Chorale presents program including ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ with harp

Central Chamber Chorale, a Central Wisconsin group of experienced singers, will be presenting a varied program concluding with Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” with harpist Matthew Agen. Central Chamber Chorale performs free concerts at three different sites: Saturday, Nov 17 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church 400 N. 2nd Ave, Abbotsford; Friday, Nov. 15th at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 311 2nd St. South, Wisconsin Rapids; and Sunday, Nov 17th at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Lincoln, Marshfield.

The first half of the concerts will feature the haunting “Water Night” by composer, Eric Whitacre; “Arise, Shine!” by Dan Forrest and “Dirait-On” and “Sure on This Shining Light” by Morten Lauridsen. Two spirituals will feature soloists Donna Thompson and Mark T. Nelson.

“A Ceremony of Carols” celebrates the Christmas season with music set to 15th and 16th century English verse. The harp accompaniment brings a compelling setting for this celebration of music ranging from the somber “In Freezing Winter Night” to the rousing “This Little Babe”. Valorie Brecht of Loyal and Emily McIntee of Marshfield are the soprano soloists.

The concerts are open to the public without charge. The Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Richard Brunson, associate professor of music at UW-Stevens Point - Marshfield/Wood County, is in its 49th season. Mika Brunson, Lecturer of Music at the campus, is the Chorale’s accompanist.

The concert is sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the arts, Marshfield Area Community Foundation’s Cole Family Music Fund and Senior Endowment Fund, and by the generous support of members of the community.

For more information about the Central Chamber Chorale and its mission of keeping the joy of great music alive, visit www.centralchamberchorale.com or the Central Chamber Chorale Facebook page.