Sangre de Cristo Chorale. Courtesy photoMUSIC News:
The Sangre de Cristo Chorale will cap its 39th season with performances on April 29 in Santa Fe and April 30 in Los Alamos with Night Songs. This concert features works inspired by the night … of lovers finding their heart’s desire or heartbreak … of being enveloped by twinkling stars, lush scents and reflection. At the Los Alamos concert, graduating seniors who are winners of the chorale’s Hastings Smith Memorial Vocal Scholarship will be announced.
The centerpiece of the performance will be Mozart’s “Vesperae solennes de confessore,” a captivating musical struggle between the forces of light and dark. The much-loved “Laudate Dominum” is among the six movements to be sung by the 40-member chorale and its featured soloists, with guest concert pianist Deborah Wagner.
Director Andrew Schmidt will also lead the ensemble in traditional compositions by Brahms, Lauridsen and Saint-Saëns. Other night-inspired works will feature contemporary pieces and a jazzy night cap, including Don McLean’s “Vincent (Starry Starry Night)” and Jimmy Van Heusen’s “Moonlight Becomes You.”
Concerts are 4 p.m. Saturday, April 29 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe; and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at the United Church of Los Alamos.
Discounts are available online at sdcchorale.org until the day of the performance. At the door, adults are $20; students 18 and under are free, over 18 are $10.
About the Sangre de Cristo Chorale
The Sangre de Cristo Chorale is among the longest continually performing independent chorales in New Mexico. Formed by its members in 1978, this self-governing chorale of adult auditioned singers is led by Andrew Schmidt. The Chorale performs diverse choral music in northern New Mexico for the educational and artistic enrichment of the audience, the community and its members.
More than 20 years ago the Chorale expanded its focus to helping enrich young singers by contributing formal choral educational outreach activities, in coordination with New Mexico schools. To date, approximately 500 students have apprenticed with, were tutored by, or received music and scholarships from the Chorale. Some of these students have gone on to prestigious careers in music. Scholarship winners will be announced at the concerts this weekend.
About the Hastings Smith Memorial Vocal Scholarship
The Hastings Smith Memorial Vocal Scholarship is among the musical education opportunities offered by the Santa Fe-based Sangre de Cristo Chorale to enrich the lives of young people in the region. Two $500 scholarships are awarded each spring to students dedicated to singing and demonstrating an ongoing commitment to increase vocal musical experience and progress. Begun in 1996, the Hastings Smith Memorial Vocal Scholarship was established in memory of Hastings Smith, a Sangre de Cristo Chorale singer. To date, the scholarship has been awarded to more than 40 recipients pursuing vocal music excellence.
The scholarship offering is among the SDCC youth program that also supports an apprentice program for high school students and promotes education via an annual community engagement program for high school choirs.