Two years ago, our friend and Composer-in-Residence, Kevin Siegfried, gifted us “The Farthest Field,” which we sang with joy and tears in June of 2018. We sang it again in Georgia, around tables laden with wine and food. This song has become ever more relevant in the 6 months since we halted in-person rehearsals and cancelled our performances. Since March, however, we have still found ways to sing together, learn together, and to create music that we love. Perhaps the most important thing we have learned is that:
Only distance separates us.
We approach the 2020-2021 season with hope and determination. We know the power of music to connect us: to connect musicians as performers coming together to create beautiful works, and to connect performers to their audience through those works. Those connections are magical, and we are doing everything we can to make them happen this year. We also know the power of music to express what we are feeling, from uncertainty and fear to resolve and love. This has been a strange and sometimes painful year, but we believe we will come through it by working and singing together. Will you join us?
Join us in making music happen. Throughout this summer, we’ve focused on how we can come together, safely, to learn, practice, and perform together. We are stretching the capabilities of technology in pursuit of an option that will make it possible to practice together remotely, in real time. It’s not perfect, but we’re almost there. We are also working to develop practices and protocols to gather in small groups outdoors, safely distanced and following CDC guidelines. Fred has programmed a Fall concert of marvelous seasonal works for our times that not only address the overarching framework of diversity, equity and inclusion, but that can also be performed as a pre-recorded virtual project, live-stream, or in-person (distanced) presentation. We already have five new members joining us this season, proving that the show must indeed go on.
Join us in listening and watching the music happen. The Capitol Hill Chorale family extends beyond the risers to our audience. Many of you have been with us from our first concert. You have watched and listened to us grow and explore. We hope you will join us this season, one that will include live streamed performances, recorded concerts, our Georgia tour documentary, and, when safe to do so, in-person seated concerts. To stay up-to-date, follow us on Facebook, visit our website, and continue to watch your inboxes.
Join us in making the choral world a more just and equitable place. The events of this summer shook us deeply, motivating us to explore our own role in perpetuating systemic inequality and racism and moving us to make changes. We are only on the first few steps of this difficult but important journey. We welcome your thoughts as we move forward.
Join us in supporting the Chorale’s season. This will be a season unlike any other, and we are not selling season tickets. However, we are continuing to hold rehearsals, prepare music, and engage with our communities, both near and far. Please consider making a contribution that will ensure we can do what we do best: bring you unique choral music that uplifts the spirit. Any amount helps, and will be immediately put to use.
We are determined to bring our community together through music. During the summer, the members of the chorale collaborated with Kane Media to record “The Farthest Field.” We shared it with singers in rehearsal last night, and now present it to you, our dear friends. Only distance will separate us this season. We will connect, we will sing, and we will make a joyful noise together. Thank you for your support!