Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin

505 6th Street
Racine, WI 53403

Phone: 262-634-3250
Fax: 262-634-9029

E-mail: info@choralartsonline.org

“Hearing Is Believing!”

Welcome to the official web site of the Choral Arts Society. We hope that you will enjoy looking over the offerings for our 22^nd season. We are proud to say that the CAS is presenting some of the most interesting, diverse and exciting music in Wisconsin as we continue into our third decade of presenting quality choral music to our community and to our region. As it says in our marketing materials this year, “Hearing Is Believing!”

Our first program features a presentation fit for the first holiday of the fall season. The CAS teams up with local composer and CAS singer, Karel Suchy and Murnau’s treasured 1922 silent movie, Nosferatu, to create an unforgettable theatrical event. Suchy’s original tone poem, featuring the CAS, will accompany this ground-breaking movie. The film will be shown in the Great Hall of the DeKoven Foundation - Racine’s most interesting European style mead hall. Take advantage of one of the three times this world premiere will be presented on this Halloween weekend. Come experience this unique and original Halloween treat.

Our second program will be our annual presentation of Holiday Lessons & Carols. The CAS returns to historic St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in its newly restored sanctuary. This year our collaborating artists will be the choir of the Fine Arts School under the direction of Lynn Orlando. Together with local instrumentalists we will joyously sing the sounds of the season. Come and hear a tantalizing variety some of your favorite carols, multi-cultural selections, enchanting new compositions as well as holiday classics. The voices of young and old will fill the room with holiday cheer. Be prepared for a very special guest to join us as we ring in the holiday season.

The CAS and the Racine Symphony Orchestra have shared a twenty-two year history of presenting the best symphonic literature in some of the most beautiful settings in Racine. Join two of Racine's premiere arts organizations, the Racine Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society, as we present works by Bach, Mendelssohn and Mozart. The CAS will be featured in J.S. Bach’s fourth cantata; “Christ Lag in Todesbanden; Christ Lay in Death’s Strong Bands.” This cantata brings the drama of the passion and resurrection to life as Europe’s most famous liturgical composer weaves his beautiful melodies, breathtaking chorales and powerful fugues to paint a musical picture of death and its transformation into new life. Works by Mozart and Mendelssohn will complete this classic collaboration.

The CAS season grand finale is being done in collaboration with the award winning folk duo, Scott & Michelle Dalziel. Join us as we focus on folk with two of the Midwest’s most engaging artists. In 2008 the Scott & Michelle had two top 25 hits. Their evocative lyrics and breath-taking ensemble transports listeners to the magic place that only great artists take one. Michelle’s expressive, melodic voice and Scott’s virtuosic guitar playing will make this one of Racine’s “must see” concert events of the year. They join the CAS in performing their award-winning songs with new choral arrangements done by Gregory Berg.  Come and be delighted by the Dalziels' current hits along with renditions of folk songs by the CAS.

Musically Yours,

James A. Schatzman, Conductor & Artistic Director

Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin