First Light: James M. Collier New Works Festival

Saturday, March 3, 2018 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 4, 2018 3:00 pm

With this concert Repertory Singers begins an exciting new concert series: an annual program of new music for choir and orchestra. In addition to the concerts, related activities will include classes and lectures, and, when possible, interviews and lectures led by the composers.

Music Director Dr. Paul French says, “Despite the excitement that naturally surrounds premiers of any kind, new music premieres have too often become associated with music that is harsh and unpleasant. The new music on this series will be both artistic and beautiful. It is my personal wish that the composers and works presented on this series will become new favorites for our audience members.”

Featured works for our inaugural concert include beautiful big-hearted motets for strings, harp and choir by Will Todd, a young English composer who is fast becoming one of the most performed choral composers in the world; “Sing to the Lord, all the Earth,” for triple-choir, soprano soloist, and orchestra, by the Latvian sensation, Eriks Esenvalds; a commissioned work for choir and orchestra by former Repertory Singers Composer in Residence, Craig Kingsbury; and two works by Repertory Singers’ new Composer in Residence, Jodi French: “First Light”,  a festive piece celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, and a feature-length commission for choir and orchestra. This annual concert series is generously underwritten by Repertory Singers Season Sponsor, Jim Collier.