Two ‘Days for Dancing’ on tap for Philomusica

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Two ‘Days for Dancing’
on tap for Philomusica
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Fans of choral music will get a special treat this weekend when the Philomusica Concert Choir, a long-time institution in the township, performs its winter concert.

The choir, which was formed 32 years ago, will perform "A Day of Dancing," a compilation of medieval to Renaissance music and carols of the season, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ryders Lane, Saturday at 8 p.m. It will also perform Sunday at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church on Route 130 in North Brunswick.

As a bonus, the choir will partner with an instrumental ensemble and LKB Dance, an award-winning professional dance company led by choreographer Leah Kreutzer.

"This is a special collaboration for us," said Jon Butler, vice president of the choir’s Board of Directors.

The concert choir called the event "a rare opportunity for Central New Jersey audiences to experience the artistic delight that choral music and dance can bring to the sights and sounds of the season."

Philomusica has been based in East Brunswick since 1969, rehearsing the entire time at the Unitarian Society on Tices Lane. The choir started with about 10 members, but now has more than 40, Butler said.

"The choir is known for excellence in scholarship and performance," he said. "It is very accurate in terms of how they interpret music from various periods."

The choir does a wide range of classical music, including Baroque and Renaissance, as well as modern choir music, early sacred music, madrigals, and folk music of the world.

Despite its commitment to Middlesex County, the choir has not performed solely in New Jersey.

In 1994, it toured Italy and performed shows in Rome and Florence, as well as during a Papal Mass at the Vatican. In 2000, the choir toured England and performed at the Canterbury Cathedral. It also performed at Lincoln Center in New York on Memorial Day 2001, he said.

The choir is well known to audiences in Middlesex County because of its annual spring and winter shows.

Choir members range in age, with some in their 20s to others in their 70s.

"It’s really quite a range of folks," he said. "Everyone in the choir is musically pretty adept. They have to be, to sing in this type of choir. It’s a great collaboration of effort."

The choir has two semesters per year, with the first beginning in September and culminating with a winter concert in December, and the other starting in January and ending with the spring concert in May, Butler said.

Conducted by Dennis Boyle, Philomusica has also performed benefit shows, including one recently for victims of Sept. 11.

"We do a variety of things throughout the year that are community-oriented as well," he said.

The choir draws its audience locally, as well as from eastern Pennsylvania and New York, he said.

Tickets for both of this weekend’s shows are available at the door. Prices are $12 for adults, and $9 for seniors, children and groups. For more information, call (732) 545-8434 or visit the Web site at www.philomusic.org.