FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 24, 2023) – The Choir School of Delaware presents Lux Aeterna, a concert of choral music honoring the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, at Grace United Methodist Church (Wilmington, DE) on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 4:00pm. The program explores remembrance and renewal through song.
The Choir School of Delaware is an acclaimed intergenerational choir where professional musicians, adult volunteers, and talented youth sing side-by-side. Lux Aeterna continues the Choir School’s tradition of presenting concerts that speak to the most pressing issues of our time.
Lux Aeterna by American composer Morten Lauridsen anchors the concert. Translated from Latin meaning “eternal light,” the masterwork’s five movements incorporate references to light from sacred texts. The texts honor the departed and console the living, who seek understanding and renewal. These themes continue in the other musical selections, including “Remember Me” from the Pixar film Coco and “Wanting Memories,” popularized by the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock.
“We have been teaching the students that deep sorrow and mourning is only one phase of grief,” said Malcolm Richardson, Director of Education. “As we continue to experience loss, we move into a phase of celebration, where we honor those loved ones who came before us and have passed on. We celebrate them through living our own lives to the fullest and through the love we share with those who remain.”
“It has been an incredible gift to work with the choir on this repertoire because of the emotions that surface as we sing,” said Brittney Stanton, Deputy Director. “The students’ capacity for empathy towards each other is beautiful, and it speaks to the uniqueness and importance of their education at the Choir School.”
Lux Aeterna is the fifth and final concert of the Choir School’s Jubilee Concert Season, marking the 25th anniversary of the award-winning after-school program and the 140th anniversary of its intergenerational choir. Proceeds support the Choir School’s transformative program that emphasizes equity in music education by offering professional music training, academic support, mentoring, and social services to young people in the Greater Wilmington area regardless of income.
Tickets
Tickets are $35. Kids under 18 attend free of charge. The Choir School is pleased to offer $15 tickets to healthcare professionals, firefighters, law enforcement, and other first responders who worked on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Purchase tickets by calling 302-543-8657 x4 or online at choirschoolofdelaware.org/events.
Event Details
Lux Aeterna: A Celebration of Life
When: Sunday, June 11, 2023 | 4:00pm
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 900 Washington St, Wilmington, DE
Tickets: $35 | Kids FREE
First Responders $15
Seniors & Military $25
College Students $15
Buy Tickets: choirschoolofdelaware.org/events or 302-543-8657 x4
Press RSVP: hgrasso@choirschoolofdelaware.org or 302-543-8657 x4
Event Sponsors
The Jubilee Concert Season is sponsored by TD Charitable Foundation and supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
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About the Choir School of Delaware
The Choir School of Delaware, a “Community Center that Sings,” provides life-changing after-school and summer programs for Wilmington children ages 7-17 in an intergenerational environment. Programs combine professional-level choral training and performance opportunities with homework help, mentoring, and social services, creating a safe, inspiring environment where young people realize their full potential. An intergenerational choir anchors the after-school program and performs throughout the state.
Artistic Samples
“Total Praise” arr. Richard Smallwood https://youtu.be/1GSEbq8sgCo
“It’s a Grand Night for Singing” from State Fair https://youtu.be/b2HeIb72xUw
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To download the press release, click here.
