New Jersey Choral Artists (Bridgewater Community Choir) First Rehearsal/Open House

Enjoy a low-pressure night of singing and come see what we're all about!

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Bridgewater, NJ, March 10, 2014 — After eight years of teaching choral music at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, Choral Director John Wilson has decided that it’s time to get adults involved in the kind of music-making that has brought his program so much acclaim.  During his tenure at BRHS, Mr. Wilson’s choirs have performed locally at area churches, as well as at university choral festivals, Carnegie Hall (twice), and, in addition, his “Glee Club” has even appeared on the Rachel Ray Show.  BRHS choirs often receive the highest honors at competitions.  

After graduating almost a decade’s worth of students, Mr. Wilson has determined that many of these individuals have returned to the Bridgewater area and are ready to start singing again. There are also many choir parents who have expressed an interest in learning from the teacher their child talks about at the dinner table.

“I’ve been attending concerts since John was in his first year of teaching and have always been amazed at the quality he is able to produce at the high-school-level,” explains Ryan Guth, fellow choral director and owner of VoiceWorks, which holds weekly music and theatre classes at Martinsville United Methodist Church. “The benefits of singing in a choir are often overlooked these days, as many feel that they are ‘far too busy’ for group activities, but the level of humanity you experience when you join your voice with like-minded individuals is surreal. There is nothing like it!” Guth continued.

Mr. Wilson explains, “I think it’s essential for singers to be able to perform not only familiar songs, staples of our American heritage, and holiday favorites, as you would likely hear many choirs sing, but it’s also incredibly important for singers to have a chance to sing the great works of choral repertoire — like an oratorio by Handel or a Bach Cantata or even Mozart’s Requiem.”

“I am sure that the New Jersey Choral Artists will achieve it’s mission: The purpose of the New Jersey Choral Artists is to perform large choral works and other excellent choral pieces with energy, passion, and purpose,” Wilson adds.  “We believe choral music has the power to transform performers and audience members. It is our intention to create the highest quality performances for audiences in Bridgewater and around New Jersey.”

The New Jersey Choral Artists is a new project of Ryan Guth’s company VoiceWorks.  “Unlike many community choirs, the NJCA is not a non-profit,” Guth explains.  “The idea behind this structure is to maintain mutual accountability between the choir and its leadership, as well as develop a system that is artistically reflective of the director, is non-political, and is capable of responsibly reinvesting its profit to make the choir stronger.”

If interested in signing up to sing with New Jersey Choral Artists, VoiceWorks is offering a charter member discount on dues for those that join in their inaugural semester.  The price, normally $49/month, will be reduced to $34/month for life.  As long as they remain a consistent member in good standing, their rate will never increase.

VoiceWorks was founded in 2009 by Ryan Guth, choral director at Marlboro Memorial Middle School, to meet a demand by parents of MMMS alumni to create more high quality musical experiences for the high-school-aged student. Since then, VoiceWorks has become an ongoing and constantly improving project whose mission is to continue to bring unique, fun, exciting, rewarding and memorable experiences in music & musical theatre to as many as possible, while never sacrificing in quality of education. VoiceWorks stresses the importance of professionalism, humility, and camaraderie in all of its programs.

To sign up to receive more information, visit www.bridgewaterchoir.com and fill out the contact form, and a member of the VoiceWorks team will contact you. You may also choose to email Mr. Wilson directly at jwilson@brrsd.k12.nj.us, or call Ryan Guth at VoiceWorks at (908) 248-4884 (opt 2).