Join us for the 2011-2012 Season!

Kroc Center

The Northwest Sacred Music Chorale is delighted to have the opportunity to make the fabulous Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene our performance venue, now even better with the increased parking capacity. The Kroc Center theater is a State-of-the-Art performance center and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. We have lined up a wonderful music season to match this truly wonderful venue.

 

Spring Concert --

Spring 2012 Concert

The 2012 Spring Concert will be held on April 21st & 22nd, at 7:00 PM on Saturday and at 3:00 PM on Sunday afternoon, respectively.

"Oh, to be in England, now that April's there......” Thus begins Robert Browning's famous poem, and thus the stage is set for this year's Spring Concert.

British composers will be featured throughout this program: in a nod to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they prepare for their first wedding anniversary, you will hear two anthems sung at their nuptials.

In honor of England's most beloved turn-of-the-century composer, the Chorale will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams' legendary “Five Mystical  Songs,” with the assistance of baritone Randel Wagner.

And in homage to the Chorale's maiden season, expect great things in the performance of John Rutter's “Gloria.”

 

Purchase your Concert Tickets by clicking here!

 

Randel Wagner

Randel Wagner is the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Eastern Washington University. He divides his time between conducting, singing and teaching.

As a professional singer Wagner has performed across the United States, Asia and Europe. Highlights of his career include performing the bass solos in Haydn’sDie Jahreszeiten with the Quodlibet Chor and Telemann Orchestra in Osaka, Japan. Opera roles include Marcello and Shaunard in La Bohème, Sharpless in Madame Butterfly, Orestes in Iphigénie en Tauride, and the world premier of The Pied Piper of Hamblen by Carol Sams with Tacoma Opera where he created the role of “Diffle.” He has prepared the NW Bach Choir for Gunther Schuller and The EWU Symphonic Choir to join the Spokane Symphony for their presentation of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. Under Dr. Wagner’s direction the EWU Chamber Choir toured Italy. He has also conducted Sondheim’s Into the Woods for Spokane Civic Theatre and portrayed “Judge Turpin” in Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd.

His awards include Regional Finalist, Metropolitan Opera Auditions; National Finalist, NATS Singer of the Year Competition; the Nicolai Gedda Award, Music Academy of the West; the EWU Fosseen/Kusaka distinguished professor award; and the CenturyTel Faculty Achievement Award at Eastern Washington University.

 

Raffle of Lyman Art at Spring Concert additional Information

 

Fall Concert --

The 2011 Fall Concert celebrated our first 10 exciting years and should prove to be one of our most extraordinary concerts yet.

Cynthia

The concert was led by guest conductor Cynthia Marlette, founder and initial conductor of the NWSMC.  It will feature the Chorale in a thrilling work for symphony orchestra and choir called "Concert Mass" by composer Joe Fitzmartin. This major work for symphony orchestra and choir had its world premiere at Carnegie Hall and has since been performed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, in Berlin, and by the Novgorod Symphony in Russia. Never before has it been performed in the US outside Carnegie Hall.

The Mass brimmed with dynamic energy augmented by plentiful brass and percussion. The brilliant composing accomplished 45 minutes of pure joy, from the first trumpet fanfare to the thrilling ending with full orchestra and choir heralding "pacem!" (peace).

Joseph FitzmartinComposer Joseph P. Fitzmartin
Music Director, Keystone State Boychoir
A co-founder of Commonwealth Youthchoirs, Joseph P. Fitzmartin has served since 2001 as Music Director of member-choir Keystone State Boychoir. His role with Keystone State Boychoir combines Mr. Fitzmartin's long dedication to music education, conducting, and composing. A distinguished composer, he has written and arranged extensively for choirs and orchestras, including A Fantasy of Carols, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
A native of Philadelphia and graduate of Catholic University in Washington, DC, Mr. Fitzmartin is also choral director for the middle and upper schools at the William Penn Charter School. Previous positions include organist and choir director at at Collenbrook United Church in Drexel Hill for twenty-four years, organist and choir director at Girard College, and associate director and accompanist for the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale, a post he held for twenty-one years.

Along with the Concert Mass, the program also included an outstanding brass/organ ensemble, choral pieces by Northwest composers Jane Orto and Joshua Haberman, and the Chorale's Ensemble conducted by assistant conductor Gaynell Coppess.

 

There was a very special guest appearance by Leon Patillo, former lead singer of Santana who performed his music with the Chorale.


Handel's Messiah Sing-along --

On December 3rd the NWSMC teamed with the Coeur d'Alene Chamber Orchestra to present the Handel's Messiah Sing-along at the Lake City Community Center in Coeur d'Alene. In addition to the Chorale & Orchestra, the event featured outstanding soloists from the local community.


Christmas Concert --

Our annual Christmas Concert was held on December 21st with performances at 5:00 and 8:00 PM. Always a favorite concert for audiences and musicians alike, this year's Christmas Concert provided the favorites for all ages! Benjamin Britten's “A Ceremony of Carols” featured the trebles of the Chorale, along with the already-famous talent of harpist Leslie Stratton Norris. Favorite carols – old and new – were performed, and brilliant artists were featured. The audience was surprised to witness a little comedy as well, as we immersed ourselves in “the most wonderful time of the year”!