The local Celebration Choir of Carroll County will be performing “We Remember Them, A Concert of Love, Loss and Hope,” at the Carnegie Hall in New York City June 23, 2024. Right now, the group is actively recruiting new vocalists to attend what for many could be a highlight performance of their lives.
“We want you!” states a recruiting poster put out by the Celebration Choir. “Join the celebration in New York city and come sing with us.!”
The Celebration Choir is made up of both high school students and adults. An information meeting co-hosted by MidAmerica Productions is on Thursday, August 31st at 6pm at the St. Elizabeth Parish Center. A livestream option is available at the website celebrationchoirar.com.
The Carnegie Hall program will be guest conducted by Benjamin C. Winn, artistic director of the Celebration Choir. Winn said 52 school ensembles have been invited to participate and those selected will be known in October.
Winn said the power of music lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create special connections between people.
“This is the premise of the program titled “We Remember Them: A Concert of Love, Loss, and Hope,” Winn said. “The program celebrates the relationships and connections we create in our lives, from the bond between friends to the love shared between spouses. The program features a diverse range of repertoire that encompasses poets and composers from all walks of life. The music explores the deep ties we have with each other and with the divine.”
Winn said through this program, audiences are taken on a journey of reflection and remembrance. They remember those they have lost and celebrate the love and connections that continue to sustain us.
“The music offers a space for contemplation and healing, inviting listeners to connect with each other and with their own emotions,” he said. “In a world where we are often disconnected from each other and the world around us, this program reminds us of the importance of relationships and the power of music to bring us together. It is a celebration of the human experience and a reminder that we are all connected in our joys and struggles. May this concert be a reminder of what truly makes us human and reach those who need this message.”
The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall is a very unique offer.
“Carnegie Hall is absolutely considered one of the premiere performance spaces in the United States,” Winn said. “I’m the only public-school educator in Arkansas that is directing in 2024 at Carnegie Hall.”
For more information, email songbird1960@outlook.com, visit the website or follow the Facebook page Celebrationchoirar.