Winter Concert

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  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 Forrest, and more including a few traditional seasonal carols.  The concert will feature over 100 voices, the Portsmouth Symphony Brass Quintet and percussion, and a special guest pianist and organist.

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.  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.  

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.