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.  

The 2019 class of the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts was announced on Friday, April 12, 2019.  We congratulate our very talented choir students who were accepted into GSA.  Lafayette led the state in most number of students selected for GSA from a single school.  In total, 35 Lafayette-SCAPA students were accepted plus an additional 16 students were selected as alternates. 
 
Vocal Music
Kieshaun Butts, dance
Maddie Carbary, vocal music
Abby Cunningham, vocal music
Jacob Ernst, drama
Tommy Flanigan, drama
Harrison Hancock, vocal music
Eli Lane, instrumental music
Bobby Lowther, musical theatre
Brendan Naish, vocal music
Alex Thibault, vocal music
Emily Wrede, vocal music
 
Alternates: Rose McClanahan, Emma Nevels, Staige Pettit.

On Monday, March 11th, 4 of Lafayette’s 6 choirs held a Pre-KMEA concert at Central Christian Church in preparation for their attendance at KMEA assessment.

Each year, Advanced Women’s, Singers, Chorale, and Madrigals attend assessment and get a score from a judge. Each choir also receives a clinic from a professional music teacher, and sight reads for a score. The scoring is as follows: distinguished, proficient, apprentice, and novice, with distinguished being the best and novice being the lowest score.

Advanced Women prepared three songs: Festival Sanctus by John Leavitt, I Will Be Earth by Qwyneth Walker, and Niska Banja by Romani Dance arranged by Nick Page, which also features soloists Violet Updike, Flannery  Rayyans, Dory McDonald, and Ally Curry.

Lafayette Singers sung three songs for their repertoire. Zion’s Walls by Aaron Copeland arranged by Glenn Koponen, Verleih uns Frieden by Felix Mendelssohn, and Domaredansen, a Swedish folk song arranged by Drew Collins.

Lafayette Chorale performed Geistliches Lied by Johannes Brahms with Emma Owens on a solo, Esto Les Digo, a Brazilian folk song arranged by Fonseca, and Muie Rendera.

Lafayette Madrigals prepared four songs. Jagdlied by Felix Mendelssohn, My Sprit Sang All Day by Gerald Finzi, Prayer by Rene Clausen, and Wipip by Sydney Guillaume.
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All choirs who attended assessment brought home fabulous scores and did an outstanding job.

Courtesy Lafayette Times Student News
Zaida Bell-Frantz, Clubs Editor
March 18, 2019
https://lafayettetimes.org/8259/arts/pre-kmea-choir-concert/

The Lafayette Times is the official news source for Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky. We here at the Times are committed to providing reliable news relevant to the student body of Lafayette as well as parents, teachers, alumni, and the Lexington community.