VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FESTIVAL: March 8: Canterbury Choral Society

With its nod to spring and glorious music, the Canterbury Choral Society presents the VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FESTIVAL on March 8, 2020, at 4 p.m. at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, located at 1085 Fifth
Avenue at 90th Street. Tickets are available on EVENTBRITE, www.canterburychoral.org/tickets or at the Door, $25 General Admission, $20 Seniors and $l0 Students with ID.
        With a stellar vocal cast and conductor Jonathan 
De Vries leading, the Canterbury Choral Society presents Toward and Unknown Region, Dona Nobis
Pacem, Sancta Civitas and the piano Concerto in C
with concert pianist, Steven Graff. 
       This is a rare and delightful opportunity to hear Vaughan Williams' masterful works as he is among the best known British symphonists and his large scale choral pieces soar to the heights of musical achievement.
     

Jonathan De Vries

   









In addition to fulfilling the Canterbury Choral Society's mission to revive and present important music, conductor and artistic director De Vries is a multifaceted artist. He is also affiliated with the Upper School Choral and is Musical Theater Director of the Greenwich County Day School in Greenwich, Connecticut.      

Steven Graff

PIANO CONCERTO IN C: A special presentation, on this Festival occasion, is the performance of the Piano Concerto in C with Steven Graff who has not only been affiliated with the Canterbury Choral Society for twenty years, but he has appeared on the stage, over the airwaves and in the classroom and serves as Professor at Hunter College and t the Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York.
      Soloists include a stellar cast with soprano, Hannah Spierman who has appeared in major roles with Canterbury Choral Society on numerous occasions, and has been Soprano One Section Leader since 2017.  
      Tenor Blake Friedman returns to the spotlight. He sang most recently in the Canterbury Choral Society, November 2019 production of J S Bach's Christmas Oratorio. His voice has been cited by the New York Times for its "plummy fullness and dusky hue.:  He has been heard in performances at Chautauqua Opera singing the role of Almaviva in both Il Barbiere de Siviglia by Rossini and The Ghost of Versailles by John Congliano.  
          The third soloist, Robert Balonek has been praised by Opera News as having a "commanding, steely baritone and a direct crystal clear delivery."  Among his many credits, last season he performed in the Canterbury Choral Society's revival of Ariani's Oratorio di San Francesco.
        The Canterbury Choral Society looks forward to presenting the Vaughan Williams Festival.
Be there, are in for a most inspiring and entertaining afternoon.