|
Founded in 1949, the Westminster Chapel Choir takes its name from Westminster’s rich history of leadership in the field of sacred music. The ensemble has evolved over the years, and today its repertoire includes both sacred and secular works. Composed of students in their first year of study at Westminster Choir College, this ensemble is a defining choral experience that remains with Westminster alumni throughout their lives.
The Westminster Chapel Choir has performed with many symphony orchestras, including the Trenton Symphony Orchestra (New Jersey), the York Symphony (Pennsylvania) and the Queens Symphony (New York). At the request of Leopold Stokowski, the ensemble premiered Universal Prayer by Polish composer Adrezej Panufnik. It was heard by millions when it sang for the annual televised Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center. Previous performances have also included participation in Princeton University’s “Opera and Society” Conference, where it was the featured chorus for the conference and a chapel service honoring the centennial of world-renowned organist and teacher Alexander McCurdy, Jr. The ensemble has also been honored to give several world premiere performances of works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Lewis Spratlan, Stefan Young, Ronald Hemmel and Philip Orr.
Recent seasons have included performances of Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra and Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms with the Westminster Conservatory Youth Chorale, as well as concerts in Newtown, Pennsylvania and Wilton, Connecticut. In addition to on-campus performances throughout the year, the Westminster Chapel Choir has toured extensively along the eastern USA with great success. The ensemble’s 2010-2011 season includes performances in Princeton, including the annual An Evening of Readings and Carols in the Princeton University Chapel. It will also host Westminster's first Invitational Chamber Choir Festival this spring, and will premiere a work composed by Westminster graduate Nathan Jones for the Chapel Choir.
The current conductor of Westminster Chapel Choir is Amanda Quist. |
