The BP Master Chorale will be performing Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil on May 5, 2013 as part of the annual Boise Music Week celebration. The concert will be held at the Cathedral of the Rockies and will begin with an organ prelude at 7:15 pm.
A reprise performance will take place on May 11, 2013 at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Ketchum, ID, at 7:30 pm. A free-will offering will be collected at both performances. Please visit boisemusicweek.org to see a list of all performances.
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The Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale is an auditioned chorus of more than 100 singer volunteers, which has provided the greater Boise area with choral master works since 1975. The inaugural concert that year was a performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra!
In addition to performing with the Philharmonic, the Chorale has also collaborated with other area arts groups including the Boise Baroque Orchestra, Ballet Idaho, Idaho Dance Theatre, Opera Idaho Children’s Chorus, Treasure Valley Concert Band, Boise State University Symphonic Orchestra, as well as other local choruses. The Chorale has performed numerous times for Boise Music Week and has invited area high school singers to participate as part of an educational outreach effort. This spring the Chorale will perform Rachmaninoff’s op. 37, All-Night Vigil (Vespers) on May 5 at the Cathedral of the Rockies as part of the Boise Music Week celebration.
The Chorale is led by Dr. James Jirak who is in his sixteenth year as Artistic Director and conductor of the BPMC. The ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:00 until 9:00 at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy.
This November the Chorale performed an exciting world premiere, “A Sacred Land,” by Idaho composer Jim Cockey with choreography danced by Ballet Idaho.
The commission was at the request of the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra in celebration of the Boise sesquicentennial. Prior to that, the Chorale had commissioned and performed two multi-movement works for choir and orchestra. The first was composed by Vijay Singh, for the Lewis and Clark Bi-Centennial.
Entitled “Sons of the West,” the text included excerpts from the diaries of expedition members while they traveled through present-day Idaho. The second commission went to Paul Aitken who composed a five movement work entitled “And None Shall be Afraid” using peace prayers from Jewish, Native American, Muslim, Christian, and ancient Chinese sources. This work had a New York premiere in Carnegie Hall in 2010 and will again be performed in Carnegie Hall this spring.
Auditions for the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale are held each August, or by appointment. The Chorale is interested in adding experienced singers who have good tone, pitch, diction, rhythm, and music-reading skills. If you are interested in auditioning for the Chorale, you may call 426-4101 to schedule. Singers are required to bring a prepared solo. Come join us!
For more information on the Boise Master Chorale find their website at www.boisemasterchorale.net.
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Dr. James Jirak - Artistic Director
Click here for Dr. Jirak's bio