Master Chorale of South Florida to present Bach to the Holidays November 18 – 20, 2011

The Master Chorale – South Florida’s premier classical choral ensemble – will kick off the holiday season to the delight of concert-goers with a series of performances featuring old pleasures and new enchantments.

Selections will include Bach's spectacular Magnificat, Bassi's Carol Symphony, Corelli's Christmas Concerto, Eric Whitacre’s ethereal Lux Aurumque and other sounds of the season.

The series of performances marks the debut of the Master Chorale’s new artistic director and conductor, Dr. Karen Kennedy.  Jeffrey S. Stern, the Chorale’s new associate conductor also will conduct 2 selections.  Accompanied by the Miami Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Kennedy’s skillful baton, the 120 voice Chorale will be joined By four outstanding soloists..

Soprano Ah Hong is renowned for her performances of early music, and made the American premiere recording of Bach's newly discovered aria, Alles mit Gott und nichts ohn’ ihn (BWV 1127), for National Public Radio’s Performance Today. She is a member of the voice faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University and Towson University in Maryland.

Mezzo-soprano Misty Bermudez is a founding member of Seraphic Fire and in February 2012, will  perform Bach's B Minor Mass with the acclaimed group. The South Miami resident enjoys an active career as a concert soloist, chamber artist and operatic actress. 

Known to Master Chorale audiences from his performances of Mozart's Requiem in April 2010, tenor Tony Boutte is an assistant professor of vocal music at the University of Miami Frost school of Music. His operatic and concert performances of baroque and classical works are highly respected.

Baritone David Newman has been praised as having “the perfect oratorio voice.” A Bach specialist, his talents are in demand worldwide. When he is not performing, he is teaching voice students at the James Madison University School of Music in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The concerts will be held on Friday, November 18, at 8 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale; on Saturday, November 10, at 8 pm at the Wold Center for the Performing Arts at Lynn University in Boca Raton; and on Sunday, November 20 at 4 pm at First United Methodist Church in Coral Gables.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $30 through www.masterchoraleofsouthflorida.org. Remaining tickets will be sold for $35 at the door.

Contact:  Nancy Gates-Lee, 954-770-2805