DCINY to Host A Capella Concert at Weill Recital Hall, 3/13

Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) will showcase three superb choral ensembles in an all-a cappella program at Weill Hall on Friday, March 13 at 8:00pm. Hailing from Canada are the Grammy-nominated Elora Festival Singers, and Le Chœur de chambre du Québec, which specializes in contemporary French-language works. And, from Buffalo, New York, the Harmonia Chamber Singers, who are noted for their innovative programming and stunning performances.

The Grammy and Juno-nominated Elora Festival Singers (EFS), with nine releases on the Naxos label, has established itself as one of the finest chamber choirs in Canada and beyond. Founded in 1980 by Noel Edison as the principal choral ensemble of Ontario's Elora Festival, EFS is renowned for its diverse styles and for its rich, warm sound and clarity of texture. Their program will feature repertoire by Canadian composers including Gloria by Timothy Corlis; Remember by Stephen Chatman, on a text by 19th-century English poet Christina Rossetti; and Gloria Deo per immensa Saecula by Healey Willan.

The Chœur de chambre du Québec, a 16-voice professional ensemble, aims to enrich the musical heritage of French Quebec and Canada through their development of new choral works composed on French texts, superb performances, and active touring. Some of the choir's repertoire is composed by its artistic director, Robert Ingari, including Chanson d'automne and Soleils couchants, his impressionistic settings of Verlaine's famous poems. Also on the program at Weill Hall are the world premiere of Flaques de soleil (Puddles of Sunshine) by Jean-Charles Côté, and a setting by Stephen Smith of one of the oldest French traditional songs, À la claire fontaine.

Founded in September 2006 by artistic director Robert Pacillo, the Harmonia Chamber Singers is a professional a cappella ensemble based in Buffalo, New York. The Singers' repertoire spans centuries of choral music, from Medieval chant to the present. Their program with DCINY will include the poignant Eulogy, a new work by American composer Rob Deemer and based on Iraq War veteran Brian Turner's account of a soldier who commits suicide on the battlefield in Iraq. Other works include Pater Noster by the young contemporary Italian composer Leonardo Schiavo; a new setting of Byron's She Walks in Beauty, by one of Harmonia's tenors, Jeff Trenchard; and Goin' Home by Michael Murray, based on a theme from Dvorák's New World Symphony.

Founded by Iris Derke (general director) and Jonathan Griffith (artistic director and principal conductor) Distinguished Concerts International is driven by passion, innovative vision, a total belief in its artists, and unwavering commitment to bringing forth unforgettable audience experiences. Upcoming concerts include Total Vocal at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 pm. Arranger and conductor Deke Sharon-of Pitch Perfect and The Sing Off! fame-hosts a celebration of contemporary a cappella music. For more information please see: www.DCINY.org.

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