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Contact: Liz Carroll
Phone: 413/775-1420
E-mail: carroll@gcc.mass.edu

Media contact: Liz Carroll
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Release date: November 8, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GCC Chorus celebrates Jewish music at Temple Israel

Sunday, November 14th, 7:30 p.m.

Expect to be both moved and entertained by the powerful emotions and rich harmonies contained in the wide variety of music in the Hebrew tradition that will be presented by the GCC Chorus Sunday, November 14th at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel on Pierce Street in Greenfield. The concert is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

In a year which marks the 350th anniversary of the arrival of Jews in America, Chorus Director Margery Heins hopes to draw connections between Jewish music and other music by Jewish composers of various nationalities. The program will include several pieces in Hebrew and Yiddish in the Klezmer style; also featured will be early music selections by Salamone Rossi, Heinrich Schütz, and Handel; Psalm 100 by Mendelssohn; and 20th century works Sim Shalom by Max Janowski and "Break Forth into Joy” from Robert Starer's Ariel: Visions of Isaiah.

The program also includes American spirituals such as "Little David, Play on Your Harp” and "Go Down Moses,” a selection that clearly resonated with the audience at the Chorus's recent preview concert. "I could see in their faces that it gave them a sad feeling,” says alto Kami Lahoski of Greenfield, "because we were talking about slavery throughout the world, and that's what this song is all about. Everyone who was singing the song was thinking about that right as we started to sing, and I think it really came through in the performance.”

Soloists on the program include Krystal Glushien and Michelle Plummer, sopranos; Kathy Bailey and Kami Lahoski, altos; and Matt Desreuisseau, tenor.

Students and community members make up the twenty-plus member of the GCC Chorus, which rehearses twice a week, accompanied by Amy Crawford. The GCC Chorus performs about four times a semester, both on and off campus. Upcoming performances include informal holiday concerts in December and a December 10th appearance at All Souls Unitarian Church. For more information or to join the e-mail list for concert announcements, call the college choral music office at 775-1171.