2019 CONCORA Summer Festival

Join us!
​July 14-20, 2019

MUSIC FOR CHOIR & 4-HAND PIANO: 
     Brahms, Liebeslieder Waltzes (in both German and English)
     Wilberg, 3 Scottish Folksongs ​

Every year, singers from all over New England come together to work with Artistic Director Chris Shepard and many members of CONCORA for a week of music-making, culminating in a concert on July 20. The Summer Festival will kick off the 2019-20 CONCORA season -- Ivory, Wood and Steel, featuring choral music with a range of instrumental accompaniments.

For the summer program, we will showcase music for choir and four-hand piano. Of course, the single most famous such composition is the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes. We will perform the entire collection, in the original German for some, and English for others, since it's otherwise a great deal of German in a short rehearsal period! We will also include three wonderful arrangements of Scottish folksongs by Mack Wilberg, the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

As new feature this year, we are offering the opportunity to participate in three classes before the regular weeknight rehearsals begin. Monday's class is a Reading Session of New Choral Music from Local Composers. Wednesday's feature is a Master Class with our very own Artistic Director Chris Shepard. Friday is an informative session on "Maintaining Vocal Health" with CONCORA soprano Patricia Doyle, MA, CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor in the Division of Otolaryngology at UConn Health. 

Join us! It's going to be a wonderful week together!

Festival Schedule

Sunday, July 14
3:00 - 6:00 pm, first rehearsal
6:00 pm, dinner (included with registration)

Monday, July 15
6:00 - 6:50 pm, class
7:00 - 10:00 pm, second rehearsal

Wednesday, July 17
6:00 - 6:50 pm, class
7:00 - 10:00 pm, third rehearsal

Friday, July 19
6:00 - 6:50 pm, class
7:00 - 10:00 pm, fourth rehearsal

Saturday, July 20
10:00 - 1:00 pm, dress rehearsal
1:00 pm, lunch (optional)
4:00 pm, concert

The 2017 Summer Festival Chorus

Accepting Applications for Choral Interns!

Every year, CONCORA invites high school and college students to serve as Interns for this Summer Festival. Interns get to work with Artistic Director Chris Shepard and many members of CONCORA doing this week of music-making. Interns will receive free tuition and access to three classes (a new feature of this year's festival).  Costs to the Interns is only $36, which covers their music purchase.

Comments from 2018 Festival Participants

"One of the highlights of my summer. Working with Chris is amazing. And this year, I met several women who all want to stay in touch between now and next year's festival."

"Chris's direction makes the music come to life."

"It was a great experience, Chris offers so many helpful suggestions for singers and the music selections are great."

"Tremendous! I learned so much and the long rehearsals just flew by!"

"This was an exceptional experience in so many ways. I feel honored to have been a participant."

A History of the CONCORA
Summer Choral Festival

2019 - Music For Choir and 4-Hand Piano
2018 - Wonderful Town! A Bernstein Centenary
2017 - Exploring the Great Choral Masterworks
2016 - A Serenade to Music: Choral Settings of Shakespeare
2015 - Come, Let us Sing with Melody! (with Guest Conductor Joseph D’Eugenio)
2014 - Musical Pairs: Music of Europe and America (with Guest Conductor Dr. Pamela J. Perry)
2013 - Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
2012 - Music of Celebration and Solace
2011 - Choral Classics Plus!
2010 - Choral Songs of Life and Love
2009 - Maurice Duruflé: Requiem
2008 - The Contemporary Choral Song
2007 - Great Music for Strings and Choir
2006 - Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
2005 - Music for a Sacred Space
2004 - Great Music for Double Choir
2003 - Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony IX, with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
2002 - George Frideric Handel: Messiah, Part II
2001 - Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem
2000 - Music of America, a program of choral music by American composers
1999 - A Tribute to Robert Shaw, honoring the legendary maestro and his choral legacy