The Rockingham Choral will perform their winter concert “A Rose in Winter” on Saturday, December 7 at Exeter High School and Sunday, December 8 at Christ Church in Exeter, NH. Both performances will take place at 3:00 p.m.
The program for “A Rose in Winter” features Gwyneth Walker’s “The Rose, the Briar, and the Bicycle”; Michael John Trotta’s “The First Noel: There is no Rose” and “O Christmas Tree”; Craig Hella Johnson’s arrangement of “Lo how a rose/The Rose”; Ola Gjielo’s “The Rose”; William Billings’ “I am the Rose of Sharon”; as well as works by Elizabeth Poston, Karl Nygard, Susan La Barr, Randal Stroope and more.
Each piece will be accompanied by the choir’s collaborative pianist Jeannie Goodwin. The Walker selection will also be accompanied by oboist Jill Hoffmann. In addition to the full force of the Choral Society, there will be featured solos and small groups drawn from the membership.
“Secular and sacred, our winter program repertoire celebrates the seeds of flowering and rebirth present in the shortest days of the year. Stories and allegories of roses, blooms, and verdant growth unite our pieces,” notes Johnson. “The concert will conclude with traditional carols and holiday works relating to our theme. The choir is very much looking forward to sharing these joyful, hopeful and poignant program.”
Since 1957, the Rockingham Choral Society has expanded and enhanced cultural experiences by performing choral masterpieces and adhering to the highest musical standards. The Choral Society is comprised of over 100 members and presents two concerts annually to the audiences in the New Hampshire Seacoast region. The choir is under the direction of Kristofer Johnson, director of choirs at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students. Advance purchase is available and encouraged at www.rockinghamchoral.org. Day-of tickets are subject to availability.
Exeter High School is located at One Blue Hawk Drive and Christ Church is located at 43 Pine Street, both in Exeter, NH.
More information can be found at www.rockinghamchoral.org or on the group’s Facebook page.
About Rockingham Choral Society
Since 1957, the Rockingham Choral Society has expanded and enhanced cultural experiences by performing choral masterpieces and adhering to the highest musical standards. With a growing membership of 100 singers, the Choral Society has been accompanied by a number of distinguished local musicians throughout their history. The group performs two annual concerts for audiences in the New Hampshire Seacoast region and is under the direction of Kristofer T. Johnson, only the 7th Artistic Director in over 60 years.
For more information, please visit www.rockinghamchoral.org.