“Joy of Every Longing Heart”
Beaver Valley Coral Society will be presenting its Advent concert series, “Joy of Every Longing Heart,” at the following area churches:
- Sunday, December 10 at 4pm — Our Lady of the Valley Parish / Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 200 Third Street, Beaver PA 15009
- Saturday, December 16 at 4pm – Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 393 Adams Street, Rochester PA 15074
- Sunday, December 17 at 5pm – Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish / Saints John & Paul Catholic Church, 2586 Wexford Bayne Road, Franklin Park, PA 15143
Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. All listings are performed by the BVCS Principal Choir, Orchestra and Treble Youth Chorale. Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Sharon R. Burchill leads the 81-voice choir and orchestra. Deb Silverstein directs the twelve boys and girls who comprise the Treble Youth Chorale.
“Joy of Every Longing Heart” includes new and familiar favorites, featuring music written by Pittsburgh composers Dr. Joseph Wilcox Jenkins (“When Joseph was a-Walking”) and Glenn Rudolph (“The Dream Isaiah Saw.”)
The choral program also includes “Introit for Christmas,” Timoth W. Sharp’s arrangement of Pavel G. Tschesnokoff’s ‘Opus 25, No.6;” Peter J. Wilhousky’s a capella arrangement of “Carol of the Bells;” and “When Will Messiah Come?” a jubilant Hebrew folk dance written by Ed Kee and Dale Matthews.
In addition to accompanying the Principal Choir, the BVCS Orchestra will perform the prelude “In Dulci Jubilo” arranged by David Guardiniere; and Paul Barker’s arrangement of “Ding Dong Merrily on High.”
The Treble Youth Chorale will perform during intermission: “Prepare the Way of the Lord” by Michael Burkhardt; Jayne Southwick Cool’s “Lumen Christi;” “Wexford Carol,” a traditional Irish folk melody arranged by Ken Berg; and the traditional Catalan dance Noel, “What Shall I Give to the Christ Child?”
Founded at Beaver College in 1923, the Beaver Valley Choral Society enters its Second Century of Song. BVCS is a 501(c)3 Christian-faith based, non-denominational, intergenerational choral and orchestral arts organization.