GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING HOUSTON CHAMBER CHOIR PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF TWO STREAMS, A CANTATA BY AMERICAN COMPOSER DANIEL KNAGGS TO OPEN 2021-2022 SEASON, SING OUT THE NEW DAY

WHAT: The Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir, under the direction of Robert Simpson, opens the 2021-2022 season Sing Out the New Day on Friday, Sept. 10 with the world premiere of Two Streams, a cantata scored for choir and string orchestra by the internationally-renowned young American composer Daniel Knaggs. Based on Biblical texts and the writings of Polish nun Saint Faustina, this 70-minute work was composed in memory of the composer’s father. Joining the Houston Chamber Choir are Kinetic, the dynamic Houston-based string ensemble, and international soloists Caitlin Aloia, soprano; Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; Christopher Bozeka, tenor; and Mark Diamond, baritone. Following the performances, these forces will reassemble in Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall to make the world premiere recording produced by Grammy® Award-winning producer Blanton Alspaugh.

The Houston Chamber Choir’s new season Sing Out the New Day runs the gamut from timeless masterpieces by Rachmaninoff and Brahms, to new works by young contemporary composers Knaggs and Benedict Sheehan. Patrons will enjoy two world premieres, traditional holiday concerts, music of South and Central America and whimsical fairy tales set to song.

WHO: Founder and Artistic Director Robert Simpson will conduct the Houston Chamber Choir, which will perform with string ensemble Kinetic and solo artists. Young American composer Daniel Knaggs created this masterpiece.

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. CT (in-person) and Sunday, Sept. 26, 2 p.m. CT (virtual release)

WHERE: The choir performs at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main St., Houston, 77002, on Friday, Sept. 10 and the Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage on Sunday, Sept. 26

COST:  Single tickets for in-person and virtual concerts range from $10 to $25, with discounts for students, seniors, veterans/military and music educators. There are several options for season subscriptions, ranging from $80 for digital to full season at $140, with discounts also available. Go to https://houstonchamberchoir.org/2021-2022-season to purchase single tickets or a season subscription.

Check out our website at HoustonChamberChoir.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Link to photos here.

About Houston Chamber Choir

The Grammy® Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir has established itself as one of the premier professional choirs in the United States, serving Houston through concerts and educational initiatives that enlighten, entertain, and educate people of all ages. The Houston Chamber Choir released its fifth CD, “Duruflé: Complete Choral Works,” with organist Ken Cowan in April 2019, which won a Grammy® Award in the category of “Best Choral Performance” at the 62nd Annual Grammy® Awards in January 2020.

Winner of Chorus America’s 2018 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the Houston Chamber Choir has been described by The Tallis Scholars founder Peter Phillips as “one of this country’s leading ensembles.” It also received The American Prize for best choral performance in the country and its Artistic Director Robert Simpson received the award in the conducting category in 2015. Additionally, the Houston Chamber Choir was selected as one of 24 choirs to participate in the prestigious World Symposium on Choral Music in Auckland, New Zealand, which was canceled by the organizers due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

Led by Artistic Director Robert Simpson, the Houston Chamber Choir is composed of 25 professional singers, most of whom have studied at the top music schools and conservatories in the United States including Juilliard, New England Conservatory, University of Houston, and the University of Texas. These musicians are selected through rigorous auditions from the finest singers in our region and are compensated for all rehearsals and performances. Simpson was honored by Chorus America with the Michael Korn Founders Award in 2015 for his contributions to developing the professional choral art. 

About Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage

The Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage brings choral music straight to your fingertips – anytime and anywhere. Enjoy year-long access to all our concerts, dynamic original programming, favorites from the archive, and our podcast, With One Accord. The Digital Stage is accessible from the web and can easily be viewed on computers using most web browsers. It is also available on iOS and Android phones via the Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage App. 

A digital subscription for a season can be purchased at $80. A rental option is available for $9.99, with individual access to the concert of your choosing for three days. Watch the concert as many times as you like during the three-day rental period.