Lorelei Master Class and Performance

Saturday, April 22, 2017

7:00 pm | Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill

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Lorelei Ensemble singers posed on rocks by sea What is the Lorelei Ensemble

Lorelei Ensemble is an all-professional vocal ensemble based in Boston known for its range of repertoire as well as its consistent delivery of “exact, smooth, and stylish” programming (Boston Globe). The group’s nine members also have solo and ensemble careers.

Lorelei has a commitment to innovation. Since its founding in 2007, Lorelei Ensemble has commissioned and premiered more than fifty new works. Founder Beth Willer has observed that, in general, the repertoire for women’s voices “tends to be on the lighter side” and through the group’s commissions has sought to expand and deepen the range of pieces written for women’s voices.

Willer is currently Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at Bucknell University where she leads the Bucknell Camerata and Chorale.

Who are the singers?

Beth Willer, Sonja Tengblad, Margot Rood, Sarah Brailey, Sophie Michaux, Emily Marvosh, Christina English, Clare McNamara and Stephanie Kacoyanis

What does the name Lorelei mean?

A Lorelei is fabled nymph, a siren of the Rhine, who lured sailors to shipwreck by singing.

What is a Master Class?

Saturday, April 22, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm at Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (The Master Class is for Pennsylvania Girlchoir singers, music students and music educators – interested participants should contact Kelly Wilson at kwilson@pennsylvaniagirlchoir.org) A master class is an intensive class given to highly talented students of a particular discipline by an expert, or experts, of that discipline. The Lorelei singers are noted for the vocal artistry, innovation, and knowledge of styles from early music to modern. The New York Times has described the ensemble’s sound as “warm, lithe, and beautifully blended.” Members of the Pennsylvania Girlchoir’s Motets and Trovères, who range in age from 15-18, will be participating.

How did this Master Class and Performance come about?

It took over a year of planning and was the idea of Pennsylvania Girlchoir Music Director Vincent Metallo and CY Managing Director Martha Platt. “This is an exciting musical opportunity for our singers to learn about contemporary music and about how commissions come into being,” notes Pennsylvania Girlchoir Conductor Vincent Metallo. “Having our girls working side by side with these supremely well-trained singers will be exciting and transformative.”

We are grateful to Erica and Bob Carpenter for helping to sponsor this event.