The Fairfax Choral Society Symphonic Chorus and The NOVA Community Chorus – Jane Moore Kaye, accompanist
With special guest appearances by members of the Fairfax Choral Society Master Singers and The Northern Virginia Chorale.
The first half of the program began with Vivaldi’s Gloria.
Mandy Brown, soprano and Kristee Haney, mezzo-soprano, mesmerized us with solo and duet performances that were angelic. A perfect paring for the masterwork.
Gloria, (1715)…………………… AntonioVivaldi (1678-1741)
The movements are as follows:
Gloria is one of the most popular of Vivaldi works. The chorus members were wonderful.
The second major work of the evening was Fauré’s Requiem in D. Minor, Op. 48 (1887). The performance featured: Mandy Brown, soprano, Purev Arslan, baritone and Foster Wang on violin.
The movements include:
Foster Wang, violin ~ Sonya Chung, violin
Stephanie Knutsen, viola ~ Cathy Amoury, viola ~ Chris Shieh, viola Rosanna Butterfield, cello ~ Lauren Weaver, cello ~ Kimberly Parillo, double bass Jessica Warren, oboe ~ Joy Hodges Branagan, horn ~ Chandra Cervantes, horn
Rob Singer, trumpet ~ John Matthew McGovern, timpani ~ Eric Sabatino, harp Jane Moore Kaye, organ
Sophia Kim Cook, rehearsal accompanist
NOVA & Friends Band Concert
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall March 3, 2022 | 7:30pm
NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble Concert
March 31, 2022 | 7pm Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall
NOVA Symphony Orchestra Concert
April 24 | 4pm
Ernst Community Theater, NOVA Annandale Campus
NOVA Alexandria Music Dept. Spring Concert
featuring
the NOVA Community Chorus, the Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble, the NOVA Alexandria Band and
special guests The Fairfax Choral Society Symphonic Chorus April 29, 2022 | 8pm
The Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus Music Department is proud to present this and many other concerts free for our surrounding community. Your generous donations are much appreciated, as they allow us to continue quality programs and experiences for our diverse student body. Please see one of our staff members in the lobby during intermission or after the concert to make a donation.
Thank you!
The Holiday spirit was out in full force for our 2019 Holiday Collage Concert!
The evening began with The Northern Virginia Sax Quartet performing carols in the lobby.
A lovely beginning to a festive evening.
The main concert hall showcased the NOVA Community Chorus, The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble and the NOVA Alexandria Band.
The Chorus fired up the main concert with Personent Hodie, accompanied by a brass and percussion ensemble featuring Isabella Lowe & Josh Menez, trumpets; Margaret Forman, French horn; Ameer Yaqoob, trombone; Cristian Condor, tuba; and Tyler Brantley and Mayson Rangel on Percussion.
Tonight was bittersweet, since it was the final concert for Choral Director, Jessica Irish. She has had a truly memorable time with the Chorus this past semester and we were lucky to have her!
The Chorus followed with There Shall a Star (from “Christus”) by Felix Mendelssohn. and Winter’s Peace highlighting the Semi-Chorus: Halina Banas-Jones, Alan Bunner, Sarah Calvino, Larry Goldschmidt, Diane Halvorsen, Lock Handley, Laura Hanson, Jane Michaels, Casey Stucliffe and Neo Upod.
Chorus fans rejoiced after Ding, Dong! Merrily on High! featuring Jane Tavernier, second accompanist for four-hand piano and Mayson Ragel on chimes.
Meanwhile The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble were gearing up for their holiday extravaganza! They performed four works, beginning with The Little Drummer Boy…
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,
The set ended with Greensleeves (What Child is This?) and Comfort and Joy.
A special intermission, shout out to those who came to the concert including our wonderful students, the community and friends and families!
The final half of the concert featured the NOVA Alexandria Band! performing A Christmas Fantasy, Gloria, Away in a Manger, Dreidel Dance and Sleight Ride….
Harpist Brian Stevenson, out quest artist for the evening stole the show and beautifully filled the hall with the lush sounds of strings.
I personally adore the hat’s so many band member adorn each holiday for the concert.
Best hat of the night? Well, I think it’s obvious!
This year’s concert was dedicated to our NOVA students and families. We wanted to thank them for their sacrifices to make it through school and onto the next chapter in the lives. To help give back to them, we held a free ticketed give-a-way for NOVA students. The prizes included: a $50. gift certificate to Ristorante Il Porto in Old Town Alexandria, a $50. gift certificate to Faccia Luna, also in Old Town Alexandria, a 15% off certificate to the Barnes’ and Noble Book Store and two bags of NOVA merchandise from Student Life!!!!
Our excited winners had some great prizes!
It was nice to see so many happy faces!
The Band’s final piece of the night was an audience singalong featuring Joy to the World, It Came Upon and Midnight Clear and Adeste Fidelis (O come all ye faithful)
The evening ended with a huge round of applause for the Band, the audience, the NOVA Nighthawks and The Chorus!!!! What a fun-filled evening.
Let’s hear for the Music Department’s 2019′, done well!!!! Happy Holidays everyone and Happy New Year!!!!!
Please come to our next concerts, this Spring!
In our AFA- building in room 118, (our recital hall) we Dmitri Steinberg coming at 7:30pm on Tuesday February 12th.
February 27th is the famed Children’s Concert for families and the community. A lot of fun! The Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall.
March 11th is the next Chorus Concert at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall.
5pm on April 15th in the AFA building 118 recital hall will be District 5 Wind Quintet.
and finally… The big Spring Concert feauturing All of the NOVA Ensembles will be at 7:30, may 8th at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall!
The NOVA Alexandria Music Department Presented, The NOVA Community Chorus performing their October 22, 2019 concert, “Sing a Mighty Song.”
Our first song for the evening was, “Sing a might Song,” performed by all four Choirs! The NOVA Community Chorus was joined by Annandale, South County and Woodson High School Choirs. We managed to fit everyone on stage and the sheer sound was as impressive as the numbers.
The NOVA Community Chorus began their segment with Anton Bruckner’s Lucus Iste, (Translation: This Place was made by God, a priceless Sacrament; it is without reproach) and Joseph Hadar’s, Erev Shell Shoshanim (Evening of Roses).
Craig Hella Johnson’s The Water is Wide was beautifully accompanied by Soprano Susan Lewis Kavinski and cellist, Rachel Sexton.
One of my favorite works of the night.
This was followed by Sing My Child by Sarah Quartel. Our Quartet included Sarah Calvino, Luna Para, Phillip Todd and Neo Upod.
Our next segment featured The Annandale Singers, conducted by Patrick Vaughn. The Choir performed Michael John Trotta’s Shenandoah, Elain Hagenberg’s When We Love and Brian Tate’s Connected.
Amy Moir Conducted The Woodson Vocal Ensemble in Gerald Finzi’s My Spirit Sang All Day and Anders Edenroth’s, Chili con Carne.
The South County Choirs were conducted by Antonio Rodriguez and accompanied by Esther Lee and Tammy Lydon. Their performance begin with Goodnight, by Matthew Emery.
The South County Bella Voce: Performed Famine Song by Matthew Culton. The soloists were Josie Springer and Laurie Evans. This was followed by The South County Singers performing Michael Engelhardt’s Wayfaring Stranger showcasing soloist Ian Pathak. The final song was Hans Bridger Heruth’s “Joy” and featured soloists: Damaris Williams, Warisha Hussain and Madeline Schneider.
The final song of the evening was a beautiful work by Jacob Narverud, “Sisi Ni Moja (We Are One) featuring Steven Barnett on Percussion.
Please come to our next concerts:
Monday, Nov. 11: Jazz Ensemble Concert titled “NOVA Jazz Night at the Carlyle Club” — The Carlyle Club; 7:30-9:30pm; Address: 2050 Ballenger Ave., Alexandria, VA 22314; $25 minimum food and beverage purchase required per person; For more info, visit https://www.thecarlyleclub.com/about-us.html
Tuesday, Dec. 10: Holiday Concert titled “Joy to the World” featuring the band, chorus, and jazz band — Schlesinger Concert Hall; 8-9:45pm; FREE admission and parking.
Our music department wrapped up our semester with our 2019 spring concert! Friday, May 3, 2019 from 8-10pm.
It was a historic night for a couple of reasons. First, It was the final performance with a amazing chorus director, Chad Steffey. Chad has spend the past couple of years working with our chorus and helping build a new chapter in the chorus history with wonderfully fun Broadway reviews and bringing in fantastic guest singers.
The chorus gathered in the concert hall foyer to help send him off in style. Hugs, gifts and a massive round of applause.
The NOVA Community Chorus began the night with The Music of Living by Dan Forrest, followed by Selections from Old American Songs, Bring Me Little Water, Silvy, by Huddie Ledbetter, Cape Cod Girls, a traditional Sea Shanty and Ain’-a That Good News! by William Dawson.
The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble picked up a jazzy set, with Maiden Voyage, by Herbie Hancock, Whisper Not by Benny Golson, Moment’s Notice by John Coltrane and Senor Mouse by Chick Corea.
Lisa Eckstein treated the audience by opening the band set with Mark Camphouse’s Air Mobility Command March.
Then the band provided a stunning performance of Nathan Pereda’s Starless Night.
Nathan’s piece offered a wonderful set of antiphonal trumpets that brought such beauty to the hall. The piece was extraordinary!
The band finished the evening with Xerxes by John Mackey and African Symphony by Van McCoy.
Everyone LOVED it all
Another great season coming to the close, but we’ll be back in the fall with more music!
Last night’s concert, Sacred and Profane brought together four choral ensembles. The NOVA Community Chorus, The George Mason University Chorale, The George Mason University Singers and the The Justice High School Chamber Choir! It was a phenomenal night, full of beauty and a powerhouse of sound for the second half!
The evening began with Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal, arranged by Alice Parker (b. 1925), And I Saw a New Heaven by Edgar Bainton (1880-1956) and a wonderful rendition of I Sing Because I’m Happy, arranged by Rollo Eilwork (b.1970).
Our Master of Ceremonies for the night, Chad Steffey, Director of the NOVA Community Chorus, wonderfully informed the audience about the evening’s works.
The kids did a incredible job and sounded lovely!
Dr. Stan Engebretson conducted the George Mason University Singers in, O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht by J. S. Bach.
They went through selection from Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65 by Brahms and a lovely work showcasing, soprano soloist, Ashlyn Rock.
Tenors, Lugman Fulmer and Ross Helunds soloed Ride in the Chariot, a spiritual, arranged by Brandon Waddles.
Their performance finished with Saints Bound for Heaven, a southern harmony from 1835.
The George Mason University Chorale followed with four wonderful works: The Last Works of David by Randall Thompson (1899-1984), Flight Song, by Kim Andrew Anrnesan (1980) Ukuthula, a South African Folk Song and River in Judea by John Leavitt (1956).
They were conducted by Lisa Billingham and Dannty Cabrejos, assistant conductor with Jane Moore Kaye as the collaborative pianist.
Ukuthula naturally brought out a swinging of individuals in the audience. You just wanted to dance with them!
The second half of the concert combined all four choirs:Dr. Stan Engebreston conducted, Jane Moore Kaye and Luke Ratcliffe accompanied with collaborative pianists Michael Barranco and Andrew Lewis with Colton Morris and victor Younge on Percussion.
They brilliantly performed selection from Carmina Burana!
Soprano, Bridget Nesfield and baritone Vasili Varfis sing Tempus est iocundum, a selection from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.
A resounding, standing ovation capped the an evening powerhouse of sound! What a phenomenal night!!!!
Please come for our next concert! It’s next week!!!
Thursday, Oct. 25, the George Mason University Wind Symphony under the direction of Mark Camphouse and the NOVA Alexandria Band under my direction will present a FREE concert!
Come and hear favorites by Camille Saint-Saens, Percy Grainger, John Philip Sousa, Henry Fillmore, David Gillingham, Edward Gregson, Charles Carter, Rossano Galante, and new pieces by young composers Justin David Casinghino, Matthew Bandman, and Nathan Pereda. This concert will also feature Air Force Band member, Kate Fitzpatrick, as French Horn soloist!
We hope to see you there!
Blog post by Britt Conley
On Friday, May 11th, Music at messiah presented “Evening Prayer” Music of Praise and Petition by Messiah Community Chorus and Friends, St. Peter’s in the Woods Choir and the NOVA Community Chorus.
Both Jessica Irish and Chad Steffey conducted the evening.
The wonderful mission of the Music at Messiah Concert Series brings community members into the Cathedral and allows donations to help the local community.
The evening’s performance donations benefited The Weekend Backpack Program which helps food-insecure children in Springfield, VA,
Our own John Kocur, who heads our Jazz Studies program mesmerized everyone with his solos on Evening Prayer”
It’s not often anyone gets a chance to play such an beautiful room and one that holds such ambiance and meaning. Everyone had a lovely time.
To everyone who came to the concert, THANK YOU! We so appreciate your support. Please keep an eye on the blog and on our Facebook Page for up to date concert announcements and news! www.Facebook.com/MusicAtNova
Blog post by Britt Conley: Music Department Assistant
Our NOVA Knighthawks Jazz Ensemble rocked the house with Afro Blue, Tico Tico and Manteca.
They knocked our socks off!!!!!!!
Jazz Director, John Kocur, has been working with the ensemble all semester and boy did they shine!
The NOVA Community Chorus followed with Ride on, King Jesus. Choral Director Chad Steffey and our accompanist Anita Ferguson have supported the Choir all year. The Chorus was lovely; every piece.
Ralph Vaughan Williams, O’ Clap Your Hands was conducted by Lisa Eckstein.
John Kocur accompanied the Chorus’ Evening Prayer on his soprano Saxophone. It was truly a stunningly beautiful piece.
The NOVA Alexandria Band did four works:
Puszta: Four Gipsy Dances, Danzon No. 2, Viva Italia! and Berstein’s Mambo.
One of the best moments of the night were the student awards. The Billy Award, named after Bill Bovender was awarded to Judy Bendig. The Betty Award was awarded to Elizabeth Todd.
But that wasn’t the only great moment. We also had Anthony Maiello, The Artistic Director and Conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra and Artistic Director of the School of Music at George Mason.
His Accordion performance on Viva Italia was a show stopper!
We were incredibly lucky to have him.
A phenomenal concert! We look forward to seeing you all next Fall, for our 2018/19 season! Until then, our students have recitals, juries and exams to contend with, and thanks to those who donated at our concerts this year, they have incredible opportunities ahead!
Please like out Facebook Page at www.facebook/MusicAtNova
Blog Post by Brit Conley: Assistant to the Music Department.
Live From the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall…. it’s… Broadway Celebrations!!!
After a weather postponement, the NOVA Community Chorus hit the ground running on March 27th at 8:00 with a great program!
The evening begin with Cole Porter’s “Another Op’nin, Another Show” from Kiss Me Kate and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” from State Fair.
We had a great set of current and former students helping out with accompaniment! Marcelo Carrion’s guitar performance was wonderful!
Jonathan Padgett and Zach Williams did a phenomenal job! So great to see them in action.
Everyone really enjoyed, Ellie Briscoe and David Shilton wonderfully acted and sung, “I Wonder Why” from Call Me Madam,”
Judy Robb and Tim Rinaman perform a hysterically fun rendition of “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” from The Sound of Music. They switched it for 56, going on 57. The crowd loved it!
Maria Cussianovich solo work for “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Crazy for You, was delightful.
After a wonderful performance of “Jet Set” from Catch Me If You Can, Emi Eiting stunned everyone with a the wonderful, “Stars and the Moon” from Songs for a New World. What a beautiful voice.
The chorus performed “Lida Rose” / “Will I Ever Tell You?” from The Music Man.
Bernie Cohen and Tom Munger belt out the famed “Guys and Dolls” from Guys and Dolls
Randie Goode, Dylan Hohilly and Marvin Felton singing, “Luck Be a Lady” from Guys and Dolls.
Mary Shilton wowed everyone with Berstein’s “Somewhere” from Westside Story
Our Choral accompanist, Anita Feguson played the selections from Candide: “Life is Happiness Indeed” and “The Best of All Possible Worlds” beautifully.
Alan Bunner & Eric Ackerman do a great rendition of “Plant a Radish” from The Fantasticks.
Dyland Nohilly sings Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific.
The Choir sounded wonderful throughout and began wrapping up the evening with “Look to the Rainbow” from Finian’s Rainbow before ending the concert with…
Marvin Hamlischs’ “One” from A Chorus Line.! What a phenomenal night, had by all!
Look for our next concerts. Next up is Jazz for Justice! April 12th at Schlesinger.
For more information on the chorus, please contact Chad Steffey at csteffey@nvcc.edu
What a great night!!! The NOVA Alexandria Music Department presented it’s annual Holiday Concert on December 7th, 2017.
The evening began with the NOVA Community Chorus performing, For Unto Us a Child is Born from “Messiah” G.F. Handel. Based on Isaiah 9:6.
Sure on This Shining Night from “Nocturnes” by Morten Lauridsen was also a hit. The work was based on a poem by James Agee.
The Choir ended it’s first half of the concert with a very merry rendition of Jingle Bells by James Pierpont, arranged by Gordon Langford.
Next up were our NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble beginning their set with God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen arranged by Gordon Goodwin. The group also performed Blue Christmas by Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson. The work was arranged by Austin Windorski and The Little Drummer Boy by Katherine Kennicott Davis, arranged by Bob Washut.
The minute they began, the phones begin popping up to catch the moment.
John Kocur conducted phenomenally this evening! As always…
Even before the concert, everyone was rehearsing…
A great time to grab a few, behind the scenes photos…
The Nighthawks performed wonderfully
Holiday Jazz is really wonderful!
In the end the ensemble slowly walked off, leaving Christopher Gardner to end our first half of the concert with a rousing drum solo, and the stage to himself…
The audience returned to a wonderful surprise to many, but not our students. Our music students are not only enjoying our new Center for Design, Media and the Arts, they are also enjoying all the brand new Steinway’s that fill each room!
Tonight our Dean, Jim McClellan and Jonathan Kolm, our Assistant Dean and Director of the Music Program here at NOVA, were presented our new, official Steinway School plaque! We are all so excited for what this means for our college.
After our exciting Steinway presentation, the NOVA Alexandria Band hit the stage with, “And the Mountains Echoed: Gloria! by Robert Longfield, followed by Gesu Bambino (Pastorale for Christmas by Pietro Yon, arranged by Mark Rogers and the Dreidel Dance by Robert Thurston.
There was even a secondary Brass rendition of Jingle Bells!
A phenomenal night for the Band!
For the last works, our new chorus director, Chad Steffey, came out to conduct, “The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite III…
A fun-filled set of holiday styled songs…
A grand time was had by all! The audience was kind enough to give everyone a standing ovation!
Thanks to everyone who performed, helped organize and those who came to hear what we have to offer! We hope you have a wonderful holiday!
We look forward to seeing you at our next Spring concerts:
The NOVA Alexandria Band’s Children’s Concert on March 1st at 7:30pm.
The NOVA Community Chorus Concert, March 20th at 7:30
The Jazz4Justice Concert featuring the NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble, March 22nd
and finally, The NOVA Spring Concert featuring
The NOVA Community Chorus, The NOVA Alexandria Band and The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble, Friday April 27th from 7:30-9:30pm.
See you there!
Blog post by Britt Conley: Assistant to the Music Department
