Instead of sitting down to dinner at home this Thanksgiving, members of the Williamsburg Women’s Chorus will be feasting on music with a family of 130 singers in New York City.
Twelve members of the local ensemble will travel for a concert at Lincoln Center over the holiday weekend. They will arrive by planes, trains and automobiles for a rehearsal on the evening of Thanksgiving, followed by a performance Saturday in Alice Tully Hall.
Chorus President Jean Stettler said the chance to sing on a stage at Lincoln Center is akin to walking down Duke of Gloucester Street and imagining the historic footsteps that have come that way before.
“[Violinist] Itzhak Perlman’s performed there — all these, to me, wonderful performing artists,” Stettler said of the space, leaving her in awe of the legacy.
Stettler and others making the trip will miss traditional Thanksgiving meals, but Director Ann Porter does not view it as a sacrifice. She is looking forward to dinner out that evening and taking in the sights of the city, between rehearsals, with chorus members who share fellowship as well as a love for singing.
But their main purpose for the weekend will be the music. The chorus got involved after commissioning a piece from Gwyneth Walker, who Porter said is an icon in choral music and especially for women’s voices, in anticipation of the group’s 50th anniversary next year.
Walker mentioned the opportunity to participate in the November program and, after a screening process, the 12 who elected to participate started rehearsing weekly outside of the regular practice time. They have been diligently at work since the summer to learn a program of Walker’s pieces titled “With Grace: The Music of Gwyneth Walker.”
Thursday will be the first time the entire performing group – which includes a mix of adult and student choirs, one traveling from as far as Australia – will be assembled on stage together.
“I love that kind of energy that comes from a new group, that comes from all areas, for one concerted moment in time to produce a concert,” Porter said.
Stettler agreed the experience is ripe for learning.
“It’s amazing how much you glean from these people that you now have the common goal of making music with,” Stettler said, adding the rest of the chorus has clamored to hear all about the experience once the subset returns.
With the program, Porter will have the opportunity to see things from the other side of the podium for a change, singing with the choir instead of conducting.
“For me, as a director, it will be energizing to watch this unfold, bring back new ideas,” Porter said.
She is eager to watch Dr. Nancy Menk lead the group, and hopes to bring back new ways to make music exciting for a group that she said is always up for a challenge.
Click here to learn more about the Lincoln Center program.
Hear the Williamsburg Women’s Chorus locally at its winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Walnut Hills Baptist Church.
To learn more, visit the group’s website.
