Distinguished Concerts International New York City has invited the Columbus Girlchoir and director Cherry Dunn to perform at Carnegie Hall. The group will join other choirs in presenting “Music for Treble Voices” in the iconic venue’s Isaac Stern Auditorium May 25, 2018.
J. Reese Norris will lead the performance and will serve as clinician for the five-day residency in New York City.
“It is a great honor to be asked to participate in this concert with Reese Norris, an extraordinary director and composer from Hernando, Mississippi,” said Dunn. “The opportunity to be under his direction and to sing with his amazing choirs will be an awesome experience for our girls.”
Currently, 23 Girlchoir singers have committed to the concert that will entail nine to 10 hours of rehearsal while in New York.
Jonathan Griffith, artistic director and principal conductor for DCINY, said, “The Columbus Girlchoir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional recommendation of J. Reese Norris.”
You can help
Dunn said, “Our Board of Directors has committed to pay half of each singer’s expense, and that will cost about $25,000.” Members of the community are encouraged to give financial support in sending choir members to New York by contacting Dunn at 662-329-7207, or by emailing [email protected].
Griffith said, “These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and education, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community. This is an event of extreme pride for everybody and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.”
About Norris
Norris is director of choirs at Hernando Middle School and is cofounder and co-artistic director of CoroRio, both in northwest Mississippi. He was named Delta State University Music Alumnus of the Year in 2005 and has served in multiple leadership capacities for state- and division-level American Choral Directors Association organizations.
Choirs under Norris’ direction have performed at Carnegie Hall, the National Conference for Middle School Choirs, twice for Mississippi ACDA’s State Conference and twice for ACDA’s Southern Division Conference. He has served as guest clinician and adjudicator across the Southeast.
For information on tickets to the May 25 performance at Carnegie Hall, including group sales or special offers, contact [email protected] or call 212-707-8566, ext. 307.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.