Featured Image: Charter Arts’ combined choirs will perform at this year’s Winter Vocal Concert.
BETHLEHEM, PA—– The award-winning music department of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) will hold its
annual Winter Concert Series in December. This popular concert series impresses audiences each year with stunning performances featuring more than 150 student vocalists and musicians.
David Macbeth and Neil Chaban will lead the department’s Winter Choral
Concert with performances on December 10th and 11th at 7pm. This year’s concert will feature performances by the Charter Arts Touring Choir and Treble Choir as well as combined performances of, “From Earth to Heaven,” by Craig Courtney and Cantata BWV 36 by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The Winter Instrumental Concert, led by Matthew Wells, on December 14th at 7pm will highlight the incredible work of the Charter Arts Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. The Wind Ensemble will perform a three movement work, “Minnesota Portraits,” by Sam Hazo. Orchestra will perform, “Cossack Dance,” by Tchaikovsky and holiday music made famous by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Percussion Ensemble will also be performing, “Two Preludes for Mallet Sextet.”
All concerts will take place in the grand Charter Arts Theatre, located on the school’s campus at 321 East 3rd Street, Bethlehem. Tickets for the concerts are $5-$13. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at www.CharterArts.org or at the door, if not sold out.
ABOUT THE CHARTER ARTS MUSIC DEPARTMENT:
The Charter Arts Music Department continues its legacy of excellence as it accrues many accolades and awards. The Charter Arts music department was the recipient of the Board of Directors Award at the 2016 Lehigh Valley Music Awards. The department’s work also led Charter Arts to be named as one of only 119 schools in the nation to quality as a 2016 Grammy Signature School Semi-Finalist.
The Charter Arts Touring Choir earned a gold medal at the 2012 World Choir Games, which was the highest award for a high school choir at this prestigious international event. The choir has performed to sold-out crowds in the region as well as gracing the stage alongside such acts as the pop group, Paramore; the operatic quartet, The Tenors; and the legendary rock group, Foreigner. In addition, the school’s various instrumental ensembles and individual performers earn many awards at competitions such as the PMEA vocal, orchestra and band competitions; and are often invited to perform with many great artists… for example, the Charter Arts Advanced Jazz Ensemble has opened for great acts such as Julliard Jazz and Kamasi Washington.
Students who major in instrumental or vocal music at Charter Arts, experience a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, which includes a wide range of classical and jazz studies. The course catalog consists of more than sixty courses that focus on ensemble work, improvisation and individual technique. Students are required to complete courses in music history, four years of music theory, four years of technique classes and a variety of music electives that include: conducting, composition and arranging, or vocal techniques in such genres as opera, German Lied or Italian Song, to name a few.
ABOUT THE LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS (Charter Arts)
Charter Arts, opened in 2003, is an audition-based, tuition-free, public charter school that provides a comprehensive curriculum for high school students, grades 9-12, who have a passion for the arts. Students major in one of eight artistic areas: dance, theatre, vocal music, instrumental music, literary arts, figure skating, production design, or visual art.
Charter Arts’ rigorous curriculum fosters both academic and artistic excellence for its students. The school’s impressive Future Ready PA Index ranking, Adanced Placement (AP) exam statistics, Keystone exam statistics, SAT scores, prestigious artistic accolades, and graduation rate are a testament to the outstanding education Charter Arts provides.
Charter Arts was one of only 349 schools in the nation to be named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, Charter Arts earned a Silver Award for its impressive ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best High Schools for the Arts in America list.
Charter Arts is proud to celebrate its sixteenth year as one of the most respected high schools for the arts in the nation.
Charter Arts is located at 321 East 3rd Street, Bethlehem PA 18015.
For more information about Charter Arts, visit: www.CharterArts.org or call 610-868-2971.
Information & Image Provided By:
Ann Gillette
Manager of Public Relations and Media
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
321 East 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
www.CharterArts.org
