A! Magazine for the Arts

The Knoxville Choral Society and Artistic Director John R. Orr will present a season of masterworks and innovative programs.

The Knoxville Choral Society and Artistic Director John R. Orr will present a season of masterworks and innovative programs.

Knoxville Choral Society announces 2019-2020 season

August 22, 2019

KNOXVILLE – The Knoxville Choral Society announces its 2019-2020 season. The KCS and Artistic Director John R. Orr will present a season of masterworks and innovative programs including performances with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and a wide range of venues. This season the KCS can be seen at Central Bearden Baptist Church, the Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville Civic Auditorium, First United Methodist Church of Morristown, Church Street United Methodist Church and the Clarence Brown Theatre on the University of Tennessee’s campus.

The Knoxville Choral Society’s season opens with one of the largest and most dramatic choral works of all time, Mendelssohn's “Elijah," performed with full orchestra and featuring Knoxville's Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone, David Crawford, singing the title role. In December, KCS will join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for its "Classical Christmas" concert presenting Handel’s “Messiah" and the annual Clayton Holiday Concerts.

The winter concert will feature assistant conductor Andrew Duncan, performing an innovative concert called “Stargazer" and in May 2020 KCS will present its second annual "Sing! Knoxville" concert at the Clarence Brown Theatre on the UT campus conducted by John R. Orr. The "Sing! Knoxville" concert offers an opportunity for the Knoxville community to come together in song. KCS will present a concert of mixed genre choral music by living composers, and the audience will be invited to participate in the music-making process.

Additional appearances include the women of KCS joining the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for Holst’s "The Planets" and the Knoxville Chamber Chorale presenting its concert, "Alone In The Night," at First United Methodist Church of Morristown. The Knoxville Chamber Chorale will sing two additional concerts this season, a Christmas concert at Church Street United Methodist Church and a concert in the Spring of 2020. In June of 2020, the Knoxville Choral Society will represent Knoxville, Tennessee, by traveling to and performing in Austria and Switzerland.

“I'm excited to begin my second season as conductor of the Knoxville Choral Society and so honored to work with the best singers in our area,” says Orr. “The 2019-2020 season is designed around our belief that the Knoxville Choral Society represents the heart of the Knoxville community because it impacts such a diverse group of people. We have the highest quality choral singers who come from all walks of life, and our concerts appeal to so many different audiences. It is truly a celebration of the best things about this city when we come together to make and share music.”

Additional information about the 2019-2020 concert season is available at www.knoxvillechoralsociety.org

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