By Mary Richardson

The 47th season of the Louisiana Choral Foundation will open with a fall concert by the Masterworks Chorale entitled “Eternal Joy and Peace.” The performance will take place twice — first on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. Both concerts will be held in the newly renovated sanctuary of the University United Methodist Church, 3501 Patrick St.

Tickets are available at the door for $15, or with a season membership. Children and students in middle school through college are admitted free with school ID.

The highlight of the fall concert will be John Rutter’s Requiem. Soloists for the work will be Molly Jones and Kathleen Evans. The work will be accompanied by a small instrumental consort consisting of Judy Hand, flute; Beverly Jones, oboe; Luke Pacetti, timpani; Abby Labrie, glockenspiel; Thomas Schroeder, cello; Mary Etherton, playing the harp part on keyboard; and HaeJu Choi, organ.

This requiem differs from a traditional Catholic mass in that it incorporates Rutter’s personal selection of texts. He chose well-known liturgy from theEpiscopalian Book of Common Prayer, from the Psalms, and from Missa pro defunctis (Mass of the Dead). Rutter, reflecting on his composition,  wrote that he wanted it to be “intimate rather than grandiose, contemplative and lyrical rather than dramatic, and ultimately moving towards light rather than darkness – the ‘lux aeterna’ of the closing text.”

The program will also include a section of works by Henry Purcell, including “Sound the Trumpet,” and “Come, Ye Sons of Art,” which will be accompanied by Beverly Jones on oboe, David Scott on trumpet, and Thomas Schroeder on cello.

The works by Purcell will be followed by two anthems: “Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences,” and “Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts.”

The 2024-25 season will consist of three concerts — the fall concert, a Christmas concert and a spring concert, plus a concert by the children’s choir, Les Petites Voix. Dr. Darryl Jones is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Masterworks Chorale, and Mary Etherton is the accompanist. Kari Proksch is the Artistic Director of Les Petites Voix, and Annette Larson is the Assistant Artistic Director and Accompanist.

The annual Christmas Concerts will be held on December 13 at the First United Methodist Church, and on December 15 at the Sulphur Immaculate Conception Church. These concerts will feature the major work “Gloria” by Texas composer Randol Bass. As has been the tradition for many years, Les Petites Voix and the Bayou Bell Choir will join the Masterworks Chorale for the closing arrangement of “O Holy Night.”

The spring concerts will be held on April 11 and 13 at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. These concerts will feature two major works – “Missa Kenya” by Paul Basler, featuring Rod Lauderdale as horn soloist, and ”A Vision Unfolding” by Kyle Pederson, which will be accompanied by violin, trumpet and snare drum.

Membership levels for a season pass range from $36 to $1000.

Membership information is available by emailing LCF at la2choral6@gmail.com, and also on the group’s Facebook page and website, www.lachoral.org. The website includes a QR code for easy payment.