The chorus, which has a current roster of more than 60 singers, is known for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere and rich tradition of presenting two concerts each season to audiences in Westchester and nearby communities. It sponsors annual Summer Sings that are open to all and starts in June at the Music Conservatory. In addition, members have shared their musical talent at nursing homes and other venues.
The chorus’ repertoire includes works from Baroque to contemporary, such as Bach’s Cantatas, Beethoven’s Symphony #9 in D minor, Handel’s Messiah, Bartok’s Hungarian and Slovak folk songs, Irving Berlin’s Unforgettable Broadway and Alice Parker’s American Hymns and Songs.
The Spring Concert on May 13, 2017 features Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a scenic cantata composed in 1935 and 1936, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection Carmina Burana. Carmina Burana is part of Trionfi, a musical triptych that also includesCatulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite. The first and last movements of the piece are called Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi ("Fortune, Empress of the World") and start with the very well known "O Fortuna".
His impressive background also includes: music director of the Hartford Chorale, chorus director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and associate director of the Collegiate Chorale. He has been a guest conductor with the Houston Masterworks Chorus, the Dessoff Choirs, the Greenwich Choral Society and the Handel Choir of Baltimore. He has led workshops and clinics for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the New Amsterdam Singers, the Augusta Choral Society, the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and the Southwestern Virginia Spotlight on the Arts Festival.
Nemhauser says, “Good music, sung well - that's the Westchester Choral Society. I believe in hard work - the more you put in, the more you get from the experience. But most of all, I believe in the joy of singing. Each member gains a tremendous amount of pleasure from singing with the WCS. Try it, you'll like it!”
Visit www.westchesterchoralsociety.org for more information or contact Numa Rousseve, 914-285-9026 to schedule an audition.