Text By Jude Mead
Photo Courtesy of Harold Shapiro

Local singers take note—the Litchfield County Choral Union (LCCU) is seeking voices to join them for the Aug. 19 season finale concert of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, featuring Mendelssohn’s jubilant symphony-cantata “Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise).” 

Dr. Jeffrey Douma, professor of choral conducting at Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music and director of the Yale Glee Club, will conduct. The concert will represent an important milestone, as the Hymn of Praise was the first work sung by the Choral Union at the Music Shed, in 1906.

The chorus for this special project will be composed of the LCCU and other singers recruited from throughout the area. They will be joined by soloists from the Yale School of Music and a full orchestra from the Norfolk Yale School of Music. Matthew Cramer, an alum of the Yale choral conducting program, will run the initial rehearsals with the LCCU. Maestro Douma will lead the final rehearsals and the concert performance. 

The LCCU invites all former members and any interested new singers to join them in performing this magnificent work. Rehearsals will be held every Monday evening starting June 5 at Battell Recital Hall in Norfolk from 7:30 to 10 p.m. 

Musical scores will be available at the first rehearsal. There is an individual registration fee of $50 ($40 for members of the same family) and $20 for students. This is an exciting opportunity to sing with some of the area’s best-trained voices. Contact lccu.registrar@gmail.com to register.