Holiday Spectacular XII: Awe & Wonder
WHEN: Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Place in Morristown
TICKETS: $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children under 18. Tickets are available at the Bickford Theatre box office, 973-971-3706.
For more information, call 973-267-9833 or visit www.morrischoralsociety.org.
The 70-voice Morris Choral Society kicks off its 43rd Concert Season with “Holiday Spectacular XII: Awe & Wonder.. Under the direction of new Music Director Matthew Lee, the chorus will perform seasonal favorites including works by John Rutter, Sergei Rachmaninov and Javier Busto along with some holiday surprises.
Music Director Matthew Lee received his BA in Music from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and is in his third year at Parsippany Hills High School where he directs two curricular and four extra-curricular vocal ensembles. At Northwestern, he was music director and principle arranger for a student contemporary a cappella group and a member of the University Chorale. Before coming to New Jersey, Mr. Lee taught in Illinois. He is active as manager and rehearsal section leader for high school county, regions and state-level honors choirs and is conductor of the Chinese-American Music Ensemble Children’s Choir in Scotch Plains. He teaches piano and voice privately, and resides in Morris County.
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of founder and long-time Music Director Wayne Walters,” said Mr. Lee. “The Morris Choral Society has been a leader in North Jersey for more than 40 years and I plan on continuing the tradition of excellence established by Mr. Walters. This holiday concert has become a favorite over the years and we have put together a program that we know everyone will enjoy.”
Joining the Morris Choral Society for this holiday show will be Express Male, a sextet of tenors, baritones and basses drawn from the Chorus. The group will perform “Bide Bom” by David Eddleman, “Mary Sat A-Rockin’” by Greg Gilpin, plus “Little Drummer Boy,” “Peace on Earth” and “Way Down in Bethlehem.” The members of the group are John Collins of Raritan, Bud Leppard of Morristown, Chip Wood of Basking Ridge, Wayne Walters of Parsippany, Rob Walters of Long Valley and Al Perkins of Secaucus. Convent Station’s Ken Rapp will be the piano accompanist.
The Morris Choral Society has been recognized by Morris Arts as an Outstanding Arts Organization and has performed alongside many famous musicians including jazz legend Dave Brubeck and beloved singer Judy Collins. In addition to performing for enthusiastic audiences in New Jersey, the chorus has toured England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Bickford Theatre performances have been made possible in part by Morris Arts through the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Secretary of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Photo courtesy of Bud Leppard.
