A NY Concert: Music of Rachel Burckardt

The concert is at the Recital Hall at the SUNNY Purchase Performing Arts Center, 735 Anderson Hill Rd, in Purchase, NY.

The concert will featurn the NY premier of my Mt. Auburn Requiem dedicated to the memory of my classmates who are no longer with us from the Albertus Magnus HS Class of '72. I wanted to have this work performed in New York, relatively near the high school in Bardonia, NY (Rockland County).

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to the Scholarship Fund at Albertus Magnus High School.

The concert will also include some of my other works:

• Prelude: an improvisation by Rachel Burckardt, piano.
  
• Ave Maria: my setting of this prayer to the Mother of Jesus for a capella chorus.
  
• Heal Me: a prayer of petition for the God's loving care to heal us. Set for solo voice, piano, strings and winds.
  
• Ascendance: a piece for electric guitar, orchestra and sax. As the title implies, the piece attempts to rise above the noise and negativity that can be found in much of the social and political dialogue these days. Through the use of rising chords and rising melodic lines, the piece climbs up to a summit, where there can be a better perspective. The video uses photos from one of my hikes up Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. From the mountain top, we can see the beauty of creation and the people made in God's image.

Performers:

The concert will feature the Boston-based TMC Chorus under the direction of Elijah Langille. The chorus has been singing at the major concerts of the Tutti Music Collective, beginning with the world premier of the Mount Auburn Requiem in October 2022. The chours is a mix of mostly Boston-based profesional singers and volunteer choristers from some of the major church choirs in Boston.

The Tutti Music Collective (TMC) is committed to showcasing the music of local minority, LGBTQ, and living composers. Organized by Elijah and myself after the 2022 Requiem Concert, the TMC believes that concert music should reflect the diversity of the world we live in, and we strive to create a space where these voices can be heard and celebrated. Through our performances, we hope to inspire and engage audiences, while also promoting inclusivity and equity in the arts.

This concert is the first collaboration with Modus Operandi Orchestra (MOO). MOO is comprised of some of the finest players in the New York City area. Led by internationally acclaimed conductor Justin Bischof, their concerts have been met with critical acclaim and a dedicated audience following.

Featured soloists include:

• Ciarán Nagle, Irish Tenor. Ciarán Nagle performs around the globe as the founding member and producer of the world renowned Three Irish Tenors and as a solo artist. He has had the privilege of singing the American National Anthem at the Heinz Stadium, sharing the stage with Neil Diamond and receiving many accolades such as the Keys to Jersey City and a Certificate of recognition for his contribution to the arts from the Governor of Pennsylvania, to name but a few. Ciarán and I have collaborated on several of my albums and also sing together with the Boston Archdioscean Festival Chorus.
  
• Ken Field, Sax. Ken Field is a composer, saxophonist, flautist, and percussionist. He has received international public and critical acclaim for his solo work, his work with the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble (which he leads), Birdsongs of the Mesozoic, Willie Loco Alexander's Persistence of Memory Orchestra, and the Armenian/American jazz project Musaner, as well as his commissioned compositions and performances with Bridgman/Packer Dance. He was named a Finalist in Music Composition by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of JazzBoston and as Chair of the Truro Concert Committee. He is Past President of the Board of Directors of Tutoring Plus of Cambridge and a past member of the Organizing Committee of the HONK! Festival.