Glacier Chorale to sing in New York City

A group of Flathead Valley singers has been invited to perform in New York City.

The Distinguished Concerts International New York City has invited Glacier Chorale to participate in a performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” The concert will take place in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall Nov. 25.

The local musicians will join other choristers to form the Distinguished Concert Singers International.

Conductor Jonathon Griffith, artistic director of Distinguished Concerts International, will lead the performance and serve as clinician for the residency.

“The Glacier Chorale received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional quality of the audition recording,” he said.

Glacier Chorale’s invitation arrived quickly after the group’s director, James Stanard, submitted a CD of Glacier Symphony and Chorale’s November concert, “Alexander Nevsky.”

“It is truly an honor and pleasure to work with the talented and dedicated members of the Glacier Chorale,” Stanard said.

“I have felt proud of their accomplishments for some time now. I’m so pleased that after reviewing a CD of the Glacier Chorale’s recent performances, [Griffith] selected them to be one of the participating ensembles in this year’s Lincoln Center performance of ‘Messiah.’”

The chorale will spend four days and four nights in New York preparing for the performance. Chorale members will spend nine to 10 hours in rehearsals and will have time to explore the city — but the primary focus of their visit is the concert.

“It is quite an honor just to be invited to perform in New York,” Griffith said.

“These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community. This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.”

Griffith is a co-founder of Distinguished Concerts International, which holds choral and instrumental concerts in world-class venues, including Carnegie Hall and Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

For more information about the chorale’s trip to New York, contact Stanard at jstanard@me.com or call 257-2964.

Additional information about Glacier Symphony and Chorale is available by calling 257-3241 or by visiting www.gscmusic.org.