Kona Choral Society, under the direction of Artistic Director Susan McCreary Duprey, presents its spring concert, “Beyond Borders,” Sunday, May 15, in Keauhou.
The 90-plus-voice chorus, along with vocal soloist and instrumental ensemble will present the concert with an international and multicultural flavor at 4 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay. As concert-goers arrive they will be serenaded by the Kona Youth Chorus.
Included will be gospel songs, Japanese melodies, an“Americana” medley and Bob Chilcott’s “A Little Jazz Mass,” the chorus’ most-challenging piece, featuring solo vocalist Binti Bailey, percussionist Sharon Cannon, string bassist Delphina Dorrance, electric bassist Jason Stith and Gloria Juan on keyboard performing jazz accompaniment.
The concert’s musical arrangements are atypical of classical music lineups, but still hold roots in traditional master works, and will feature jazz, gospel, and traditional and contemporary Japanese music. Artistic director Susan McCreary Duprey broke down barriers for this concert, opening up the dialogue on what can be considered for live choral performance.
“We’re pushing musical boundaries. We’re doing something new, something fun, while pushing our own self limitations,” Duprey explained of the performance’s collection of songs. The title of the concert is not only apropos of the musical growth, but also fittingly appropriate for the group’s upcoming choral tour to Japan.
The concert theme, “Beyond Borders,” was created in part because, in June, members of KCS will join Oahu’s Windward Choral Society on a tour to Japan. There, they will present this same repertoire to audiences in Kyoto on June 23 and Tokyo on June 25.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” Duprey said. “It’s such as wonderful experience to share music and see similarities within the personalities of choral singers across cultures.”
Tickets can be purchased at Kona Bay Books, Kona Stories, online at www.konachoralsociety.org, or at the door.
Info: www.konachoralsociety.org, 334-9880. ■