Stone-Cold Awesome: The Stone House Singers Perform This Sunday, April 7 at 3 PM
We look forward to another unique and entertaining vocal performance of our Stone House Singers, under the direction of Thomas W. Jones.
The program goes amazingly eclectic, borrowing musical material from the Renaissance through Messiaen and Poulenc. Also featured is the work of contemporary composer Nico Muhly, whose opera Marnie is currently at the Met. Jazz and spiritual selections will be included as well.
The group was founded by our own Old First members Jennifer Nelson and Burkhard Bilger. Its inspiration: when she and Burkhard lived in Berlin, their daughter’s school offered a choir for parents and teachers. The experienced nourished them, and they took the idea back to Brooklyn.
Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at Park Slope’s Stone House (hence the group name), with a small but powerful group of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses lending their voices.
“We just want to learn all kinds of music, languages and religions,” Jennifer says, “and discover.”
Mission accomplished, it seems. The appropriate title of the upcoming performance: Laudamus te! The Almighty, Mankind, and Love!
Laudamus te is an ancient Latin hymn meaning “we praise you.”
The Stone House Singers gives two concerts a year. Its director, Thomas W. Jones, earned his reputation through his work with large choruses and orchestras. The group’s pipe dream — not an impossible one — is to someday sing with a chamber orchestra.
“I started choir in church when I was four,” Jennifer says. “Since then, there has hardly been a year where I have not been singing in choir. For me, it’s my religion, my spirit, my community. When you harmonize the good vibrations, you’re uplifted.”
Feel this for yourself — mark your calendars for this Sunday, April 7 at 3 PM at our home base:
Old First Reformed Church
729 Carroll Street (Park Slope)
Suggested admission: $15 or $10 for students and senior citizens
