We encourage you to join us for this special occasion!

Dan Forrest is one of the most well-known and respected choral composers working today; his music is frequently performed in schools, universities, and churches.

This festival brings Dan to Charlotte for the first time to share his music with singers and enthusiasts from across Charlotte. Choirs, directors, and accompanists will work with Dan on his compositions and also attend masterclasses on topics such as compositional technique, text selection, choral preparation, and others. The event will culminate with a gala concert featuring five choirs performing separately and as a mass ensemble.

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Download a copy of the Schedule of Events here!

Schedule

Friday, January 27, 2023

5:30PM Registration/Check-in
6:00PM Meet the Composer (45 mins)
7:00PM Masterclass rehearsal with Performing Choir #1: Carolina Voices' MainStage Choir
7:30PM Masterclass rehearsal with Performing Choir #2: Women’s Chorus of Charlotte
8:00PM Break
8:15PM Composer Lecture #1 with Q&A
9:00PM Masterclass rehearsal with Performing Choir #3: Queens University Choir‍

Saturday, January 28, 2023

9:30AM Masterclass Rehearsal with Performing Choir #4: Carolina Voices' Festival Singers
10:00AM Select Octavo Rehearsal #1-3 (20 mins each)
11:00AM Break
11:15AM Composer Lecture #2 with Q&A
12:00PM Lunch Break
1:00PM Masterclass rehearsal with Performing Choir #5: Friendship Missionary Baptist Choir
1:45PM Workshop: The Gay Men's Chorus
2:15PM Break
3:15PM Composer Lecture #3 with Q&A
4:00PM Mass Choir Rehearsal (Shalom)
4:30PM Dinner Break
7:30PM Concert featuring 6 performing choirs and Mass Choir 

Performing Choirs & Selected Repertoire:

Carolina Voices' Festival Singers
Light Beyond Shadow
Ubi Caritas

Carolina Voices' MainStage Choir
The Work of Christmas
See Amid the Winter’s Snow

Queens University Choir
Good Night, Dear Heart (Choral Union)
Ban, Ban, Caliban (Chamber Singers)

Women’s Chorus of Charlotte
Boxes
The Sun Never Says

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Choir
How Great Thou Art
TBD

MASS CHOIR (all festival attendees)
Shalom 

Masterclass Lecture Topics to be selected from, but not limited to:

·     The collaborative commissioning process

·     Dan Forrest’s compositional process

·     How Dan chooses a text, what is he looking for?

·     What’s Dan’s theological perspective that permeates his music?

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Unique opportunities

·     Autograph session at Meet the Composer

·     Order music from Beckenhorst Press with 10% festival discount

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Download an 11 x 17 PDF here.