Cantemus Chamber Chorus, with 41 members from across the North Shore, will present two concerts in May titled “The Great American Songbook – with a Modern Spin.” To salute the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing, the program will include Great American Songbook standards from the early 20th century to newer entrants to the Songbook canon. Beloved songs will include those by George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Otis Redding – and Prince!
Joining Cantemus will be guest artist Miranda Russell and her five-piece combo. Noted for interpreting music of the great songwriters of our day, Russell and her band have been described as demonstrating “extraordinary range and genre-jumping versatility.” Well-known to North Shore audiences and beyond, Russell has performed in Europe, and with Boston’s Christmas Revels, the Emerson Stage, Theatre in the Open, the Firehouse Center, the Larcom Theatre, and for several seasons at Gloucester Stage Company. She studied theater at Emerson College and classical voice performance at Loyola University’s College of Music.
Cantemus’ concerts will take place in Manchester-by-the-Sea on Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Manchester-Essex Regional High School, 36 Lincoln St., and in Newburyport on Sunday, May 3 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 166 High St.
Cantemus’ Artistic Director Jason Iannuzzi said: “Cantemus is always seeking ways to expand our repertoire and invite new audience members into our music-loving community. We are thrilled to collaborate with Miranda Russell and her amazing band to bring a program to life that celebrates this important American artform. The concert is sure to leave patrons feeling lighter and with a song in their hearts!”
For more information about the program and to purchase tickets, visit cantemus.org/spring. Tickets may also be purchased at the door, space permitting.
Cantemus gratefully acknowledges sponsorship support from Eastern Bank, Institution for Savings, and Rockland Trust, and funding support from the Local Cultural Councils of Newbury, Newburyport, Rockport, and West Newbury. Cantemus participates in the Card to Culture program, a Mass Cultural Council initiative that offers reduced-price tickets to card holders.
Cantemus is a member of MASSCreative.org and the Greater Boston Choral Consortium.
Cantemus singers come from across the North Shore and New Hampshire: Amesbury: Gary Lubarsky, Ron Pressler. Beverly: Dick Church, Jennie-Rebecca Falcetta, Karen Kepler, Richard Salandrea, Marjorie Short. Bradford: Mern Ebinger. Durham, NH: Sydney van Asselt. Essex: Betsy Vicksell. Georgetown: Patricia Clark. Gloucester: Roger Garberg, Doug Smith. Haverhill: Lea Pearson. Ipswich: Jill Gleim, Anna Jerome, Elizabeth Krafchuk, Anne Maguire, Stephen Miles. Lexington: Artistic Director Jason Iannuzzi, Azalea Yunus. Manchester: Isabella Bates, Caroline Royer, Byron Winn. Melrose: Accompanist Jeffrey Mead. Newburyport: Richard Blumenscheid, Claire Cayot, Brian Greenberg, Ann Harter, John Moreland, Maryellen Moreland. North Reading: Priscilla March. Rockport: Brittany Betts. Roslindale: Deborah Lemont. Salem: Alexandra Asacker, Jacques Duranceau. South Hamilton: Pamela Morris. Topsfield: Dennis van Maaren. Wenham: Janet Glasser, Jeremy Satchell, Ben Wilcox. West Newbury: Melissa Lugo, Susan Nash.
