Alexandria Choral Society and NOVA Symphony Orchestra Perform Beethoven’s 9th Sunday, Nov. 10
ALEXANDRIA, VA-Celebrate a night of monumental achievements as the NOVA Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with the Alexandria Choral Society, New Dominion Choraliers, Congregation Adat Reyim Choir, and the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) present Beethoven’s iconic 9th Symphony under the baton of Music Director Christopher Johnston. This performance will not only showcase a choir of over 90 singers but also feature exceptional soloists Alexandria Chrichlow, Marquita Raley-Cooper, Darius Sanders, and Jim Williams, all provided by the Coalition of African American Performing Artists (CAAPA). Marking NOVA Symphony’s 30th anniversary, this performance also commemorates the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s final and most celebrated symphony, completed in 1824.
Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
Sunday, November 10th, 2024 4:00pm
Schlesinger Hall – NVCC Alexandria Campus
Tickets available at: alexandriachoralsociety.org/beethovens-9th
Experience the triumphant beauty of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, a masterpiece composed when Beethoven was fully deaf, yet full of joyous and unifying spirit. The symphony’s stirring final movement, set to Friedrich von Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy,” delivers a powerful message of peace, harmony, and brotherhood. Legend has it that during the premiere, Beethoven, unable to hear the applause, had to be turned around by contralto Caroline Unger to witness the enthusiastic reception of his audience. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of music and history that will resonate long after the final note!
About Our 2024-2025 Season
Join the Alexandria Choral Society as we celebrate 55 years of choral excellence! This season, ACS honors our history, our future, and the vibrant musical community in Alexandria through partnerships with Alfred Street Baptist Church, the Alexandria A Capella Collective, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, the NOVA Symphony Orchestra, and more. To mark our 55th season, we’ll be performing some favorite pieces from ACS’s very first season at each concert. In celebration of the City of Alexandria’s 275th anniversary, we will present selections from Bach’s B minor Mass, which also premiered in 1749. Additionally, you’ll hear the gorgeous music of Palestrina on the 500th anniversary of his birth. Across seven concerts, we will showcase a rich tapestry of beloved masterworks by Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, alongside contemporary compositions by Artemisia, Rosephanye Powell, and Diana Sáez. Our season will culminate in the inaugural All-Alexandria Choral Festival in May 2025, a grand celebration of beautiful, joy-filled music that highlights the unity and spirit of our local choral community. Don’t miss out on what promises to be our most remarkable season yet!
About the Alexandria Choral Society:
For over half a century, the Alexandria Choral Society has presented a broad spectrum of choral works, delighting audiences and fostering an inclusive environment of belonging and collaboration in the city of Alexandria and beyond. Since its founding in 1970, the Alexandria Choral Society has captivated audiences year in and year out. Most recently, ACS commissioned and presented the world premiere of You Birth the Seeds, a work by acclaimed composer Melissa Dunphy, with text from Alexandria poet laureate Zeina Azzam. Under the direction of Artistic Director Kathryn Harsha, ACS is committed to enhancing the cultural life of the city of Alexandria by presenting diverse and engaging vocal music programs at the highest artistic level.
For more information visit alexandriachoralsociety.org.
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