Monmouth Civic Chorus to Explore Works of American Composers

The award-winning Monmouth Civic Chorus (MCC) is thrilled to celebrate the world of poetry as it presents The Poetry of Song. The program, scheduled for Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Long Branch, will explore the intersection of music and poetry through the works of several American composers for chorus and chamber orchestra. These include Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Corigliano, New Jersey-based living composer Colin Britt and others. The poetic works of Dylan Thomas, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Maria Reiner Rilke and more will be featured.

“This concert will take MCC to the limits of its ability to expressively sing great texts,” says the chorus’ Artistic Director Dr. Ryan James Brandau. “The performance is sure to lift and inspire our audience as we seek to bring the luscious words of these great poets to life through our music,” Brandau continued. Tickets are $30 adult, $27 senior, $25 group, $5 student. Tickets and information are available at monmouthcivicchorus.org or 732.933.9333.

Dr. Brandau has broad experience conducting a variety of choral and orchestral ensembles. In addition to his work with Monmouth Civic Chorus, he serves as Artistic Director of Princeton Pro Musica and Amor Artis, a chamber choir and orchestra in New York City. He is also on the faculty of Westminster Choir College, where he has prepared the Westminster Symphonic Choir for performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony. He has worked with a variety of other professional, community, collegiate, children’s and church ensembles. He remains active as a choral arranger, composer, and clinician. His arrangements and compositions have been featured by choral ensembles across the globe. Ryan received the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the Yale School of Music. Prior to pursuing graduate study in conducting, Ryan attended the University of Cambridge in the UK as a Gates Scholar, earning an M.Phil. in historical musicology. He received his B.A. in music from Princeton University.

Monmouth Civic Chorus has been called “near-flawless” (Asbury Park Press), “alive and evocative” (The Star-Ledger) and “superior” (Red Bank Green). The Chorus is the proud recipient of the 2008 ASCAP/Chorus America Alice Parker Award, and the 2010 Spinnaker Award for Arts and Culture from the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce.