The Farmington Valley Chorale hosts a Brahms' Requiem Sing In We are takeing our first look at this this project for next season's performance                                                           We will be singing selections from this master work of Brahms with piano accompaniment Valley Community Baptist Church 590 West Avon Road, Route 167, Avon CT                                                                       handicapped accessible                        Sunday, August 18                                in the afternoon at  3:00 pm Bring a friend to join us - $5.00, suggested donation We will provide the music scores and refreshments Information 860-485-9240 or 860-679-4058 Our concerts are made possible in part by a grant from the Greater Hartford Arts Council's Neighborhood Arts and Heritage Program. Our Director  Dr. Ellen Gilson Voth has been the artistic director of the Chorale since 2007.  In addition, she is Director of Novi Cantori, a professional chamber choir which performs throughout southern New England, and is Music Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Music at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. Dr. Voth has served on the faculty at Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., The Hartt School in Hartford, Conn., and the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, NY.  She has also been a member of the faculty of the Masterworks Festival in Winona Lake, Ind. and the Csehy Summer School of Music in Langhome, Penn.  In past years, Dr. Voth has served as conductor of the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus, as assistant conductor of the New Haven Chorale, as choral director at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, Penn., and as conductor of the Cambiata choir with the Connecticut Children's Chorus. She has been active as a guest conductor and adjudicator in the region, and has served on the board of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors' Association. As a composer, Dr. Voth's works have been published by Colla Voce, ECS Publishing, Oxford University Press, and Santa Barbara Music Publishing.  She has been commissioned by Perkiomen Valley High School, Central Bucks West High School in Doylestown, Penn., the New Haven Chorale, and the Children's Aid Society Chorus in New York City.  In addition, she has been artist-in-residence with the Greater Middletown Chorale in Middletown, Conn.  Her composition "Wind of the Spirit" was premiered by the Princeton Singers at Lehigh University in June 2008. In 2009, she was a semi-finalist in the Call for Scores sponsored by the Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, Minn., and the winner of the Twin Cities Women's Choir choral composition competition.  She remains active as a pianist, organist and collaborative artist. Dr. Voth holds a doctoral degree (DMA) from The Hartt School, a master's degree (MM) from Westminster Choir College of Rider University (NJ), and a bachelor's degree (MME) from Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Ill.). Our Accompanist Bridget de Moura Castro, accompanist and organist, is currently director of music at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Hartford, holds degrees from Reading University (England) and Texas Christian University where she studied with Lili Kraus.  A British Council Scholarship holder, she did graduate studies at Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest and specializes in organ, clarinet, piano, and chamber music.  Ms. de Moura Castro was recorded this year on two CDs of French music--one of four-handed piano with her husband Luiz de Moura Castro and one of flute and piano 19th/20th century music.  She has performed and taught in Spain, Czechoslovakia and Brazil.   About Us Farmington Valley Chorale presents two major concerts every season Ellen Gilson Voth - Artistic Director,  conducts the Chorale with professional orchestra and soloists. Bridget de Moura Castro - professional accompanist and organist. Recent Programs - Haydn, The Creation; Mendelssohn, Hymn of Praise; Honegger, King David; Puccini, Messa di Gloria, Bach Christmas Oratorio Supported by The Saunders Foundation, Simsbury Woman’s Club, Ensign-Bickford Foundation, and the Connecticut Office on the Arts. Contact To contact the Chorale for information regarding upcoming concerts or to get information on joining the Chorale,  please use  email. Participation No auditioning necessary We are a singing group of more than 80 men and women, including students, committed to bringing quality choral music to our local area.  We present two concerts each season with a professional orchestra and soloists.  As part of our community outreach program, we also perform concert selections for residents of local nursing homes and hold “sings-ins” during community celebrations.  No auditions are required - only a love of music and the desire to sing with others who share a passion for performing the classical choral music repertoire. Scroll down for active map and get directions Come Sing With Us We rehearse on Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m.  starting January 6, 2013. Rehearsing at Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, 55 Bushy Hill Rd., Simsbury. We’ll be performing Handel’s oratorio Esther. Membership dues are $30 per season and scores are provided.  No audition is necessary. Please email   secretary@farmingtonvalleychorale.org  if you plan to join us on January 6. Chorale History The Farmington Valley Chorale traces its origin back to 1970 when the Town of Simsbury, Connecticut celebrated its tercentenary, or 300th, anniversary .  At the opening of the six-month celebration, a choir of approximately 100 voices formed from the choirs of the local Simsbury churches, presented a major concert at Simsbury High School under the direction of Dr. Gerald Mack of the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford.  While Dr. Mack was the conductor for the concert, the foundations of the concert had been firmly laid by J. Lawrence Gilman and his wife Ann, who led and accompanied the then named Interfaith Chorale. After a second performance at the closing ceremony of the tercentenary celebration, members of the chorale wished to remain a performing choral group.   Today, four of these visionary charter members continue to sing in the Chorale. Membership includes members from as far away as Massachusetts and Middletown. Because of this geographical diversity, the chorale has incorporated as a nonprofit organization and has been more appropriately named the Farmington Valley Chorale, Inc., reflecting the area from which most members come. Under the 25 year direction of our retired director Don Smith, the repertoire has included sacred, classical, contemporary, spirituals, and patriotic music.  Performances have been given in Suffield, Granby, West Hartford, Farmington, and at various schools and churches in Simsbury.  The Chorale has served the community by participating at the Wadsworth Festival of Trees; at the lighting of the Simsbury community Christmas tree; at various "open sing" programs; in a joint concert with the Simsbury Community Band; and has entertained residents at local nursing homes. CLICK ON THIS IMAGE FOR DRIVING DIRECTIONS Send us a note! Find us on Facebook! Get Directions The Chorale is a not-for-profit organization that relies on the generous support of local business advertisers, grants from charitable organizations, and individuals like you.  Please consider making a tax deductable donation to support our chorale.  Thank you for your support. Please Support us!