Global Choral Traditions
January 13, 2021

Global Choral Traditions

Wednesday, January 13, 2021, Lonnie Norwood, Gospel Music
Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Suzannah Park, Music of Appalachia
Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Elitsa Stoyneva Krastev, Bulgarian Folk Singing
Saturday, April 10, 2021, Bongani Magatyana, Traditional South African Music

All sessions will be LIVE!

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While the pandemic continues to keep us apart physically, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh is offering a way to connect musically and across cultures, by presenting Global Choral Traditions, a live, interactive, virtual exploration of choral music from around the world. 

Over the four sessions of Global Choral Traditions, experts from Gospel, Appalachian, Bulgarian, and South African choral traditions will teach participants about what makes each style unique, as well as about the elements they share as branches of choral music, one of the oldest and most ubiquitous of human art forms. All sessions are free and open to everyone, no singing experience required.

The virtual series begins January 2021, with a new session each month through April. In each session, a different artist will teach participants about their choral tradition and then lead the group in learning and singing along to a choral work from that same tradition.

Global Choral Traditions is hosted by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Oratorio Society of Minnesota in collaboration with Village Harmony, a nonprofit organization with activities around the world welcoming singers of all colors, creeds, ethnicities, nationalities, gender orientations & socio-economic backgrounds. Since 1988, Village Harmony has developed a strong international presence through its many study/performance programs, professional recordings, and innovative online learning opportunities.

The series is free and open to the public. Registration required. Sign up now at this link to receive your exclusive Zoom weblink to participate.

MONTHLY SCHEDULE

January 13, 7:30pm: Lonnie Norwood, Gospel Music
Led by Lonnie Norwood, Director of African Diasporic Music and Studies
Conductor, Englewood & In-School – Chicago Children’s Choir

February 3, 7:30pm: Suzannah Park, Music of Appalachia
Led by Suzannah Park, Founder and Director of the Wild Asheville Community Chorus; Program Director of Community Roots

March 3, 7:30pm: Elitsa Stoyneva Krastev, Bulgarian Folk Singing
Led by Elitsa Stoyneva Krastev, seven-time gold medalist in traditional Bulgarian folk singing

April 10, 11:00am: Bongani Magatyana, Traditional South African Music
Led by Bongani Magatyana, conductor of a 120-voice Old Apostolic Church choir; singer/music director/composer/theatrical producer/dancer

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