Middletown Chorale Concert

From the Middletown Chorale

Under the direction of Joseph D’Eugenio, Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association 2009 Conductor of the Year, the Greater Middletown Chorale presents its spring concert, “Be Strong, My Heart,” featuring Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen and works from several well-known Connecticut composers.

In preparation for the GMC’s May 2011 tour to Italy, the chorale will perform a concert tailored for a Connecticut audience, featuring the world premiere of a commissioned work by internationally known composer Lee McQuillan, as well as works from local composers Colin Britt and Sarah Meneely-Kyder.

The concert will be held on Sunday, April 3, at 4:00PM at Bethany Covenant Church, located on 785 Mill Street in Berlin. Tickets may be purchased online at www.gmchorale.org via PayPal with a credit card.

McQuillan, a Middletown native, authored “Be Strong, My Heart,” the piece from which the concert gets its name. He was inspired by a poem written by Cheshire author John Afman, which deals with the questions and affirmations of beliefs. As a composer, McQuillan says to have a local group perform his music is a rarity.

“This is something that doesn’t happen very often for me,” McQuillan said. “It’s exciting for me. This is one special organization in town.”

Meneely-Kyder, composer-pianist of Lyme as well as a Wesleyan University faculty member, worked with her sister, Nancy Meneely of Guilford, on the poetry and music of an inspirational piece regarding loss and redemption.

“I love writing pieces of that character,” Meneely-Kyder said.

“It’s blissful and exciting, both at the same time,” Nancy added of hearing their work performed live.

“It’s so exciting to work with local composers such as Lee, Sarah and Nancy,” D’Eugenio said. “This concert is a great way to foster Connecticut connections in music, not only for our performers, but for our audience as well.”

The Greater Middletown Chorale is funded with the support of its generous patrons, and with grants by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Middletown Commission on the Arts, Aetna Foundation, NRG Energy, Travelers’ Golf Championship: Chip In For Charity, J. Walton Bissell Foundation, Chevron Humankind Grants, Middlesex County Community Foundation/Mary Ann Lambert Fund, Pfizer Foundation.

This performance is supported in part by Johnson Brunetti Financial Retirement Services, with locations in Wethersfield, Cheshire, and Simsbury, Connecticut.

Seventy singers strong, the Chorale is a non-profit auditioned symphonic chorus committed to excellence in singing and performing choral masterworks and other outstanding music for all generations of listeners.  Ticket and concert information may be found at www.gmchorale.org.