Singers of all ages invited to join LCCU

By Patricia Platt
“When the Litchfield County Choral Union sings, our love of music and Mozart fills the air,” announced
Gabriel Lofvall, the LCCU’s new musical director. Rehearsals will start in late May for an August concert
which will include Mozart’s “Mass of the Sparrows (Spatzenmesse),” a selection of pieces composed by
the contemporary Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo and the LCCU’s historic anthem, Robbins Battell’s
“Sweet Is the Work.”

Lofvall, a renowned Argentinian pianist, tenor and conductor, has been charged with rebuilding the
LCCU. He explained that “all choral groups across the choral world took a hit during Covid, and we’ve
had to work with smaller groups. We are trying to bring people back to singing. These years are years of
rebuilding and, pretty soon, we’ll be back to where we used to be.”

Building on his 12 years of experience as the artistic director of Chorus Angelicus, the Torrington-based
children’s choir, Lofvall wants to build a multigenerational chorus. “I hope to bring young and old
members into the LCCU, which will be beneficial for both groups. Older singers have experience and
powerful voices, while the youth bring beautiful voice tones. Both sides will learn from each other.”

Lofvall’s deep ties to the Norfolk area started in 1998, when he attended the University of Hartford,
earning master’s degrees in piano performance and choral conducting. He went on to receive a Doctor
of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting in 2015. During his years of study, Lofvall was the organist at
Norfolk’s Congregational Church and a private piano teacher to more than 25 Norfolk and area students.
He also performed a piano concert organized by Elizabeth Childs, sang the Messiah with the LCCU and
became head of Chorus Angelicus.

He will continue in the Chorus Angelicus position and in his role as director of music at the St. Patrick-St.
Anthony church in Hartford. “I’m thrilled to go back to what I consider my American roots and to go
back to a Norfolk group that is part of the Norfolk Music Shed,” Lofvall proclaimed. “It’s exhilarating for
me to reconnect with choral singing, and it’s a privilege to be chosen to conduct the LCCU.”

The chorus welcomes new members and invites prospective singers to email LCCU’s registrar at
lccu.registrar@gmail.com or connect through their website at litchfieldcountychoralunion.com.