For IPR's newChoral Iowa initiative, I plan to post a monthly list of every choral event coming up in our state. This first list is long! It includes a concert focused on Leonard Bernstein, several related to Veterans Day and to the centennial of the Armistice ending World War I, and, of course, some nationally renowned Iowa Christmas concerts. To add to the richness, we're being visited by the Soweto Gospel Choir! I'm sure I've missed many events, so please let us know of omissions or corrections. (I'm at bsherman@iowapublicradio.org.) I'll update this page whenever I get new information.
Meanwhile, here's the chronological list of what I know about on November 2nd:
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd
* 7:00 PM in Iowa City - Collaborative Concert with Moira Smiley - Vocal Artists of Iowa
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City . 140 Gathering Place Lane, Iowa City, IA 52246
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd (two concerts)
* 3:00 PM in Ames - Cantamus Women’s Choir - Iowa State University, Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall, 300 Union Drive, Ames
* 7:30 PM in Dubuque - "Verses of Valor: A Salute to Veterans" - Dubuque Chorale, its chamber choir Cadenza, and the Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choir, conducted by Amanda Huntleigh. They will "remember the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Program: Songs remembering the war and from the period." - St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Dubuque
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 (six concerts)
* 2:00 PM in Council Bluffs - Southwest Iowa Chorale Fall Concert. At the Iowa Western Community College Arts Center, 2700 College Rd., Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
* 2:00 PM in Dubuque - "Verses of Valor: A Salute to Veterans" - Dubuque Chorale, its chamber choir Cadenza, and the Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choir, conducted by Amanda Huntleigh. They will "remember the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Program: Songs remembering the war and from the period." - St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Dubuque
* 2:00 PM in Ames - "Good Neighbor Benefit Concert"-Ames Choral Society and Ames Children's Choirs. Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave, Ames
* 7:30 PM in Fairfield - "Everybody Sings!" - Community sing of Mozart's Requiem, along with performance of other works of Mozart by the Everybody Sings Orchestra and soloists. Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield
* 7:00 PM in Des Moines - John Rutter: Requiem - Plymouth Chancel Choir and instrumentalists. Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 4126 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
* 7:30 PM in Cedar Falls - "Sounds of Faith, Hope and Love" - Metropolitan Chorale (Amy Kotsonis, conductor) - Nazareth Lutheran Church, 7401 University Avenue, Cedar Falls
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
* 7:30 PM in Sioux City - "Siouxland Sings" Benefit Concert - Choirs from Morningside College, East, North, West, and Heelan High Schools, Siouxland Youth Chorus. Eppley Auditorium, Morningside College, 3625 Garretson Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8th
* 6:00 PM in Cedar Falls - Bach Cantata Series II – University of Northern Iowa Cantorei, Wind Symphony and Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Len Wiles. Great Reading Room, Seerley Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th
* 7:30 PM in Mount Vernon - "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace" - Cornell Choir and Cornell Symphony. It "will commemorate Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I." with the work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. King Chapel, Cornell College, Mt. Vernon.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th (two concerts)
* 6:30 PM in Waterloo - “Soundscapes” with Bel Canto Cedar Valley at First Presbyterian Church, Waterloo
* 7:30 PM in Des Moines - Ralph Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem - This major cantata, based on texts by Walt Whitman as well as the Ordinary of the Mass and the Bible, will be performed by all four Drake choruses, a professional orchestra, and student soloists; Aimee Beckmann-Collier, conductor. The performances, which focus on themes of conflict and reconciliation, will also include This House of Peace by Ralph M. Johnson (Drake Chamber Choir/chamber orchestra) and Joan Szymko’s All Works of Love (Drake Choir). Tickets are $18 for non-students and $8 for students and can be purchased online (www.drake.edu/choralperformances/) or at the Drake Fine Arts Box Office (515.271.3841). St. Francis of Assisi Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11th (three concerts)
* 2:00 PM in Cedar Falls -“Armistice” with UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club, UNI Wind Ensemble, and UNI Faculty Soloists. "In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War One, the UNI School of Music presents ARMISTICE, featuring the UNI Wind Ensemble, the UNI Varsity Glee Club, and soloists from the UNI School of Music faculty. ARMISTICE will include music representing all regions impacted by the conflict as well as readings of letters and journals from soldiers." GBPAC Great Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls
* 3:00 PM in Des Moines - Ralph Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem - All four Drake choruses, a professional orchestra, and student soloists; Aimee Beckmann-Collier, conductor. The performances, which focus on themes of conflict and reconciliation, will also include This House of Peace by Ralph M. Johnson (Drake Chamber Choir/chamber orchestra) and Joan Szymko’s All Works of Love (Drake Choir). Tickets are $18 for non-students and $8 for students and can be purchased online (www.drake.edu/choralperformances/) or at the Drake Fine Arts Box Office (515.271.3841). St. Francis of Assisi Church, 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines
* 4:00 PM in Iowa City - Soweto Gospel Choir - Hancher Auditorium, University of Iowa, Iowa City
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12th
* 7:00 PM in Clinton - Trimester 1 Choir Concert - Chamber Choir, Mixed Choir, A'Cappella, Vernon Cook Theater; Clinton High School, 817 8th Ave S, Clinton, IA 52732
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13th
* 7:30 PM in Cedar Falls - UNI Concert Chorale Fall Concert - Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17th
* 4:00 PM in Coralville - "Why Haven't I Heard from You?" - MetroMix Chorus. Coralville Center for the Perfoming Arts
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18th (two concerts)
* 2:00 PM in Grinnell - "We Tell Each Other Stories": Grinnell Singers in Concert, Sebring-Lewis Hall, Grinnell
* 3:00 PM in Iowa City - Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms - Chamber Singers of Iowa City led by David Puderbaugh - Voxman Music Building, University of Iowa, 93 E Burlington Street, Iowa City
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27th
* 7:00 PM in Waterloo - UNI Women's Chorus Holiday Concert - First Congregational Church, 608 West 4th Street, Waterloo
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28th
* 7:30 PM in Iowa City - University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra and Choirs / Timothy Stalter, conductor: Joseph Haydn: Missa in tempore belli (Mass in Time of War); Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Hancher Auditorium, 141 Park Road. Iowa City
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th
* 4:30 PM in Grinnell - Grinnell Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir led by Barry Jones. Sebring-Lewis Hall, Grinnell
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29th – DECEMBER 2nd
* Various times in Decorah (see below) - Christmas at Luther– Six choirs under the direction of Andrew Last '97, Mark Potvin '01, Jennaya Robison '96, and Jill Wilson; Luther Ringers led by college organist Gregory Peterson '83; Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Baldwin; along with audience singing. Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, IA
Thursday, November 29 — 5:45 p.m.
Friday, November 30 — 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Saturday, December 1 — 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 2 — 2:30 p.m.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1st
* Various times in Cedar Falls (see below) - UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club Christmas Variety Show
Friday, November 30 — 7:30 p.m., Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Saturday, December 1 — 2:30 p.m., Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Saturday, December 1 — 7:30 p.m., Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th - DECEMBER 2nd
* Various times in Des Moines and Waverly - "The Weary World Rejoices": Christmas with Wartburg: The 71st annual Christmas with Wartburg brings together five choirs, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra to provide heartwarming music and traditional carols accompanied by inspiring visuals
Friday, November 30 — 7:30 p.m., Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines
Saturday, December 1 — 3:00 p.m, Neumann Auditorium, Warburg College, Waverly, IA
Saturday, December 1 — 7:30 p.m. Neumann Auditorium, Warburg College, Waverly, IA
Sunday, December 2 — 3:00 p.m. Neumann Auditorium, Warburg College, Waverly, IA
