Join Us for the Somerset Hills Chorus Winter Session: Duruflé’s Requiem
A Message from Artistic Director, Stephen Sands
I am still humming all the tunes from our incredible Elizabethan Christmas concert! What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. We are already looking forward to our winter session, which begins on January 13, culminating in a performance of Maurice Duruflé’s transcendent Requiem on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the stunning sanctuary of Morristown Presbyterian Church.
This extraordinary work, blending timeless Gregorian chant with Duruflé’s rich modern harmonies, will transport both singers and listeners alike. Joining us will be acclaimed organist Eric Plutz, whose masterful artistry on the church’s magnificent pipe organ will elevate this masterpiece to breathtaking heights.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to return or to try something new with us, this is it. Whether you are a long-time member or someone who has sung with us in the past, your voice and spirit are essential to making this performance unforgettable.
Rehearsals will begin on January 13 and are held Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church.
Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow musicians and be part of something truly special. Sign up today to secure your spot in this inspiring musical journey!
Sign Up Today
Warmly,
Stephen Sands
Artistic Director
Music in the Somerset Hills
Artistic Director, Stephen Sands
Raise your voice!
Our chorus is open to anyone aged 14 and up, with or without experience, and no audition is necessary to participate. The Somerset Hills Chorus is part of Music in the Somerset Hills (MISH), a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide musical experiences of the highest quality to people who live and work in the Somerset Hills and the surrounding communities. Developed to help all music enthusiasts become better singers in a supportive yet challenging environment, every effort is made to ensure everyone is comfortable with the music.
For each performance cycle, we kindly ask that participants make a suggested donation to MISH of $200. This contribution to our 501(c)(3) organization helps offset the costs of section leaders, rehearsal accompanists, sheet music, space rentals, professional instrumentalists, and production. Chorus members are also expected to actively participate in promoting our concerts to family, friends, and organizations in the area. Students between the ages of 14–22 may participate for no donation but are encouraged to offer tickets to family and friends whenever possible.
Sign up to sing with the Somerset Hills Chorus in the monumental Duruflé Requiem!
About our Chorus
The Somerset Hills Chorus (SHC) was developed to help all those who love to sing become better musicians in a supportive yet challenging environment. Open to anyone aged 14 and up, with or without experience, our model enables local amateur singers to perform extraordinary repertoire alongside more seasoned professionals in fine venues within and around the Somerset Hills region of New Jersey. Led by Maestro Stephen Sands, the SHC has given a number of concerts throughout the years, including the Vivaldi Gloria; two major works by Handel – Semele and Messiah; a centenary concert of works by Benjamin Britten; a jazz concert of works by George Shearing; the Fauré Requiem; Bach’s St. John Passion, as well as his Magnificat; Mozart’s Requiem; Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy; Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony; and James Whitbourn’s Annelies.
An Elizabethan Christmas - December 7, 2024, at S.W. Bowne Hall of Drew University.
Annelies - June 10, 2023, at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, NJ.
Annelies - June 11, 2023, at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, NJ.
The Somerset Hills Chorus, Westminster Community Choir, & The LOTUS Project performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the NJ Capital Philharmonic Orchestra, October 2022.