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Dear friends of the Binghamton Downtown Singers,
We would like to cordially invite you to our 2024 Spring Concert to share in the Love, Harmony, and Spirit we offer. Our program, featuring two works that are completely new to the Singers as well as an old favorite, is as uplifting as it is emotional; and as inspiring as it is beautiful.
It is a goal of the Downtown Singers to always challenge ourselves with our Spring Concert music. Sometimes this challenge comes in the form of singing in a foreign language or with a unique instrumentation in the orchestra. This year our challenge came in the form of new styles of music and the strong feelings that accompany singing about a disease like breast cancer. The second half of this year’s program is a modern, oratorio style work titled Sing for the Cure: A Proclamation of Hope. This piece, which utilizes the stories of real people dealing with breast cancer, takes us on a journey from diagnosis through treatment as told through the eyes of those diagnosed and those closest to them. Sing for the Cure will include narration by Tracy Davidson and will highlight members of the choir through solos and small ensembles throughout the work. There is not one member of our choir that hasn't been touched by some kind of cancer, and we honor those loved ones tonight in our program, both the survivors and those lost.
Our concert tonight is not without its moments of joy, however. We will open with The Chariot Jubilee, R. Nathaniel Dett’s arrangement of the spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which celebrates life through its text and exuberant orchestration and features tenor soloist Tshombe Selby. This piece has quickly become a favorite of the Downtown Singers and we can’t wait to share it with you. Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, featuring baritone Timothy LeFebvre, concludes our first half and ends with the choir singing a triumphant hymn of praise. This work, performed by the choir in both 2005 and 2014 consists of 5 poems set to music by the composer.
As you may know, the Downtown Singers have been in a period of transition this year that includes working with our Interim Artistic Director for a full cycle to prepare his second concert. We and the whole Board are so proud of the dedication and perseverance the choir has shown. As a choir, we have added new members, stretched our abilities, trusted the process and given our hearts to the music we have prepared for you.
The Downtown Singers would not survive without the support of our friends. We are so thankful to our audience, friends, advertisers and grant sponsors for keeping the arts thriving in Binghamton! We do hope you’ll join us on June 8th for our concert, but also consider joining us in the fall when we resume rehearsals for The Messiah. Details can be found at www.downtownsingers.org
Sincerely,
Julie Drozdowski and Faith White
DTS Co-Presidents
Table of Contents - Spring Concert: Love, Harmony and Spirit - Sat, Jun 8 2024, 7:30pm
- Director's Corner
- Meet Our Soloists and Narrator
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