08 Dec 2014

Nova Singers Presents: A Nova Christmas

By Laura Lane

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Nova Christmas on Friday, December 19, 7:30pm at St. Paul Lutheran in Davenport, and on Saturday, December 20, 7:30pm at First Lutheran Church in Galesburg.

Celebrate the holiday season with Nova Singers and join the many families who have made this their annual tradition!  We'll sing standard old favorites such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and The Holly and the Ivy, new versions of some of your favorite Christmas carols like Lo, How a Rose and O Come, O Come Emmanuel, an African carol with drums, and Kevin Memley's incomparable O Magnum Mysterium. Join us for a beautiful night of laughter, hope, peace and joy.

 

Dr. Lane talks about the program: "What people love most about the Nova Christmas program is still the same:  beautiful new arrangements of familiar carols, hauntingly sweet melodies in a variety of tempos and styles.  What I'm really excited about, though, is what's new this year:  Betelehemu, an African carol with drumming, clapping and movement, and a Pentatonics arrangement of Carol of the Bells with vocal percussion! Plus, people have loved our vocal jazz renditions for years, and this year we have jazz arrangements of In dulci jubilo, I Wonder as I Wander, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Deck the Hall.  But now, with the Pentatonics tune, we're expanding into the world of a cappella!"

For our Galesburg concert, students from the Galesburg High School Chamber Singers will join Nova Singers. For the Davenport concert, the Sudlow Select Choir will be guests of the Nova Singers.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical soul with you.  Nova Singers is known for the beauty, charm, sincerity and emotional power the singers impart to their music.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge.  Season tickets are still available for purchase at the door: $60 for adults and $50 for seniors.  For information about tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers' events visit our website at www.novasingers.com!

 

Nova Singers' 2014-2015 season is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and with Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, provided by Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, the Doris and Victor Day Foundation, and Deere & Company.

17 Dec 2013

Nova Singers Presents: A Nova Christmas (revised)

By Laura Lane

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Nova Christmas: Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Galesburg, and Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, IA.

Escape from the hum-drum of daily life, the frenzy of holiday shopping and the pressure to do it all! Give yourself the gift of an hour of beauty, serenity, laughter and love with Nova Singers. A Nova Christmas features Christmas songs of all styles, including Jay Rouse's arrangement of O Holy Night and a Nova favorite, John Rutter's What Sweeter Music.  Copi's Ave Maria and Memley's O Magnum Mysterium are sure to take your breath away. We also celebrate local talent, featuring Galesburg composer Carolyn Kellert's arrangement of Quelle est cette odeur agréable, with Jill Marasa on clarinet.  And of course, it wouldn't be A Nova Christmas without an audience sing-along!

For the Galesburg concert, Nova Singers will be joined by the Galesburg High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Paula Helle for a special treat.  The choir will perform two pieces of their own before combining with the Nova Singers for two beloved Christmas carols.

Artistic Director Laura Lane says that this Christmas concert is her favorite one yet: "I adore the music of Christmastime!  These traditional songs we've heard all our lives make us feel nostalgic for the past and grateful for the present, all at the same time.  I'm delighted to have found several new Christmas songs for this concert:  two settings of Alma Redemptoris Mater by Palestrina and Victoria, full of timeless mystery, modern carols by Czech, Norwegian and Estonian composers, and, honestly, if you haven't heard Kevin Memley's O Magnum Mysterium, you won't believe its emotional power! I'm especially happy to have found an arrangement of O Holy Night that is stunning and perfect for Nova."

As if that weren't enough, Nova Singers announces the silent auction of the artist perceptions of Randall Thompson's Alleluia from the fall concert We Sing Life! The paintings by Nicholas Digioia and Julie Swanson Davis will be sold via silent auction starting now through the final concert of the 2013-2014 season. Anyone interested in bidding on one of these two paintings must attend a concert to do so.  The winners will be announced at our spring concert, American Genius, April 4th and 6th.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical holiday spirit with you.  Nova Singers is known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the beauty and charm the singers impart to their music.  Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities since 1986, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

 

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge. Nova Singers season tickets will still be available through this performance. For information about group rates, tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers events, call 309-341-7038, or e-mail nova@knox.edu.  Also, please take the opportunity to visit our Facebook page under the keywords 'Nova Singers'.  A Nova Christmas is sponsored by Miller Dredge Insurance.  Nova Singers' 2013-2014 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

09 Dec 2013

Nova Singers Presents: A Nova Christmas

By Laura Lane

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Nova Christmas: Friday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Galesburg, and Saturday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, IA.

Escape from the hum-drum of daily life, the frenzy of holiday shopping and the pressure to do it all! Give yourself the gift of an hour of beauty, serenity, laughter and love with Nova Singers. A Nova Christmas features Christmas songs of all styles, including Jay Rouse's arrangement of O Holy Night and a Nova favorite, John Rutter's What Sweeter Music. Copi's Ave Maria and Memley's O Magnum Mysterium are sure to take your breath away. We also celebrate local talent, featuring Galesburg composer Carolyn Kellert's arrangement of Quelle est cette odeur agréable, with Jill Marasa on clarinet. And of course, it wouldn't be A Nova Christmas without an audience sing-along!

For the Galesburg concert, Nova Singers will be joined by the Galesburg High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Paula Helle for a special treat. The choir will perform two pieces of their own before combining with the Nova Singers for two beloved Christmas carols.

Artistic Director Laura Lane says that this Christmas concert is her favorite one yet: "I adore the music of Christmastime! These traditional songs we've heard all our lives make us feel nostalgic for the past and grateful for the present, all at the same time. I'm delighted to have found several new Christmas songs for this concert: two settings of Alma Redemptoris Mater by Palestrina and Victoria, full of timeless mystery, modern carols by Czech, Norwegian and Estonian composers, and, honestly, if you haven't heard Kevin Memley's O Magnum Mysterium, you won't believe its emotional power! I'm especially happy to have found an arrangement of O Holy Night that is stunning and perfect for Nova."

As if that weren't enough, Nova Singers announces the silent auction of the artist perceptions of Randall Thompson's Alleluia from the fall concert We Sing Life! The paintings by Nicholas Digioia and Julie Swanson Davis will be sold via silent auction starting now through the final concert of the 2013-2014 season. Anyone interested in bidding on one of these two paintings must attend a concert to do so. The winners will be announced at our spring concert, American Genius, April 4th and 6th.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical holiday spirit with you. Nova Singers is known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the beauty and charm the singers impart to their music. Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities since 1986, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge. Nova Singers season tickets will still be available through this performance. For information about group rates, tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers events, call 309-341-7038, or e-mail nova@knox.edu. Also, please take the opportunity to visit our Facebook page under the keywords 'Nova Singers'. A Nova Christmas is sponsored by Miller Dredge Insurance. Nova Singers' 2013-2014 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

27 Nov 2012

Nova Singers Presents: A Nova Christmas

By Laura Lane

Nova Singers, under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, presents two performances of A Nova Christmas: Friday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, IA, and Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Galesburg.

Nova Singers' most popular concert of the year is fast approaching! Get your friends and family into the Christmas spirit with a program featuring Christmas songs of all kinds, including Kirby Shaw's arrangement of Silver Bells and Irving Berlin's timeless White Christmas. Victoria's Ne Timeas Maria and Muehleisen's A solis ortus cardine are sure to take your breath away. We also celebrate local talent, featuring Galesburg composer Daniel Godsil's newly published Choral Meditation on "The Holly and the Ivy" and pianist Megan Clewell on a tango from Puerto Rico and a delightful arrangement of Shepherd's Shake Off Their Drowsy Sleep.  And of course, it wouldn't be A Nova Christmas without an audience sing-along!

Nova Singers will be joined by youth choirs for both concerts. On Friday the 14th in Davenport at St. Paul Lutheran Church, the guest choir is the Sudlow Select Choir, under the direction of Kim Knoche.  On Saturday the 15th in Galesburg at First Lutheran Church, Nova will be joined by the Galesburg Singing Streaks, directed by Pier Debes.  Each choir will perform their own set of music before combining with the Nova Singers for three beloved Christmas carols.

Artistic Director Laura Lane says that the Christmas concert is one of her personal favorites. "It's true! Music has always been an important part of the holiday season for me. Every year, I love finding new Christmas carols that we've never done before that I think are perfect for Nova Singers. And this year I have found so many that are uniquely beautiful! I adore the mystical, deep motets from the Renaissance by Hassler and Victoria, but I'm also  thrilled with the A solis ortus?written a year ago, I believe this will be only its second performance ever! Based on chant, it's haunting and full of rich, lush harmonies and just absolutely gorgeous. I'm also really excited about finally singing Silver Bells and White Christmas with Nova Singers: two of my dad's favorite carols."

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hopes to share our musical holiday spirit with you.  Nova Singers is known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the beauty and charm the singers impart to their music.  Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities since 1986, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

Tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students are admitted free of charge. Nova Singers season tickets will still be available through this performance. For information about group rates, tickets, recordings, or other Nova Singers events, call 309-341-7038, or e-mail nova@knox.edu.  Also, please take the opportunity to visit our Facebook page under the keywords 'Nova Singers'.

 

A Nova Christmas is sponsored by Miller Dredge Insurance.  Nova Singers' 2012-2013 season is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

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