Daniel Narducci, Baltimore Choral Arts Society and the Anacrusis Handbell Ensemble join the BSO SuperPops for a Holiday Pops Celebration

Tom Hall and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society

The Baltimore Choral Arts Society, now in its 46th season, is one of Maryland's premier cultural institutions. The Symphonic Chorus, Full Chorus, Orchestra and Chamber Chorus perform throughout the mid-Atlantic region, as well as in Washington, DC, New York and Europe.

For the past 15 years, WMAR Television has featured Choral Arts in an hour-long special, “Christmas with Choral Arts,” which won an Emmy in 2006. Mr. Hall and the chorus were also featured in a PBS documentary called “Jews and Christians: A Journey of Faith,” broadcast nationwide and on National Public Radio in 2001. On local radio, Mr. Hall is the host of “Choral Arts Classics,” a monthly program on WYPR that features the Choral Arts Chorus and Orchestra and he is the Culture Editor on WYPR’s “Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast.”

Baltimore Choral Arts’ latest CD is “Christmas at America's First Cathedral,” released in 2010. A recording with Dave Brubeck, featuring Brubeck’s oratorio, "The Gates of Justice," was released internationally in 2004. Mr. Hall produced “Let Freedom Ring!,” a highly successful recording featuring the Washington Men’s Camerata, as well the soundtracks for “Legends” on The Learning Channel.

Acclaimed artists collaborating with Choral Arts have included Chanticleer, Dave Brubeck, the King’s Singers, Peter Schickele, Sweet Honey in the Rock and many others.

Tom Hall is one of the most highly regarded performers in choral music today. Appointed Music Director in 1982, he has added more than 100 new works to the BCAS repertoire and he has premiered works by many contemporary composers, including Peter Schickele, Libby Larsen, Robert Sirota and Rosephanye Dunn Powell.

Mr. Hall is also active as a guest conductor, including appearances with the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston, the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, Musica Sacra in New York and Britten Sinfonia in Canterbury, England. Mr. Hall has prepared choruses for Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, and served for 10 years as the Chorus Master of the Baltimore Opera Company.

Anacrusis Handbell Ensemble

Anacrusis is a professional handbell organization consisting of 8 musicians that specialize in small ensemble work. Located in the Chesapeake Bay Area of Maryland, the ensemble is extremely versatile, with the ability to perform handbell quintets, quartets, trios and duets, with optional accompaniment by harp, keyboards, and percussion instruments. They have been featured as performers and instructors at handbell conferences in the Mid-Atlantic region. Anacrusis's repertoire encompasses a wide variety of music, including Classical, Popular, Sacred, and music that is just plain fun.

More Articles by This Author...