Concert Choir Performs at New York City's Carnegie Hall

Students in the Upper School Concert Choir at Westchester Country Day School are a part of a special choral concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on March 23.

The group is joining other choruses invited from across the U.S., distinguished soloists and the New England Symphonic Ensemble for the New York premiere of "Magnificat" by composer/conductor Marc-André Bougie. They also are performing Mozart's Mass in C Major, K. 317 "Coronation Mass” conducted by Leslie Dala. The production is part of MidAmerica Productions’ 40th anniversary season.

The Concert Choir, directed by Shelley Jennings, music teacher and interim director of the arts, is one of several arts elective courses available to students in the Upper School. Seven students and Jennings are traveling to New York for several days to rehearse and perform in the concert.

In January, the Concert Choir had the opportunity to participate in a choral clinic for the day with Bougie, the composer of "Magnificat," in preparation for the upcoming concert.

"We love Westchester's small size, but our singers would not be able to perform large works of music without joining other choirs," said Jennings. "It is a great honor being a part of the premiere of Bougie's 'Magnificat.' We have been given the unique opportunity to learn this piece, composed just last year, along with Mozart's 'Coronation Mass,' written way back in 1779. I can't think of a better place than Carnegie Hall for this experience."