Richard M. Coffey Fund
Following 40 years of artistic leadership after founding CONCORA in 1974, Richard M. Coffey stepped down as Artistic Director in 2014. In recognition of his vision and standards of excellence, that year CONCORA’s Board of Directors established in his honor The Richard M. Coffey Fund for the Advancement of the Choral Arts.
This fund provides support to commission new works, innovative programming, educational outreach, and other special artistic projects. Shortly after the Fund’s creation, Connecticut composer Ellen Gilson Voth received a commission for her new work, Of Distant Skies, premiered by CONCORA at the Art & Music concert on February 12, 2017.
In June 2021, CONCORA recorded a beautiful new work written by Dr. Andrey Stolyarov, a bass in the choir and a member of the Hartt School faculty. Commissioned by the Richard M. Coffey Fund, this work titled " . . . in peace" combines two atmospheric poems by Anne Brontë and Sara Teasdale. When Andrey wrote the piece, he said that he chose these texts because they remind us "to allow ourselves to take time to escape the turmoil of our troubled world, and let peace flow through our souls...to let love, hope, and wonder rejuvenate our spirits." What an inspiring message for these uncertain times! Click below to hear CONCORA's performance of this work.
This fund provides support to commission new works, innovative programming, educational outreach, and other special artistic projects. Shortly after the Fund’s creation, Connecticut composer Ellen Gilson Voth received a commission for her new work, Of Distant Skies, premiered by CONCORA at the Art & Music concert on February 12, 2017.
In June 2021, CONCORA recorded a beautiful new work written by Dr. Andrey Stolyarov, a bass in the choir and a member of the Hartt School faculty. Commissioned by the Richard M. Coffey Fund, this work titled " . . . in peace" combines two atmospheric poems by Anne Brontë and Sara Teasdale. When Andrey wrote the piece, he said that he chose these texts because they remind us "to allow ourselves to take time to escape the turmoil of our troubled world, and let peace flow through our souls...to let love, hope, and wonder rejuvenate our spirits." What an inspiring message for these uncertain times! Click below to hear CONCORA's performance of this work.
REACH
The REACH project is a commission by CONCORA, Chris Shepard, Artistic Director
Featuring the poem "Pandemic" by Lynn Ungar
Music by Martin Sedek
Featuring the poem "Pandemic" by Lynn Ungar
Music by Martin Sedek