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Concerts December 6th and 7th
save the date!!! Click for Tickets
Concerts December 6th and 7th
save the date!!! Click for Tickets
Winter Concert
John Rutter's"Gloria" December 6th and 7th
PROGRAM
The Rockingham Choral Society, under the direction of Music Director Jason Throne, will present two winter concerts titled “Gloria” on Saturday, December 6 at the Exeter High School at 3:00 PM, and Sunday, December 7 at Christ Church Episcopal in Exeter at 3:00 PM featuring John Rutter’s Gloria, and selections from Eric Whitacre, Dan Forest, and more including a few traditional seasonal carols. In addition to RCS’s collaborative pianist Jeannie F. Goodwin, RCS welcomes guest pianist Deb Bolling of Exeter. Adam Peithmann will also accompany the choir and Portsmouth Brass Quintet on the organ.
For the Sunday concert, general Admission Tickets are $18 per person in advance and $20 at the door. For Saturday, December 6th, at the Exeter High School venue only, general admission is still $18.00 per person but RCS will offer any high school students admission at no cost with a school id. Children under 6 are free at all concerts but must have a reserved ticket space, which must be done online. Also for the Saturday concert and to promote community outreach the group will also be distributing over 100 free tickets to Senior Centers in Rockingham County. Purchasing tickets online as soon as possible for the Sunday performance is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED as the performance frequently sells out in advance leaving none available at the door.
This program celebrates the beauty and vitality of choral music through works that are both powerful and deeply expressive. Featured selections include John Rutter’s Gloria, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Bogoroditse Devo, and Dan Forrest’s radiant arrangement of Angels We Have Heard on High, alongside the world premiere of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, commissioned by the Rockingham Choral Society and arranged by Dr. Joseph Eckman. With brass and organ joining the chorus, and additional works that capture the quiet majesty of the winter season, this concert invites listeners to share in a moment of warmth, reflection, and joy through music.
The Portsmouth Brass Quintet is comprised of key brass players from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble was founded by Adam Gallant in the fall of 2016 and is dedicated to performing serious brass chamber music at the highest level. The PBQ frequently performs in Portsmouth, Kittery, Newington, Dover, Rye, Exeter, York, Laconia, Farmington, Henniker and Durham.
Since 1957, the Rockingham Choral Society has expanded and enhanced cultural experiences by performing choral masterpieces and adhering to the highest musical standards. The Choral Society is comprised of over 100 members and presents two concerts annually to the audiences in the New Hampshire Seacoast region.
Artistic Staff- Music Director Jason Throne
Music Director Jason Throne
Jason Throne is a conductor and music educator who believes in the transformative power of music to build connection, elevate voices, and shape communities. Beginning July 1, 2025, Jason serves as Director of Performing Arts at the Waynflete School, Maine’s premiere private day school in Portland, Maine, where he leads the school’s vibrant music, theater, and dance programs.
Prior to joining Waynflete, Jason served as Director of Choral Activities and Music Department Chair at Unionville High School in Kennett Square, PA, where he taught from 2003 to 2025. Under his leadership, Unionville’s choral program flourished, featuring five dynamic ensembles that performed everything from Renaissance motets to newly commissioned works—many of which received regional and national recognition. His ensembles have been featured in numerous outstanding performance opportunities including participation in a concert featuring a premiere of a major work with Eric Whitacre at Carnegie Hall and most recently performing at Lincoln Center in a performance of the NYC premiere of Dan Forrest’s Creation. They have also collaborated with some of the world’s premiere vocal ensembles including Voces8 and Chanticleer. Jason also developed and taught a wide range of courses including Music Theory and Guitar while mentoring dozens of student teachers and future music educators.
Jason is a dedicated advocate for living composers, having worked closely with artists like Ola Gjeilo, Kim André Arnesen, and Will Todd. He frequently commissions and premieres new choral works, bringing fresh, relevant repertoire to his ensembles and audiences.
As Founder and Artistic Director of the Brandywine Valley Chorale (BVC), he has built a thriving community ensemble known for bold, collaborative programming and artistic excellence. With BVC and his school ensembles, Jason has led performances of major works including Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem (Robert Levin edition), The Armed Man (staged) by Karl Jenkins, Requiem for the Living & Jubilate Deo by Dan Forrest, often uniting singers from different generations and communities in shared musical experiences. He also prepared the BVC for a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Jason holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Temple University. While in Baltimore, he studied conducting under Edward Polochick and performed with the Baltimore Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus. He has also served as an Apprentice Conductor and Program Editor with Berkshire Choral International, collaborating with renowned conductors and singers from across the globe.
As a guest clinician and conductor, Jason has led workshops, masterclasses, and honor choirs throughout the region, and remains an active member of ACDA & MMEA.
Artistic Staff- Collaborative Pianist, Jeannie Goodwin
Jeannie F. Goodwin graduated with a B.S. in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire. She now maintains an active piano studio in her home where she has worked with students of all ages, although she now specializes in adults. Active in the Music Teacher’s National Association, she has served on state, division and national levels. She has also been active in church music, founding several vocal and hand bell choirs at her Congregational Church in Dover, New Hampshire. She is a professional accompanist, and especially enjoys her work with the Rockingham Choral Society. Ms. Goodwin and her husband are avid sailors and have cruised their sailboat “Sea Natural” on the East Coast from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas.