Hinsdale Chorale tenor, JR Tomkinson, featured in
The Hinsdalean!

Join us for our upcoming holiday program: “Welcome Yule!”

Hinsdale Chorale Announces Annual Holiday Concert
“Welcome Yule!”
November 25 & 26, 2023

Hinsdale, IL – October 10, 2023 – Hinsdale Chorale announced today that its annual holiday concert, “Welcome Yule!”, will be held Saturday, November 25, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, November 26, at 3:00 p.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington in La Grange. Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Mary Hopper, accompanied by Kathy Christian, piano, and Faye Seeman, harp, the performance will feature the holiday favorite, “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten, along with an array of other holiday selections.

“Britten’s well-known work evokes a joyful celebration of the Yuletide season by combining medieval and Renaissance poetry with a contemporary, sometimes haunting 20^th century sound,” said Dr. Hopper. “Other delights in the program include a Bach cantata movement and lively Christmas carols from a variety of composers. We hope this wonderful music helps our audience ring in the season with joy!”

First published 60 years ago as a work for children’s treble voices, Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” begins with a solemn Gregorian chant and takes the listener through a wide variety of undulating melodies that invite a celebration of Christ’s birth, a devotion to the Virgin Mary and Christ child, and a welcome to the new year. Ranging from jubilant to worshipful to melancholy, this seminal choral work is a story of salvation and joy that is frequently performed at holiday time.

Harpist Faye Seeman provides the exquisite harp accompaniment to Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols.” Seeman is principal harpist with the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra and holds positions as professor of harp studies at both Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and Northern Illinois University.

The second half of the program features a variety of both traditional and more contemporary Christmas pieces sung in German, Latin, Spanish, and English. The liveliest carols are “Fum, Fum, Fum” arranged by Parker/Shaw; “Masters in This Hall,” a traditional French carol arranged by Mark Hayes with English text by William Morris; and “Riu, Riu, Chiu,” a Catalan carol arranged by Jim Leininger for male voices.

Rounding out the program are the lyrical and beautiful “Ecce Novum” by Ola Gjeilo, John Rutter’s “Angels’ Carol,” and the mystical “Birds at Winter Nightfall” by Karen P. Thomas.

Tickets for “Welcome Yule!” are $20 for adults / $15 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.hinsdalechorale.org or call 312-510-1823.

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Hinsdale Chorale acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

About Hinsdale Chorale

Hinsdale Chorale is a non-profit, educational organization comprised of dedicated professional and amateur singers led by a professional director. Its mission is to enrich the musical culture of Hinsdale, IL, and its surrounding neighborhoods by promoting the appreciation of choral singing in our community. The group performs formally twice each year as well as several special appearances, including the Hinsdale Christmas Walk and the Hinsdale History Museum’s holiday open house. The chorale has a total of 46 voices representing 29 different communities throughout Chicago and its suburbs. For more information, visit www.hinsdalechorale.org or call 312-510-1823.

Please Check Out Hinsdale Chorale’s Web Series: Creative Musings

Our first installment features our beloved collaborative pianist, Kathy Christian – enjoy!

Hinsdale Chorale

Hinsdale Chorale is a non-profit and educational organization comprised of dedicated professional and amateur singers led by a professional director. The group performs formally twice each year as well as several special appearances for the Hinsdale community. The Holiday show has traditionally been the most extensive performance, often highlighted by orchestral accompaniment of solo and choral selections and often including an audience sing-along. The second formal show takes place in the spring and has provided the opportunity for us to extend the range of music selections. The group also often supports the Memorial Day services at Memorial Hall with patriotic selections and participates in Hinsdale’s annual Christmas Walk featuring holiday favorites.