Welcome to the 12th Season for the Grand River Chorus

Richard Cunningham Welcome to another wonderful season of making music with the Grand River Chorus. There is much to excite us and you as we plan four major works in the year. 2010 marks the 400th anniversary of the composition of a piece that defined the transition from the Renaissance into the Baroque periods of music. Claudio Monteverdi dedicated his “Vespers” to Pope Paul V in the hope of securing a scholarship for his son. This colossal setting of music for a major service probably won him the job of Maestro di Cappella at St Mark’s in Venice, when the job came open three years later. We open our season with this grand work.

From this monumental music to the powerful message of Handel’s “Messiah” to the Romantic period’s gentle and assuring “Requiem” by Brahms to the jazz / classical stylings of the “Missa Gaia”; the 2010 - 2011 season will be one of many themes and styles. Clearly, it will provide you with a fantastic variety of grand music at a high quality level you have come to expect from our chorus. Be sure to set these dates in your calendar so that you, your family and friends, can be a part of this exciting time for music in our community. We value your feedback, and want to hear from you. I love to meet concert patrons after the performances, or at any time. Please come and tell me how much you like what we’re doing to provide you with great music.

Richard Cunningham