Georgetown Choral Society (GCS) participated in a combined mass performance at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New York City, on January 18. Some of the night’s proceeds are going to relief efforts in Haiti. Here are more details about this exciting concert and great honour for the GCS, sent to us by Iris Derke, General Director, Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) of New York City.
On January 18, the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concerts Singers International, comprised of more than 400 auditioned chorus members from across North America, including the Georgetown Choral Society (A. Dale Wood, director), presented the Inaugural concert of DCINY’s 2010 Season at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic. Featured soloists included Erica Powell, Cherry Duke, Adam Russell, Mark Watson and Geraint Llyr Owen.
Under the baton of DCINY principal conductor Jonathan Griffith, the Distinguished Singers/Orchestra International performed two pieces by world-renowned living composer Karl Jenkins, in a celebration of peace commemorating the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both pieces, Requiem and The Armed Man, were set with film accompaniment, and were dedicated to the victims of the crisis in Haiti, with a portion of the night’s proceeds being donated to the relief efforts.
The audience enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s vision of peace, and what we all must do to help others in their time of need. The performance was memorable for audience members and performers alike, and the occasion was more than well celebrated with a standing and enthusiastic ovation at the end of each work.
DCINY would like to congratulate the Georgetown Choral Society and looks forward to inviting them to participate in future concerts on the DCINY Concert Series.
This must have been a spectacular performance and is sure to be a lifelong memory for everyone who took part. Now GCS singers can answer the question “How do you get to the Lincoln Center in New York?” by saying “Get invited.”
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As one member of the choir who participated in the New York concert, I can say that it was quite a thrill. The choral director, Jonathan Griffiths, is a great teacher, and raised us to a new level of performance. Of course, performing in the renowned Lincoln Center was amazing, and the enthusiastic applause from a very knowlegeable audience was icing on the cake. For a chorister, it does not get much better than that. I think we all came back enriched for the experience and feeling like our community choir can proudly take its place along with the best in the field of choral music.