Origins

Ensemble and Chorale

Chorale and Sotto Voce

Looking Ahead

The second period included the establishment, in January 1992, of the VOICES Chorale, a chorus of talented volunteer singers who first performed singing the chorales of Bach's St. John Passion from the balconies of Richardson Auditorium. The Chorale made performances of larger works with orchestra possible and created an opportunity for outstanding performance opportunities for dedicated singers. The mission of performing new and unusual works as well as classic masterworks continued through both the Ensemble and Chorale. Education programs were consolidated, as we learned that the management of education touring programs was important and costly. Gordon Myer's "Missy Mouse" toured many schools, and delighted public audiences in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The composition contest grew to include workshops on improvisation and composition. We reviewed, made constructive suggestions, and awarded prizes—pints of ice cream to hundreds of very young composers.

Notable concerts during our second five years included:

Brahms Requiem at Trinity Cathedral, Trenton with members of Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra
Music for a Summer's Night
Graduate conducting Recital of Mikie A. Roberts, with the Steel King Orchestra
In Praise of Women, at Rutgers Summerfest
Haydn Lord Nelson Mass at the Pennington Music Festival
Frank Lewin's Birthday Celebration Concert
Performances of VOICES 10th Anniversary Commission at the American Choral Directors Association Conference in Philadelphia
In Praise of Women, New York performance
Presentations at conferences of Chorus America, Conductor's Guild and ACDA
A collaboration with the Chinese-American Yue Yue Chorus
Features in national magazines and newspapers
Master class with Dale Warland.

Board members included Stuart Pope, Alice Foster, John Forconi, Robert Levine, Michael Johnson, Barbara Weinfield, Steven Mackey, William Mates, Lynne Hight, Linda Weaver, Sue Shier, Marjory Klein, Udo Warius and Lily Brown.

Continued...