Artistic Director Dr. Ryan James Brandau will lead the award-winning Monmouth Civic Chorus in the 2016-2017 season, which will feature traditional Christmas favorites in December, love songs in February and music from the north in June.
Brandau has expanded the composition for this year’s edition of the group’s famed holiday concert, “Joy to the World,” set for 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. The expanded arrangement will feature selections from Handel’s “Messiah” and Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” along with moving arrangements of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Auld Lang Syne” and other holiday favorites. Premium seat tickets are $45 for adults, $40 for seniors, $35 for individual group members (10 or more) and $10 for students. Regular tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, $25 for individual group members (10 or more) and $5 for students.
The chorus will celebrate the season of love with a valentine-themed presentation of “Love Is in the Air” at 4 p.m. Feb. 26 at First Presbyterian Church (Tower Hill), 255 Harding Road, Red Bank. The concert will feature love songs, madrigals, ballads and poems from the Middle Ages to the present. Tickets are $30 per adult, $27 per senior, $25 per group member and $5 per student.
The season will close with music from the powerful singing traditions of the Baltics and Scandinavia in the diverse program, “Northern Lights,” which will begin 8 p.m. June 2 at the sanctuary of St. Mary’s Church, 1 Phalanx Road, Colts Neck. Selections will include works by Pärt, Esenvalds, Tormis, Kreek, Miskinis and more. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, $25 for group members and $5 for students.
Subscriptions are $75 for all three concerts, and student subscriptions are $20. Subscribers receive premium seats for the holiday concert. For tickets or more information about subscriptions, call 732-933-9333 or visit www.monmouthcivicchorus.org.