Standing ovations for the Junge Chor Speyer's first US concert in NYC
They could not have had a better opening concert for their 2008 USA Performance Tour. The 23 singers of the "Junge Chor Speyer" directed by Marie Theres Brand performed to a full house in New York City on March 26, 2008 in beautiful St. Matthias R.C. church. The program of sacred and secular works titled "Mozart & Friends" received several minute-long applauses and the choir was rewarded with standing ovations from almost everyone attending when the concert concluded. Especially the selection of German folk songs were true crowd pleaser: "Kein schoener Land" was requested as an encore and became particularly moving when many of the German-speaking guests sang along during that repeat performance. Mozart's "Sancta Maria" - accompanied by the string-quartet traveling with the choir - was also performed twice.
Between 400 and 500 people from all over the Big Apple attended their very first concert on US soil, some even came all the way from New Jersey and Connecticut as the performance hosted by St. Matthias and co-organized by Incantato Tours & Concert Management had been advertised all over the Tri-State area and highlighted as a special event in the media and various official information outlets like the German consulate's website. Director Marie Theres Brand and her singers were very moved by the warm reception and positive feedback they received from the audience and also their hosts.
Msgr. Ed Scharfenberger of St. Matthias who had spontaneously welcomed the choir from Speyer into his parish when approached only a few months ago commented on the event in an email shortly after the concert: "The Junger Chor was a true and timely gift to our community. You could see the expression on the faces of the people who attended – how happy they were. I heard so many people comment about how uplifting it was to see and hear so many young people come together to make such beautiful music. But it was even more than the music. It was the sense of HOPE that their presence gave to the people who are not always given an opportunity to see the results of good leadership, youthful goodness and enthusiasm and – let’s face it, love and discipline – all come together. The many connections that were made will only deepen the impression made. This was a wonderful event that will always be a treasured memory of our parish."
The choir continues to Ohio and Illinois were additional formal and informal concerts are scheduled. They return to Germany on April 3, 2008.
Pictures and videos taken at the event will be posted here later.
Junger Chor Speyer performs in New York City
The German Youth Choir "Junger Chor Speyer" presents the first formal concert of its 11-day Performance Tour to the USA tonight at St. Matthias R.C. Church in Ridgewood, NY on March 26, 2008.
Starting at 7:30 pm, the 23 singers present a selection of sacred works and international folksongs. "Mozart & Friends" is the title of their performance which is part of the centennial celebration at the Queens parish founded 100 years ago.
Selections for the performance will be from the following:
Sacred Works
Jubilate Deo W. A. Mozart
Benedictus sit Deus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
Laudate Dominum
Herr Gott, dich loben wir.
Ave verum F. X. Süssmayr
Exultate Deo J. M. Haydn
Sonate d - moll J. F. Fasch
String-Quartet „Continuo“
Sound the trumpet H. Purcell
Hebe deine Augen auf zu den Bergen F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Ubi Caritas et amor H. G. Hinderberger
The Lord bless you J. M. Michel
Jubilate Deo
International Folk Music
Musica, die ganz lieblich Kunst J. Jeep
Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehn F.Lerndorfer
Kommt, ihr G´spielen M. Franck
Horch, was kommt von draußen rein M. Brand
Der Jäger längs dem Weiher ging F. Dietrich
Wenn alle Brünnlein fließen E. Hübner
Vocal—Song aus:Feuerwerksmusik G.F. Händel
Bongo Bongo H. Lemmermann
Hava nagila H. Lemmermann
Per Spelmann M. Brand
Viele verachten die edle Musik G. Wolters
Kein schöner Land K. Wolf
Der Mond ist aufgegangen A. Seifert
The entrance is free.
This short video clip was taken during the first rehearsal. Enjoy!
Junger Chor Speyer coming to the US in March
The German Youth Choir "Junger Chor Speyer" is counting the days until their very first North-American Performance Tour. The ensemble from
Speyer is going to land in New York City on March 24.
The "Big Apple" is the starting point for an 11-day tour leading them via New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio to Illinois. The choir directed by Marie Theres Brand is flying out of Chicago on April 3.
Their concert schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 PM concert at
St. Matthias R. C. Church - Ridgewood, NY
Friday March 28, &:30 PM concert at
Church of Ascension - Lakewood, OH
Sunday, March 30, 10 AM worship service at
Faith Lutheran Church - Fairlawn, OH
Sunday, March 7:30 PM concert at
Fairlawn Lutheran Church - Fairlawn, OH
Additional performances and exchanges are scheduled at and with: Central Christian Concert Choir,
SCC Touring Choir,
Firestone H.S. for Visual & Performing Arts, Red Rose Children's Choir of Lake County.
The "Junger Chor Speyer" thanks all hosts for their hospitality. The choir also says a special Dankeschoen to St. Matthias Church, the
Summit Choral Society as well as the
Goethe-Institute for their generous support.
The Choir of the Sound (COTS) S is a leading community choir in the Puget Sound area, presenting concerts of demanding literature in an innovative and entertaining style. The choir has been recognized through the years for its impressive performances of major choral works. COTS was founded in 1977 by Robert Metzger as the Shoreline Community College Chorale, and assumed its present name in 1980. The Choir’s mission is to provide an outlet for musical expression and artistic performances that are educational, stimulating, and enriching to the cultural life of the community. Tours of Europe in 1983 and 1995 featured performances in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany. In November 2005, under the direction of Judy Filibeck, the COTS singers joined four other choirs and two New York City soloists in a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria at Carnegie Hall.
Judy Filibeck has been the Musical Director of the Choir of the Sound since 2004. She has recently retired as Director of Choral Music at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington, where she conducted five different award-winning choirs. Judy Filibeck graduated from Bemidji State University in Minnesota, and has a Master's degree from the University of Washington and continued to study at the University of Oregon also. She taught for ten years at Seattle Community College and was co-owner of a company that taught goal-setting and self-esteem building techniques across the United States. She has also conducted both church and community choirs and adjudicated many festivals and competitions in the Pacific Northwest. 
