St. John’s Choir & Friends Concert features music of John Rutter

PHOENIXVILLE — On Sunday, May 4, at 7 p.m., 70 singers from 25 area churches, accompanied by The Providence Chamber Orchestra and harp, will join together in the 32nd annual St.

John’s Choir & Friends concert. This year’s program features the music of John Rutter — “Requiem,” “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” and “Suite for Strings.” His “Requiem” is a musical setting of parts of the Latin Requiem with added psalms and biblical verses in English, completed in 1985.



It is scored for soprano, mixed choir and orchestra. The concert is conducted by F. Thomas Snyder III, longtime director of music at St.

John’s Lutheran Church. Soprano soloist in the “Requiem,” Tessika McClendon is an acclaimed coloratura from Jackson, Miss. A frequent recitalist and soloist, McClendon has been a guest with the Hershey Symphony Orchestra (Verdi Requiem), MS Opera (Noye’s Fludde, La bohème, Die Fledermaus, Renée Fleming – Voice of the Century), The MS Chorus (Brahms’ Requiem), St.

Philip’s Great 50 Days Concert Series, and Opera Festival di Roma, Rome, Italy (Suor Angelica, Cosí fan tutte). Past programs have included the music of William Billings, Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, W. A.

Mozart’s Requiem and Te Deum, Franz Schubert’s Mass in G, Howard Hanson’s Song of Democracy, John Rutter’s Te Deum and Requiem, a concert version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, Glorias by Antonio Vivaldi and Francis Poulenc, J. S. Bach’s Magnificat, Johannes Brahms’ German Requiem, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Luigi Cherubini’s Requiem, Maurice Durufle’s Requiem, parts II and III of G.

F. Handel’s Messiah, Patriotic Selections, Broadway Selections and Spirituals and Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a canned food donation to support Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS).

(No glass jars or expired food.) PACS is the leading food resource for Phoenixville-area neighbors in need, serving over 3000 members of the community monthly. Almost 50% of its food comes from these two agencies.

PACS remains committed to helping those struggling with food insecurity, but needs your help. There is no admission charge, although a free-will offering, with a suggested $10 donation, will be received. Arrive early as a full house is anticipated.

The church is located at 355 St. John’s Circle in Phoenixville..