Zenith Ensemble, the new professional vocal ensemble based in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, is excited to present a tour-de-force performance by five singers and six instrumentalists on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at St. Bernard Church, Main Street, Keene.
This concert brings two gems of the baroque period to New Hampshire and Vermont in its third season: Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude, two pieces renowned for their virtuosity and beauty. Five Zenith singers, hailing from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts will sing the fiery, passionate, and soulful music that showcases some of the best pieces of the baroque period’s quintessential composers of vocal music, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. As part of Zenith’s mission to collaborate with local musicians wherever possible, the Keene performance will feature the Keene State Chamber Singers, (Sandra Howard, director).
The co-founders of the group, conductor and baritone Matthew Leese (NH) and soprano Nacole Palmer (ME), believe that great music should be available to everyone.
“I believe that exquisite music shouldn’t just be for the wealthiest members of society, or for people in major cities like New York, Boston, and San Francisco,” Palmer said.
The group’s leaders intend for their concerts to be completely accessible. “By making our tickets pay-what-you-can and forming meaningful collaborations with young musicians for each of our projects, we hope to enrich the cultural offerings within our communities in a way that is inclusive of everyone who wants to be a part of the high level of music making the Zenith embodies,” Leese said.
Founded on the belief that everyone deserves to have access to great music, Zenith strives to embody deep community values both musically and culturally.
Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $25.
To reserve tickets, visit www.zenithensemble.com/events.