Westminster Symphonic Choir returns to Carnegie Hall

Image

Rider University's Westminster Symphonic Choir returned to Carnegie Hall with a sold-out performance of Carmina Burana on Feb. 27. This marked the choir's first performance at the world-renowned venue since 2017.

Conducted by the esteemed Tito Muñoz, the concert featured the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and soloists Ying Fang, Nicholas Phan and Norman Garrett.

“This was a triumphant return by the Westminster Symphonic Choir into the professional choral world post-pandemic,” says Dr. James Jordan, conductor of the Westminster Choir and Westminster Symphonic Choir. “Our singers performed at the highest professional level with one of the nation’s virtuosic orchestras, with a full roster of the finest soloists and conductor."

The concert was a highlight of Carnegie Hall’s city-wide festival "Fall of the Weimar Republic: Dancing on the Precipice,” a four month exploration of the arts and culture of Germany during the years 1919-1933.

"The choir sounded magnificent,” says Dr. Jason Vodicka ’03, ’09, associate dean of Rider's College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of music education at Westminster Choir College. “Not only did they hold their own against Orff's orchestration in the louder movements, but the softer moments were sung with the flexibility and sensitivity of a chamber ensemble.”

Westminster Symphonic Choir is one of five distinguished ensembles of Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Boasting a legacy of over 90 years, the choir routinely performs with major orchestras and internationally acclaimed conductors.

"Singing with orchestras in venues such as Carnegie Hall is a hallmark of the Westminster experience,” says Vodicka. “It's one of the many things that sets us apart from other schools, and our students know and appreciate the value of these opportunities to collaborate with professional musicians at the top of their game."