Halcyon Chorale

Halcyon Chorale Graces York Street Meeting House with Angelic Harmonies, 9/22

The Northeast Kingdom’s own Halcyon Chorale will perform a concert at York Street Meeting House, in Lyndon, on Friday, September 22nd, at 7pm. The former church, lovingly renovated by the Upright Steeple Society, promises to be the perfect venue for an intimate choral performance, showcasing crystalline vocals with gorgeous acoustics.

Halcyon Chorale was founded in 2022 by a small and deeply committed group of singers including Sarah Amos, Elly Barksdale, Emma Buhner, Elia Desjardins, Mike Errickson, Carl Johnson, Marc Lamontagne, Jennifer Mackenzie, Mavis MacNeil, Susanne Norwood, Alan Rowe, Sandra Sprecher, Katie Tandy, Alden Weiss, Lucas Weiss, and Micah Weiss. Their goal is to bring the most beautiful and engaging choral music to the public, ranging from medieval chamber music to more current arrangements.

Musically diverse, Halcyon Chorale counts trained singers, instrumentalists, composers, and conductors among its members. With a commitment to performances of challenging and powerful repertoire, precise and nuanced ensemble, and a palpable joy in performance, Halcyon Chorale hopes to cast a bright and invigorating light on the present moment, and bring love and inspiration to the community.

Halcyon Chorale’s commitment to brilliant music led to a love of the music of Jocelyn Hagen. Her major work “Amass” is the Chorale’s most challenging endeavor yet, and will feature in the September 22nd program. Despite being influenced by Catholic mass, the work reflects the composer’s lack of religious clarity and certitude. It features a small chamber ensemble, several solo vocal parts, and a capella choral movements, the latter of which will be performed in full. Halcyon Chorale found an Agnus Dei, the traditional final movement of the Catholic ordinary, by Carol Barnett that matches Hagen’s intensity and beauty. Additional composers featured in the program are Caroline Shaw, Germaine Taillefaire, and Claudio Monteverdi.

For advance tickets or to learn more about Halcyon Chorale and other live performances hosted by Catamount Arts at York Street Meeting House, visit www.catamountarts.org, call 802-748-2600, or visit the Catamount Arts pop-up box office in the Caplan’s Building, on Railroad Street, in St. Johnsbury.