Oshkosh Chamber Singers logo

· Tickets
· Donate to OCS
· About OCS
· Auditions
· Music Director
· Performers
· Board
· Links

button to donate to the Oshkosh Chamber Singers

Oshkosh Chamber Singers
P.O. Box 2252
Oshkosh, WI  54903-2252
oshkoshchambersingers@gmail.com

The Oshkosh Chamber Singers

Concert Season 2007-2008

The Oshkosh Chamber Singers invites you to join us for our 21st season of presenting the finest in choral repertoire.

Reflections on Peace
October 27, 2007
7 pm
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Music Hall (Arts & Communication Center), 926 Woodland Avenue, Oshkosh (map & driving directions)

“Reflections on Peace” Unites Dr. James Kinchen with Oshkosh Chamber Singers

When choosing the music to include in a concert whose theme is Reflections on Peace, Dr. Carl Chapman, director of Oshkosh Chamber Singers, had no problem finding thematic material to include. His struggle was constructing a program that lifted itself from a monochromatic setting to one of dynamic contrasts in all facets of a choral concert: style, origin, lyrics, voicing, rhythms, and instrumentation. What evolved is the promise of a thoughtful and emotional journey where the meaning of peace is explored with a combination of cross-cultural music and narrative. Joining the Oshkosh Chamber Singers on Saturday, October 27 at 7 p.m. as guest narrator is Dr. James Kinchen, Director of Choral activities at UW Parkside, Director of the Milwaukee Choristers and current Director of Wisconsin Choral Director’s Association.

With the realization that peace defies definition, taking on metaphysical qualities, Dr. Chapman has taken an approach of presenting what it is not. Therefore, the contemplative prayers for peace, “Et in Terra Pax” by Vivadi and “Dona nobis Pacem” by J.S. Bach are placed in contrast to the bold and dramatic verses of Walt Whitman and the children of the Terezin Death Camp. Inspiration is further sought through the varied writings of generals, philosophers, and poets including Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Yitzhak Rabin, Maya Angelou, Sara Teasdale, Kahlil Gibran, Langston Hughes and others. Their ideas are presented in music and narrations that convey the emotion of the lyrics: serenity, commotion, hopefulness, sadness, bliss. John Rutter’s “Gloria”, in all its magnificence and exuberance, crowns the evening with comfort and joy.

The music varies in harmonies, rhythms and is supported by a diversity of accompaniment including piano, percussion, string and brass instrumentation. The singers are joined by Marianne Chaudoir, piano and organ, members of UW Oshkosh Music Department Faculty and local musicians including: Marty Robinson, Rob McWilliams, Charles Isaacson, David Dunning, James Ninnemann, Heather McWilliams and Kristin Masarik-Harris on brass; Klara Bahcall, David Cowley and Steve Schani on strings; and Alison Shaw and Victoria Daniel on percussion.

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
December 15, 2007
2 performances: 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church, 311 Division St., Oshkosh (map & driving directions)

Accompanied by pipe organ and brass ensemble, the Oshkosh Chamber Singers give voice to the true spirit of Christmas. Interwoven with music that tells the story of the advent and nativity are brief scripture passages read by members of the community. The audience is invited to lift their voices in the congregational singing of familiar carols.

Weaving together scripture and song, this concert makes a truly magical progression that will carry you from prophecy to fulfillment, from Old Testament foretelling to a birthday celebration.

Make your holidays shine with the concert that has been an Oshkosh tradition for over 17 years. Community members say this annual concert starts the Christmas season in a wonderful way, and they wouldn't miss it!

Come out of the cold and join us for the warmth of songs & stories celebrating the miracles of the season.

Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor & Rutter's Mass of the Children

2 performances:

The Oshkosh Chamber Singers will be joined by both the UW Oshkosh Chamber Choir and the Badger State Girl Choir.

Guest soloists will be Susan Almjeld (soprano), Margaret Wendt (mezzo-soprano), Todd Kaphaem (tenor), and Thomas Weis (baritone). Marianne Choudoir is the choir’s accompanist and concert organist.

Joining OCS for Rutter’s Mass of the Children is the Badger State Girl Choir’s Vivace ensemble, under the direction of Kevin Meidl. Vivace — the principal performing group within the Badger State Girl Choir — is comprised of girls in grades 5-6 from Neenah and neighboring communities in the Fox Valley. This is the second season the Badger State Girl Choir has been performing.

Joining OCS for Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor is the UW Oshkosh Chamber Choir. This choir is UW Oshkosh Music Department’s advanced ensemble of student voices. The Choir traveled through Italy in May 2007 on a triumphant concert tour, performing in Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Great Mass in C minor is a splendid series of monumental choruses, interspersed with the most enticing soprano arias Mozart ever wrote. He composed the mass in 1782-83 to fulfill a vow he made to himself upon marrying his wife Constanze, who was an accomplished soprano. Although the mass was never totally completed (it lacks the majority of the Credo and the entire Angus Dei), it premiered in Salzburg in 1783. Audience members will recognize the melodic lines of the Kyrie movement from the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning film “Amadeus”.

John Rutter is one of the most beloved of today’s choral music composers. He wrote Mass of the Children in the winter of 2002-03. Of it he says, "I had always wanted to write a work combining children's choir with adult performers, not only because I find the sound of children's voices irresistible but also because I wanted to repay a debt. As a boy soprano in my school choir I had been thrilled whenever our choir took part in adult works with children's choir parts... and wanted to write something that would give children a similar opportunity to perform alongside adult professionals." The Mass was first performed in February 2003 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The foundation of the work is the traditional messe breva, a mass without the Credo movement. The Mass opens and closes with morning and evening prayers, giving the whole work the framework of a complete day, from waking to sleeping. Within the Mass are other texts that appear like events in the day, or like landmarks in a life. Most charming is the children’s rendition of the poem "Little Lamb, Who Made Thee?" by William Blake. Like all of Rutter’s works, the Mass of the Children explores contemporary & pleasing melodies, rhythms, and harmonies.

All our concert venues are barrier-free and handicapped accessible.

Click here to see highlights from our past seasons.