Chamber Choir from California to Perform a Program of French and English Choral Music

As the semester comes to a close the POMONA COLLEGE GLEE CLUB from Claremont, California, under the direction of Donna M. Di Grazia, finishes up its preparations for the ensemble’s annual Spring Tour. The 2019 tour brings the ensemble’s return to the East Coast with performances in New York (NY), Wayne (PA), Philadelphia (PA), Washington D.C., Williamsburg (VA), and Springfield (VA).

The 28-voice chamber choir is slated to present a series of free concerts of classical music. The all-a cappella program includes English and French selections by Byrd, Debussy, MacMillan, Poulenc, Vaughan Williams and others.

In a recent conversation, Di Grazia shared how excited she and the Glee Club are to be returning to the East Coast this year. “We are thrilled to return to some familiar and beautiful venues to perform in including Saint Ignatius of Antioch (NYC), known for being one of the best churches for choral music in the city and glorious National Cathedral in Washington D.C., and experience new venues in Philadelphia and Virginia. We are also looking forward to reuniting with our large contingent of alumni who reside in the vicinity, and meeting with family members of our singers who live locally.”

Choral music has played an especially important role in the cultural life of Pomona College since its founding in 1887, beginning with the Choral Union and the Men’s Glee Club in the late 1800s, and the Women’s Glee Club in 1902. Today Pomona’s rich choral tradition continues with two mixed-voice ensembles: the larger College Choir and the Glee Club. The Glee Club’s repertoire focuses on challenging classical music spanning the 16th through the 21st centuries. It tours annually, traveling both domestically and internationally, including most recently to Italy, where they performed in numerous venues including St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. They also seek out opportunities for community outreach to support senior communities, schools, and other local endeavors to benefit others.

Pomona College is a selective co-educational liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 1650 students, who follow an academic program encompassing major fields in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. It is located at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in Claremont, California, 35 miles east of Los Angeles, and is the founding member of The Claremont Colleges. (More information at www.pomona.edu.)

Performance Locations and Dates:

Wed. 22 May @ 7:45 p.m.:       Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church
552 West End Ave, New York, NY 10024 | 212-580-3326

Thurs., May 23 @ 7:30 p.m.     St. David’s Episcopal Church
763 South Valley Forge Rd, Wayne, PA 19087 | 610-688-7947

Sat., May 25 @ 7:30 p.m.         Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square
1904 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19103 | 215-567-1267
free will offering will be taken

Sun., May 26 @ 3:25 p.m.        Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016 | 202-537-5733
Choral Prelude for the Evensong Service

Tues., May 28 @ 8 p.m.            Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
331 W. Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | 757-229-2891
free will offering will be taken

Wed., May 29 @ 7 p.m.            Messiah United Methodist Church
6215 Rolling Rd, Springfield VA 22152 | 703-569-9862
 

PROGRAM     

Poulenc:    “Margoton va t’a l’iau” from Chansons française
Poulenc:    Ave verum corpus
Morley/arr. Granger:    O mistress mine
Compère:    Nous sommes de l’ordre de Saint-Babouin
Parry:    “My soul, there is a country” from Songs of Farewell
Sheppard:    In pace, in idipsum
Debussy:    Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder
Debussy:    Quant j’ai ouy le tabourin
Debussy:    Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain
MacMillan:    “O radiant dawn” from Strathclyde Motets
Purcell:    Lord, how long wilt thou be angry
Vaughan Williams:    Rest
Poulenc:    Kyrie from Messe in sol majeur
Byrd:    Agnus Dei from Mass for Four Voices
Villette:    Hymne à la Vierge
Coates/arr. Puerling:    London by Night
arr. Brinsmead:    Amazing Grace

Read more and listen to the Pomona College Glee Club