Connecticut Master Chorale

The Connecticut Master Chorale has one more new experience to add to its long list of accomplishments, performing in the United States premiere of Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. This very special all Jenkins concert took place on Martin Luther King Day, January 19, 2009 and also featured the United States premiere of his Te Deum as well as Mr. Jenkins personally conducting the world premiere of his violin concerto Sarikiz.

The Chorale first performed the music of Karl Jenkins in concert in March 2007, and had already scheduled his new Stabat Mater for their March 2009 Concert when they received an invitation from Distinguished Concerts International New York to participate in the Lincoln Center event, conducted by their Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan Griffith. The knowledge that Karl Jenkins would be present at rehearsals helped to make this unique opportunity irresistible to most chorale members.

Tina Johns Heidrich, founder and director of the CMC, enjoyed meeting Karl Jenkins while the chorale was in rehearsal. She was impressed by his humble attitude and observed that “He seemed to light up when I mentioned that I love his music and that we were performing the Stabat Mater in March”.

The concert was very well received by the audience and in his thank you note to the singers Conductor Jonathan Griffith related that Mr. Jenkins’ wife felt that this was the best Stabat Mater of the several performances she has heard.

“The power on stage was so incredibly palpable,” remembers alto Peg Sheehan, “It was an amazing event.” Bass Eric Hudson called the concert “… a great experience. The Sancta Mater segment with that big orchestra, chorus and hall was incredibly powerful.”

“My wife and I were so overwhelmed by the experience,” says tenor David Nicholson “that we listened to the complete CD on the way home.” It is often difficult for the members of the chorale to move on to new and different works after a successful concert, so they are all looking forward to singing this compelling music once again in Connecticut.

Mr. Jenkins was voted most popular living composer for the past five years by listeners on BBC Classical Radio One, and entered Classic FM's Hall of Fame at number 8, the highest position ever for a living composer. Karl Jenkins originally gained attention as a composer of advertising music, twice winning the industry prize for best music, among other awards. Perhaps his most-heard piece of music is the theme used by De Beers diamond merchants for their famous television advertising campaign. He later included it as the title track in a compilation of various works called Diamond Music. His compositions have been used by Levi's, British Airways, Renault, Volvo, C&G, Pepsi and others. Today, Jenkins is probably best known for his classical works, including the Adiemus project. Although composed as a separate piece unrelated to Jenkins' advertising music, ironically, Adiemus was introduced to the American public as the background music to a Delta Airlines commercial.

The Connecticut Master Chorale also performed Jenkins' Stabat Mater at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown on March 8, 2009.