Harvest Cabaret

Friday, October 25th 2019 at 7pm 

Kick off our 50th season with a night of music, food and shopping! We are thrilled to bring our ever-popular Cabaret night back, co-hosted by Grace Church’s outreach program. Local performers will delight you with the standards you love paired with heavy appetizers, desserts and beverages. In addition to the music, there will be a wide variety of silent auction items that will benefit Grace Church’s community outreach programs.

​Tickets include food and one drink; cash bar available. In advance (online and in church office): Adults/Seniors $25 ea.; Family ticket $65 (two adults plus any children).

​At the door: Adults/Seniors $30 ea.; Family ticket $75 (two adults plus any children). 

Revelation 

Sunday, November 17 2019 at 4pm

The Grace Church Choir, led by Choirmaster & Organist Brandon Beachamp, presents Revelation — a program of music that explores themes of transformation, time and eternity. In addition to choral and organ pieces, the concert will feature cellist Evelyn Wadkins performing “Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus” from Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. A meet-the-artists reception follows this concert. 

Brandon Beachamp

Choirmaster & Organist 

Bio
Brandon Beachamp was appointed Organist-Choirmaster of Grace Episcopal Church in January 2014 after serving as interim since the summer of 2012.  Prior to his coming to Nyack, Brandon worked at several prominent churches as Interim Director of Music including Trinity Episcopal in Southport, Conn., and Christ’s Church (Episcopal) in Rye, New York.  Brandon received his Bachelor of Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College and has served as organist and choir director in a variety of capacities and settings in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta, and the New York City area. ​​​

As a conductor, Brandon has enjoyed working with young people in both religious and educational settings.  While in the Twin Cities, he was the Choir School Director at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church. Upon his moving to Atlanta in 2005, Brandon worked as the Choral Director and Middle School music teacher at the Atlanta International School.  In addition to his playing and conducting experience, Brandon has remained active as a choral singer, notably as a regular guest with the choir of men and boys at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue (New York). 
In 2013, Brandon completed his studies at Teachers College, Columbia University.  A graduate of the Counseling and Clinical Psychology department, he holds an M.A. and M.Ed. in Psychological Counseling and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) New York State.


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Evelyn Wadkins 

Cellist

Bio
Evelyn Wadkins is an active performer and ardent supporter of new music. As a young cellist, Evelyn had multiple opportunities to work with and perform music of living composers, including a concerto written for her by Marti Epstein in 1994. Solo appearances include SUNY Fredonia’s Ethos New Music Festival and Composers Now at El Museo del Barrio. Orchestral festivals include Lucerne Academy Festival with Pierre Boulez, Bang on a Can Marathon, Pacific Music Festival with Riccardo Muti, and June in Buffalo. Evelyn performed with TRANSIT in the Wild Shore Festival for New Music in Homer, AK and in Copenhagen, Denmark for the 2013 Night of Culture. Evelyn’s playing can be heard on the soundtrack of the feature length documentary Memories of a Penitent Heart, which premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.
A co-founder of TRANSIT, Evelyn regularly premieres pieces by emerging composers. In addition to her dedication to new music, Evelyn’s eclectic freelance work has included performances at venues across New York City including Le Poisson Rouge, Issue Project Room, Galapagos Art Space, Zankel Hall, Bargemusic, Radio City Music Hall, and for Broadway shows. Evelyn holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and SUNY Purchase. In addition to her private studio, Evelyn teaches at the Hudson River School of Music and Concordia Conservatory.
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Cleveland Kersh

Organist & Pianist

Bio 
​Cleveland Kersh has an active and varied career in both music and the healing arts.  He currently serves as the organist and director of music at Holy Trinity (Episcopal) on Manhattan's Upper East Side, as well as practicing massage therapy and private health and wellness counseling in the greater New York area.  In addition, he has recently completed a graduate degree in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, seeking to bridge the gap between alternative and mainstream systems of medicine.
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Messiah Sing

Sunday, December 8th 2019 at 4pm  
Usher in the holiday season with this beloved Nyack tradition. Whether you love to sing or love to lis-ten, Handel’s Messiah is sure to get you in the spirit. And to top off the afternoon, we’ll conclude with some caroling, festive cookies and cider! Admission is free for children, $10 for everyone else.

​Bring your own score—there is a limited supply available to borrow. 

Conservatory Strings

Sunday, Febuary 23, 2020 at 4pm
Our neighbors across the river at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music will treat us to a celebratory string quartet concert of classical and contemporary chamber music especially pre- pared for our 50th season. A meet-the- artists reception follows this concert. 

Chilcott St. John Passion

Sunday, April 5th, 2020 at 4pm 

Inspired by Bach’s masterful choral Passions, the Grace Church Choir presents Bob Chilcott’s setting of the St. John Passion. The 55-minute work incorporates 13th- and 17th-century poetry alongside the traditional King James Bible text. Offered on Palm Sunday afternoon, this dramatic yet optimistic retelling of the 'Passiontide' story is a perfect way to mark the beginning of Holy Week.

Brandon Beachamp directs the choir, soloists, orchestra and organ in what has been described by one listener as “the most moving musical experience of a lifetime.” A meet- the-artists reception follows this concert. 

Grace Choir

Bio 
Founded in 1886 as a vested choir of men and boys, the Grace Church Choir quickly rose to a high standard of musical excellence. The present Grace Church Choir consists of dedicated men and women with wide ranging choral experience. The choir’s repertoire spans the Renaissance to the Romantic eras and also includes music by contemporary composers who exemplify the breadth and diversity of the Anglican choral tradition.

Grace Church Choir’s primary role is liturgical: providing music for the 11:00am Holy Eucharist and Feast Days as well as monthly Choral Evensong. Additionally the choir offers a concert on the GraceMusic concert series.
Info to join

Brandon Beachamp, Conductor

Bio
Brandon Beachamp was appointed Organist-Choirmaster of Grace Episcopal Church in January 2014 after serving as interim since the summer of 2012.  Prior to his coming to Nyack, Brandon worked at several prominent churches as Interim Director of Music including Trinity Episcopal in Southport, Conn., and Christ’s Church (Episcopal) in Rye, New York.  Brandon received his Bachelor of Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College and has served as organist and choir director in a variety of capacities and settings in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta, and the New York City area. ​​​
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Bob Chilcott, Composer

St. John Passion
Chilcott’s mighty setting of words from St John’s Gospel is a dramatic yet optimistic retelling of the Passiontide story. The work combines thirteenth- and seventeenth-century English poetry with texts from the King James Bible and, as with Bach’s great Passion settings, the role of the Evangelist is taken by the tenor soloist, who provides a melodious narrative throughout. Including five well-known hymn texts set to new, original melodies, the work further confirms Chilcott’s status as one of the world’s most popular active choral composers.

​More info HERE
Bio
Described by the Observer newspaper as ‘a contemporary hero of British choral music’, Bob Chilcott has grown up immersed in the choral tradition of his country. He grew up as a chorister and choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and after singing professionally in London and also as a member of the vocal group the King’s Singers for a number of years, he became a full-time composer in 1997. He has embraced his career with energy and commitment, not only producing a large catalogue of music for all types of choirs, but also working with singers and choirs in more than 30 countries.

Imperial Brass

Sunday, May 17th 2020 at 4pm

Founded in 1991, Imperial Brass is known for its wide-ranging rep- ertoire: brass band classics, contemporary works, classical ar- rangements, music from Broadway, popular selections, and the op- portunity to perform with world class soloists. Conductor Ronald Waiksnoris leads the nearly thirty-member group in the final concert of our 50th season. A meet-the-artists reception follows this concert.