Southwest Florida Symphony sets Stained Glass series

COURTESY PHOTO Associate Director and Director of Choruses Joseph Caulkins Celebrating its 6th season, the Southwest Florida Symphony Stained Glass Series continues to bring an array of uplifting and joyful music throughout Lee County. Directed by Associate Director and Director of Choruses Joseph Caulkins, these three very talented groups - the Symphony Chorus, the Chamber Chorus and the Children's Chorus - will enchant audiences as they perform a wide range of programs throughout the season.

Sounds of rejoicing fill the air as the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus and Chamber Orchestra perform selections from Handel's immortal Messiah and Vivaldi's Gloria Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Estero United Methodist Church and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cape Coral. Soloists will include Jennifer Paulino, soprano; Kathleen Sonnentag, mezzo soprano; and Neil Nelson, baritone.

Favorite hymns, folk songs and rousing spirituals illuminate the richness of the great American musical experience in How Sweet The Sound. The concert features the works of Fort Myers Beach resident and acclaimed composer and pianist William Dawson. Dawson is the Florida State Music Teachers Association Composer of the Year and is being commissioned by the Symphony to compose the opening piece for the concert. Other special guests include the Symphony Chorus, Children's Chorus and Michael Helman, organist. Dawson's works, as well as the works of Clausen, Hayes, Rutter, and Alice Parker will be performed. The Saturday performance will take place Feb. 9 at The Village Church at Shell Point. The Sunday Feb. 10 performance will take place at Chapel by the Sea on Fort Myers Beach.

Eternal Light offers a moving program of English and Latin texts celebrating the reassurance and hope of everlasting life. Featuring the Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Chorus, this program will take place April 20 at Riverside Church in Fort Myers. The program will include Rutter's beautiful Requiem, Lauridsen's O Nata Lux, and Elgar's a cappella setting of the orchestral piece Nimrod from his Enigma Variations.

The final concert of the series, Children of Hope, features the talented Children's Chorus and celebrates the power of children and the power of music to make a difference in the world. Newly appointed Children's Chorus Director Catherine Truesdale will conduct this concert on May 11 at Cypress Lake United Methodist Church in Fort Myers at 3 pm.

Series subscriptions for all four Stained Glass Choral Concerts are still available. Call the Symphony Box Office at 418-1500.