April 5, 2006 – The St. John Singers' Spring Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday, April 22, at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cruz Bay.
The program will emphasize sacred music of the Classical Period during the 18th century. Featured composers will be Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Josef Hayden. The choir will perform "Alleluia" from Mozart's "Exsultate, Jubilate," which he composed at age 17, and the haunting "Lacrymosa" from his "Requiem," which he composed on his deathbed. By Hayden the choir will sing the joyful "The Heavens are Telling" from his oratorio "The Creation."
The program will also include several other works ranging from the 16th century to the 20th century, such as Thomas Tallis' "Canon," an American revivalist song "Zion's Walls" arranged by Aaron Copland, and the old favorite "Were you There." In addition the choir will perform two "Ave Verum Corpus" motets – one by Mozart and one by Francis Poulenc two centuries later.
Director John Cahill, who has led the St. John Singers since its founding 25 years ago, holds a degree from The Juilliard School of Music in New York. He teaches piano and Advanced Placement music and is also an accomplished French horn player.
Janice Ballard, who is the new Music Director and Organist at St. Thomas Reformed Church, will accompany the choir. Ballard also teaches music at Montessori School and has degrees in music education, sacred music and divinity.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children 5 years and under and may be purchased at the door.
St. John Singers is a non-profit organization partially funded by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.