Junior League of Birmingham Choral Group
The Junior League of Birmingham Choral Group sang as part of a John Rutter program Carnegie Hall on Memorial Day.
The Junior League of Birmingham Choral Group performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Memorial Day.
The women in the group sang a Gloria and Te Deum at the beginning of the program under the direction of John Rutter, a composer of sacred music. Rutter wrote both pieces as well as the Requiem and premiere of Canticles of Creation that followed, and the Junior League group sang with several other choral groups from around the country with the accompaniment of the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
This was the Junior League Choral Group’s third time to perform at Carnegie Hall with their director, Amy Murphy of Amy Murphy Studio, but it was a first for member Michele Smith.
“It was awe inspiring to be in such a famous hall that has had so many well known artists through all the years,” she said. “It was thrilling.”
Smith also noted how much Rutter respected conducting his music.
“He is very passionate about it,” she said. “He wants the audience to get the full experience of the piece of music so he goes over every single detail, even how he wants the words to be pronounced. He is so full of energy and sometimes jumped up and down on stage.”
Many Junior League choral group members traveled to New York with family members and took in sights on their trip. Leading up to the performance, they rehearsed six hours on Saturday and three on Sunday.
Choral group members are Nancy Canada, Cornelia LaRussa, Mallie Ireland, Liz Hodges, Alice Major, Jocelyn Palmer, Susan Pitts, Pamela Rediker, Amy Roberts, Jennifer Hartsell, Tracy Sproule, Phyllis Pelham, Heather Waldron, Alison Hawk, Betty Renneker, Carolyn Long and Linda Stone.
