Tag Archives: Nova Community Chorus

The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights!

The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

Chorus had an exciting time putting on a great evening of Broadway Tunes.  It all began with “There’s No Business Like Show Business!”  Seriously… It’s true.  Our host?,  Director of the NOVA Community Chorus, Chad Steffey.

The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

The evening featured some incredible works, mainly showing off some of our individual Chorus members.  This was their night.  These volunteer  soloists picked their own songs and sang their hearts out!  David Shilton sings C’est Moi from Camelot.

David Shilton. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

They took turns for a well over an hours worth of Broadway Tunes!  Mary Shilton sang What I did for Love, from A Chorus Line.

Mary Shilton. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

Bernie Cohen’s “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof, was wonderful.

Bernie Cohen. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

Our Guest Artist, Soloist, Emi Eiting, sang multiple songs, including What More Do I need? from Saturday Night, Times Are Hard For Dreamers, Vanilla Ice Cream, from She Loves Me and Meadowlark from The Baker’s Wife!   Emi is a freelance performer, choral conductor, pianist, director choral adjudicator and vocal coach working in Northern Virginia.  Her voice just fills the hall beautifully.

Emi Eiting. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

There were so many phenomenal Tunes!  The Ensemble Women sang, “And All That Jazz” from Chicago, followed by the Ensemble Men adding “Gee, Officer Krupke from West Side Story.

The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley
The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

With a trip down memory lane we embarked on a great 60’s feel, What a Piece of Work is Man/How Dare They Try from Hair.  The work featured Margot Hanclich, followed by Alison Sheahan singing On a Clear Day.

Margo Hanclich and Alison Sheahan. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley
Alison Sheahan. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

Tom Munger and Bernie Cohen had us, “Brush Up on Your Shakespeare” from Kiss Me Kate!

Tom Munger and Bernie Cohen. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

Dylan Nohilly, asked, “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks.

Dylan Nohilly. The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

After a lovely round of soloists, the Chorus came in with a stunning rendition of Singing in the Rain! You can hear a part of it on Instagram!  instagram.com/musicatnova  Follow us and if you take pictures of our concerts feel free to hashtag #musicatnova, so that we can all enjoy them : )

The NOVA Community Chorus Presents Broadway Lights at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on February 19th, 2019. Photo by Britt Conley

This was followed by a beautiful and soulful, Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music. The final piece of the evening was Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Misérables!

If you want to catch the Chorus soon, we are having our Spring Concert, here at The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center on May 3rd at 8:00pm!  Please bring family and friends to help support all the efforts of our students and community with this, our Combined, Chorus, Band and Jazz Ensemble Concert.

For more information contact Lisa Eckstein at Leckstein@nvcc.edu

See you Soon!

 

2017 NOVA Holiday Concert

What a great night!!!  The NOVA Alexandria Music Department presented it’s annual Holiday Concert on December 7th, 2017.

The NOVA Community Chorus at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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.

The NOVA Community Chorus at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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 NOVA Community Chorus at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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.

The NOVA Community Chorus at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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 NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

The minute they began, the phones begin popping up to catch the moment.

The NOVA Nighthawkes Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

John Kocur conducted phenomenally this evening!  As always…

The NOVA Nighthawkes Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

Even before the concert, everyone was rehearsing…

The NOVA Nighthawkes Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

A great time to grab a few, behind the scenes photos…

The NOVA Nighthawkes Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

The Nighthawks performed wonderfully

Kyle Wright sings with The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

Holiday Jazz is really wonderful!

The NOVA Nighthawks Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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 NOVA Nighthawkes Jazz Ensemble at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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.

The Steinway School Presentation. Photo by Britt Conley

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.

The NOVA Alexandria Band at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

There was even a secondary Brass rendition of Jingle Bells!

The NOVA Alexandria Band at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

A phenomenal night for the Band!

The NOVA Alexandria Band at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

For the last works, our new chorus director, Chad Steffey, came out to conduct, “The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite III…

The NOVA Community Chorus with the NOVA Alexandria Band performing at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

A fun-filled set of holiday styled songs…

The NOVA Community Chorus with the NOVA Alexandria Band performing at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

A grand time was had by all!  The audience was kind enough to give everyone a standing ovation!

The NOVA Community Chorus with the NOVA Alexandria Band performing at the 2017 Holiday Concert. Photo by Britt Conley

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

Spirit of the Bard Concert!

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

October 24th, marked the premier of The Nova Community Chorus under the new direction of Director Chad Steffey.

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall.
The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley
The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

The concert began with “Full Fathom Five”by Charles Wood, continuing with “Sing Joyfully” by William Byrd, In Windsor Forest: A cantata adapted from the opera, “Sir John in Love” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, “Songs and Sonnets”from Shakespeare by George Shearing, “If Music be the Food of Love” by David Dickau and finally, “Dance a Cachuca” from the Gondoliers by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

The chorus was glad to be back at The Schlesinger Center for the Arts.

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

Chad enlightened us on the stories and backgrounds of the music, in between works.

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley
The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley
The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

The chorus was accompanied by Anita Ferguson, who also joined The NOVA Community Chorus, this year.

Anita Ferguson accompanying The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

Anita, has been working in the Fairfax County Public School system, for the past six years, as both an accompanist and substitute teacher.  She played wonderfully.

The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley
The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley
Chad Steffey, directing The NOVA Community Choir Spirit of the Bard Concert. October 24th, 2017 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall. Photo by Britt Conley

Chad comes to us from a impressive background.  He served for 20 years on active duty int he United States Air Force, retiring in the rank of Major in July 2013.  His career spanned several assignments as a percussionist and conductor in the Air Force Band career field.  Since 2015 Chad has been the Director of Choirs at J.E.B Stuart High School and serves as the Director of Music at St. Peter’s in the Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station, Virginia.  He is also currently completing his doctoral studies in choral directing at George Mason University.

It was a great night overall and wonderful kickoff to our 2017-18 NOVA musical season.  Our next concert is this evening, October 26th.  Lisa Eckstein will conducting the NOVA Community Band with her annual Halloween concert, Spooctacular Sounds in the Haunted Hall, also featuring the Wakefield High School Band!  Music from Bach, Holst and Mussorgsky to Andrew Weber, Sousa and more!  It will be great to see this year’s halloween costume contest!

See you this evening!

Britt Conley (Assistant to the Music Department).