Check out our Back-to-School Newsletters for both returning and incoming students! This year will be full of twists and turns, but the music will remain! 

​NEWSLETTER FOR NEW STUDENTS
​
NEWSLETTER FOR RETURNING STUDENTS

On Sunday, December 8, 2019, the Madrigal Singers will join with the Kentucky Bach Choir to perform the world-famous Bach and Vivaldi Magnificats.  This is the second such collaboration with the Kentucky Bach Choir. (Our last collaboration was in 2011).  
 
Bach’s vocal literature is some of the most technically- and intellectually-demanding in choral literature.  The Magnificat is no exception.  Mastering this music is a true feat for high school and even collegiate singers.  In addition, Lafayette will feature five of the soloists on the Vivaldi Magnificat.  Abigail Cunningham, Alexandra Thibault, Virgil C. Lewis, LaKyya Washington, and Harrison Hancock.

The Kentucky Bach Choir is a professional 24-voice auditioned choir whose singers are classically trained.  The also perform with professional orchestral players who are adept at bringing Bach’s music to life.  Having the opportunity to perform this wonderful repertoire is a true gift and is rare for high school singers.  I hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic performance.  (See below for ticket information.)
 
About the works being performed:
The Magnficat is a text taken from the Gospel of Luke and is the Blessed Virgin Mary’s song of praise to the Lord.  Many composers have created settings of the Magnificat throughout the history of music.   
 
Bach Magnificat, BWV 243
Bach wrote his setting of the Magnificat in 1723 and included twelve movements.  It is scored for five-part chorus, five soloists and baroque orchestra.  Bach revised this work ten years later, slightly expanded the instrumental writing and changed the key to D major.  The work clocks in at just under 30 minutes. 

Vivaldi Magnificat, RV 610
Antonio Vivaldi was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach who lived and working in Venice, Italy in contrast to Bach’s Germany.  Vivaldi’s setting of the Magnificat is concise and lasts only about 15 minutes.  He divided the work into nine short movements and set it in G minor. He composed the work for four-part chorus, orchestra and soloists. Notable about Vivaldi’s career is that he was a priest and director of music at the Venice Ospedale della Pietá, an orphanage for girls.  Most of his music was written for and performed by the girls living at this orphanage. 

Additional works:
Victoria Ave Maria (Lafayette Madrigals only) (3 minutes)
A Spotless Rose by Herbert Howells (3 minutes)

We are excited to announce that the Lafayette Madrigal Singers have been invited to perform for the Kentucky Music Educators Association state conference in February 2020 in Louisville.  This is the third performance for the KMEA Conference by the Madrigal Singers.  It is always a tremendous honor to be selected to perform for our state’s music educators. We are very proud of this accomplishment and the alumni whose outstanding past work made this invitation possible.  
 
The Lafayette Madrigal Singers are an advanced chamber choir consisting of primarily junior and seniors.  The choir competes annually in the University of Louisville Chamber Choir Competition and have won first-place thirteen times. The group performed for the Kentucky Music Educators State Conference in 2009 and again in 2015, appeared as a featured choir at the Southern Division American Choral Directors Association Conference (ACDA) in 2010 and 2018, and was awarded two silver medals at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati in 2012.  The choir won a gold diploma and were the mixed youth choir category winners in the Sing ‘N’ Joy International Choir competition in Louisville in 2014.  In March 2018 the choir was featured at the Inaugural National Choir Festival with the Music for All organization and served as the demonstration choir in a conductor’s masterclass with Dr. Joe Flummerfelt.