SCHOLA CANTORUM ON HUDSON STIRS THE POT OF AMERICAN MUSIC

Schola Cantorum on Hudson (SCH), the critically acclaimed choral ensemble, presents its annual Ethnic Celebration Series concert entitled the "American Melting Pot" highlighting works of composers who have immigrated to the United States. Dr. Deborah Simpkin King, the ensemble’s artistic director and founder, will conduct. Dr. King comments, "A uniquely American musical voice emerged from the influences of many nations. This program embodies the international flair and vitality of this great American melting pot. The hope and optimism that continue to bring immigrants to our shores pervade the music in this concert.”

The program showcases this season's Cantorum Young Singers (CYS), the Wagner College Choir, directed by Dr. Roger Wesby. SCH and CYS will perform choral works representing many distinctly American genres—Appalachian folk songs, spirituals, jazz, musical theater—and many immigrant languages—English, Latin, Greek, Spanish, Samoan, and Shona—a Bantu language spoken in Zimbabwe. Among the popular favorites are “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” “Down in the River to Pray,” “Blue Skies,” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” This season’s featured composer, Dr. Wesby will guest conduct
a number of pieces, and his arrangements such as “Lost in the Stars,” “Uyai Mose” (“Come All Ye People”), and “Sweet Cane” (“Caña Dulce”), will figure prominently amid the works of luminary composers Carol Barnett, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Max Lifchitz, Sheena Phillips, and Kurt Weill.

The program will be performed at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3 West
65th Street (at Central Park West), Manhattan, and again at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 440 Hoboken Avenue (near Five Corners) in Jersey City, New Jersey.

All tickets are priced at $15 in honor of the organization’s fifteenth anniversary season. Advance tickets may be purchased online at ScholaOnHudson.org, by phone at (201) 918-
3011, or by email at BoxOffice@ScholaOnHudson.org. Groups interested in purchasing a block of ten or more tickets may email GroupSales@ScholaOnHudson.org for more
information on special rates. Additional information regarding the ensemble and its activities can be obtained online at ScholaOnHudson.org or by calling (201) 918-3011.