Greetings Friends,
It is with great pride that I write to you as the Executive Director of Cantata Singers. Despite the challenges presented by the financial crisis of the past few years, I am pleased to report that because of your support we continue to fulfill our mission - enriching the human spirit through the power of music. I know, because I’m one of the lucky recipients of this mission. My experience over the last several months is indescribable; Cantata Singers has renewed my belief that music can heal most everything.
Over the last three seasons, our unique, single composer focus caught the attention of students, internet journalists, listeners, reviewers and even a few poets. At the conclusion of the Heinrich Schütz season, it is clear that just like 46 years ago when Boston had a hunger for more Bach, this town had a craving for Schütz! Cantata Singers’ 2009-2010 season could not have been better received.
In our 2010-2011 season we have the unique opportunity to feature the life and works of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Not only was he a brilliant composer, as well as a teacher, lecturer and mentor to young composers and conductors, but also an artisan who incorporated every breath of life into his work. We are honored that the RVW Charitable Trust is partnering with us to make his message live again, particularly in a time of need as our country searches for ways to regain our positive impact on the world.
The composer must not shut himself up and think about art, he must live with his fellows and make his art an expression of the whole life of the community
-Ralph Vaughan Williams
So, with his words, Cantata Singers invites you to interact with fellow concertgoers. Just as we have chosen this season to compare and present the voice of RVW with the voices of Wyner, Ives, Howells, Imbrie, Holst, Elgar, Bernstein and Bach, your voice becomes a member of the chorus that can give expression to our common ground. Share your experience.
Speaking of sharing, I hope that you are familiar with Classroom Cantatas, our education outreach program. This coming year we are perfectly poised to incorporate the composition knowledge of RVW into our syllabus with our partnering Boston Public Schools. If you are not familiar with Classroom Cantatas, please contact our Education Coordinator, Susan Craft at scraft@cantatasingers.org and she will be happy to engage you in conversation! This program was the biggest lift to my spirit after arriving at Cantata Singers and I know of no other program like it in the Boston area. To have working artists guide and teach young students to write and perform their own music is an unbelievable rarity. I only wish this had been available when I was in school. Classroom Cantatas is moving into its 17th year and our sights are set to expand its reach so that even more students will benefit from this unique experience.
It is an exciting time to invest in Cantata Singers. We are nearing our 50th anniversary and our message and outreach remain strong. I may be slightly new to Cantata Singers but already I feel the impact it has on my life and the impact it has on the Boston community.
Join us and please think of making a gift. The importance of great music in our lives and in our society simply cannot be taken for granted. Your donation, large or small, makes all the difference in the world.
With thanks and much excitement about the future,
Jeffry George
Executive Director