The Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth
Chorus ends its 14th season with an evening of world premieres
composed especially for students attending New York City’s only
voice-based after-school music academy.
The "Sweet Songs of Youth" program
will be performed May 20 in Long Island University’s Kumble Theater.
The commissioned works are from a trio of musicians: renowned
jazzman Fred Hersch, new music pioneer Nico Muhly (pictured)
and Broadway tunesmith Andrew Lippa.
Hersch’s "Please Smile," for
four-part chorus, bass and electric guitar, is an homage to two
of Hersch’s favorite vocal groups: Earth Wind and Fire and Take
6. Muhly’s "The Sweets of Evening," for four-part chorus
and piano, takes advantage of the textures of ever-changing children’s
voices. "Hope," for three-part chorus and piano, is
Lippa’s first foray into choral writing for a children’s group.
Works ranging from the baroque (J.S. Bach)
to the 20th century (Bela Bartok) are also on the program, which
is led by the group’s founder, Dianne Berkun. Before the concert,
Brooklyn Philharmonic Director of Education Ted Wiprud moderates
a discussion with the world-premiere composers.
The Brooklyn Youth Chorus performs new
works by Hersch, Muhly and Lippa on May 20 at 7:30 pm at the
Kumble Theater on LIU’s Brooklyn campus, Flatbush Avenue Extension
at DeKalb Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. Tickets – $17 (general
admission), $35 (preferred seating) and $70 (VIP seating and
post-concert reception) – are available at www.kumbletheater.org
or by calling (718) 488-1624. For more information, visit www.brooklynyouthchorus.org.
