis in G and compare to another rarely heard piece, the Magnificat by his son, C. P. E. Bach.

April 23, 2016
8:00 p.m.
 Nashoba Valley Chorale , Anne Watson Born, Music Director
Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton
Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi with Symphony New Hampshire and professional vocal soloists.

April 29, 2016 8:00 p.m.
 Worcester Chorus , Dr. Christopher Shepard, Artistic Director
Mechanics Hall, Worcester
Celebrating America – The Worcester Chorus and New Haven Symphony Orchestra.   Bernsteins  Chichester Psalms; Lamberts  Rio Grande; Towers Second Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman; Spirituals.

April 30, 2016 7:30 p.m.
May 1, 2016
3:00 p.m.
 Harvard Pro Musica , Carey Shunskis, Resident Conductor
April 30 – venue TBD
May 1 – Boston
Love in Three LanguagesJohannes Brahms, Neue Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 65, Daniel Pinkham, Wedding Cantata, Maurice Durufl, Ubi Caritas

April 30, 2016 7:30 p.m.
 Master Singers of Worcester , Malcolm Halliday, Artistic Director
First Unitarian Church, Worcester
Jubilant Spring: The Master Singers kick off their fortieth anniversary celebrations with a performance of works by renowned and current composers, including English composer Bob Chilcott’s enchanting “The Miracle of Spring”, the hauntingly meditative “Safe to Port” by Michael Hoppe, and Norman DelloJoio’s energetic “A Jubilant Song.”  The concert will close with the Worcester premiere of the Afro-Cuban inspired folk mass “Suite Criolla” by Juan Ramirez, featuring the chorus with tenor soloist, Latin-styled percussion and numerous other instruments.


May 2016

May 7, 2016 7:30 p.m.
 Salisbury Singers , Dr. Michelle Graveline, Music Director
Dukakis Performing Arts Center, Fitchburg
A Night of Broadway: Salisbury Singers teams up with the Thayer Symphony Orchestra to bring you many of the great sounds of Broadway.

May 14, 2016 8:00 p.m.
 Assabet Valley Mastersingers , Dr. Robert P. Eaton, Artistic Director
St. Mary’s Parish, Shrewsbury
Songs of Hope and Consolation:  With accompaniment of Chamber Ensemble the “fresh & interesting perspective on life, love, loss, & renewal” of Dan Forrest’s “Requiem for the Living” will provide inspiration to audience and participants alike.  The “Beatitude Mass: For the Homeless” by Henry Mollicone combines lyric melodies and lush harmonies with words from the Latin Mass and the simple & anguished words of homeless people–beginning and ending with the Beatitudes’ ‘Blessed are the Poor.’

May 15, 2016 4:00 p.m.
 Sounds of Stow , Barbara Jones, Artistic Director
First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, Stow
A Tribute to Robert Shaw — Our Springfest concert is dedicated to the great American musician, Robert Shaw, as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth.  We will present selections that cover the range of his choral editions and we will read from the insightful and inspiring letters he wrote to his singers, sharing his wisdom and encouragement.  Instrumental selections by local musicians will fill out the program.

May 21, 2016 7:30 p.m.
May 22, 2016 3:00 p.m.
 Westford Chorus , Jim Barkovic, Music Director
May 21 – United Methodist Church, Westford
May 22- Union Congregational Church, Groton
Our May concerts will feature music from a variety of composers from the 1690s, 1790s, 1890s and 1990s.  The concert is In collaboration with the Littleton High School Chorus, directed by Steven Bergman.

June 2016

June 5, 2016 7:00 p.m.
 Shir Joy ,
Wendy Damoulakis, Director
Congregation B’nai Shalom, Westborough, MA
Hava Nagila! Let us rejoice! Shir Joy’s Spring Concert, “Sharing Diverse Voices of Israel”.  Shir Joy is an adult community chorus under the direction of Wendy Damoulakis, who is retiring this year. Help us celebrate her final concert with a musical salute to Israel with songs in Ladino, Yiddish, Hebrew, & English spanning two centuries.

June 10, 2016  8:00 p.m.
June 11, 2016  8:00 p.m.
 Acton Community Chorus , Paul Johnson, Director
First Parish Church United, Westford
“Imagine” Bringing peace through positive change.

June 26, 2016 4:00 p.m.
 Quabbin Valley Pro Musica ,
Charles Heffernan, Music Director
1794 Meetinghouse, New Salem
“Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn with professional and member soloists.
Premier of two compositions written by members of Quabbin Valley Pro Musica:
“Commit My Spirit” by Allison B. Pollitt and “Prayer of St. Francis” by Carolyn Brown Senier.