Winter Concert Series at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts will feature performance of John Rutter’s Magnificat

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.

David Macbeth, Director of Vocal Music, will lead his department’s Winter Choral Concert on December 11 and 12 at 7pm.  This year’s concert will feature a mix of choral music performed by the school’s various choirs (9/10 Choir, 11/12 Choir, Treble Choir and the Touring Choir), who will also perform John Rutter’s Magnificat.  The students will actually have the chance to work with Rutter himself at Carnegie Hall in May.

The series will conclude with the Winter Instrumental Concert, led by Matthew Wells, on December 15 at 7pm.  This performance will highlight the incredible work of the Charter Arts Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble.

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 range from $8-$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, and will be returning to compete again this year.  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 like 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.

Charter Arts is located at 321 East 3^rd Street, Bethlehem PA 18015.

For more information about Charter Arts, visit:  www.CharterArts.org or call 610-868-2971.