ST CROIX VALLEY CHAMBER CHORALE INC

Who We Are

The Valley Chamber Chorale is a unique artistic organization dedicated to providing classical, contemporary, jazz, and sacred vocal performances of the highest caliber. Our programs consistently reflect the rich cultural heritage of the St. Croix Valley in Minnesota and incorporate guest artists from across the country. The Chorale is widely regarded as one of the leading arts organizations in Washington County, the St. Croix Valley and the state of Minnesota.

We perform our concerts in Stillwater. Our two sets of concerts at the Washington County Historic Courthouse treat audience members to gourmet refreshments amid luxurious concert decor. Our classic (orchestral) concerts are often held at Trinity Lutheran Church, a venue well regarded for its excellent acoustics.

Our History

The Valley Chamber Chorale was originally formed in 1975 as a creative outlet for adults with previous musical experience who sought an opportunity to perform sophisticated works not normally attempted by church choirs and other singing groups. The Chorale was incorporated in 1977, is a nonprofit organization, and is a member of Chorus America. The 2010-11 season marks the Chorale's 36th year.

Our Mission

We hope to provide enjoyment for our members and audiences by:

• Striving for musical excellence in performance.
• Seeking new challenges artistically and technically.
• Producing and performing a minimum of three concerts each year.
• Keeping our concerts affordable and accessible.
• Varying our repertoire within each season.
• Supporting and commissioning new choral works.
• Including at least one major work with professional instrumental accompaniments each season.

Our musical programming stimulates our audiences and enhances their appreciation of music as expressed by the human voice.

Look at What We've Presented!

The strengths of the Valley Chamber Chorale lie in the immense talent and dedication of the singers and in the diverse and unusual concert programming. All concerts are self-produced by Chorale volunteers. Artistic Director Carol Carver purposely fills every concert with selections that are familiar as well as obscure. Through creative programming, she challenges the audience to experience the depth of choral music.

Over the years, the Chorale has developed the technical and musical artistry required to successfully perform the most demanding of choral works. Notable accomplishments of the Chorale include:

Commissioned Works

• Canticum Novum by Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus
• 5 Parables , music for choir and jazz quartet composed by Craig Carnahan, with lyrics drawn from the work of West Coast poet James Buchanan.
• I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Jeanie Brindley-Barnett based on the writings of the children at the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust.
• Earthly Delights by David Evan Thomas. Now available through EC Schirmer Music.
• Peter Quince at the Clavier by Phil Kadidlo. A work for choir and instruments.
• Sweet Breezes by Aaron David Miller. A work for jazz quartet and choir.
• Welcome to Our Wondering Sight by Bradley Ellingboe for harp, oboe and choir. Now available through Kjos publishing company.

Major Choral Works

• Bach: Mass in B Minor, Wachet Auf
• Beethoven: Mass in C , Choral Fantasy
• Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
• Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes
• Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Rejoice in the Lamb
• Bruckner: Mass in E Minor
• Bush: Christmas Cantata
• Clausen: Memorial
• Durufle: Requiem
• Faure: Requiem
• Handel: Dixit Dominus
• Haydn: Mariazeller Mass , Mass in the Time of War
• Kodaly: Missa Brevis
• John Rutter: Gloria , Requiem
• Mozart: Great Mass in C Minor , Regina Coeli ,Requiem
• Orff: Carmina Burana
• Part: Te Deum
• Paulus: Mass
• Poulenc: Gloria
• Rossini: Petite Messe solennelle
• Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis