VOICES UNITED
Voices United is an annual musical gathering of sacred music open to all singers from all walks of life, aged high school through retirement. There is no audition. Registered singers participate in preliminary rehearsals, followed by a two-day workshop with a guest clinician and conductor, capped by an evening concert in conjunction with the Manassas Chorale. 2024 will be our 24th year of Voices United!
Our guest clinician and conductor for 2024 is Dr Anton Armstrong (biography below).
REGISTRATION
Registration for Voices United 2024 is now open!
Pre-registration is highly recommended, but you may also bring your registration and payment to one of the preliminary rehearsals.
COST: $60
LIMIT: 150 SINGERS
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 26
TO REGISTER:
Online Registration – CLICK HERE
(Online registrants: You will be emailed a separate health screening form.)
Hardcopy Registration Form – CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD:
Online Registration Payment – Use the form below to pay online.
TO PAY BY CHECK:
Make check out to Manassas Chorale with “Voices United” in the memo line, and mail to:
Manassas Chorale
PO Box 101
Manassas VA 20108
REHEARSALS
Singers MUST attend at least three out of seven rehearsals (more are encouraged, but optional) to be eligible to participate in the workshop and concert. All rehearsals will be held in Weston Hall at Manassas Baptist Church.
Rehearsal schedule for 2024:
Sunday Feb 11, 2:30-4:30 PM
Saturday Feb 17, 9:00-11:00 AM
Sunday Feb 18, 2:30-4:30 PM
Sunday Feb 25, 2:30-4:30 PM
Saturday Mar 2, 9:00-11:00 AM
Sunday Mar 3, 2:30-4:30 PM
Saturday Mar 9, 9:00-11:00 AM
Sunday Mar 10, 2:30-4:30 PM (makeup, only if needed)
WORKSHOP
Friday March 15, 7:00 PM – 9:15 PM (check-in begins at 6:30 PM)
Saturday March 16, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The workshop will take place at Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Rd. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring a mask if preferred, your music, pencil for marking music, and a water bottle. Snacks will be provided. Please do not wear perfume/cologne or scented body lotions; some singers may have allergies.
CONCERT
The Voices United Concert will be held Saturday March 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Singers will have a dress rehearsal prior to the concert (call time 6:00 PM). The Manassas Chorale will perform the first half of the concert, followed by the Voices United Festival Choir. The two choirs will combine for a final number directed by the guest clinician. The concert is open to the public. Tickets are available via the Hylton Box Office. Registered singers do NOT need a ticket
ATTIRE
Manassas Chorale members will wear their concert attire. Singers in the Voices United Workshop Choir only will wear the following:
Men: dark trousers, necktie and jacket (preferably black) and white dress shirt OR black tuxedo with white shirt and black bow tie; black shoes and socks.
Women: long black skirt and black long-sleeve dressy blouse OR long black dress with long sleeves; black hose and black shoes. Simple earrings are acceptable, no dangling or large hoops; no necklaces, bracelets, or brooches.
Each singer will also need a black performance folder. Masks (if preferred) must be black.
ABOUT OUR GUEST CLINICIAN
The 2023-24 season is Anton Armstrong’s 34th year as Conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, marking him as the longest tenured conductor in the ensemble’s storied 112 year history. He is the Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College, becoming the fourth conductor of the St. Olaf Choir in 1990 after ten years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served on the faculty of Calvin University and led the Calvin Alumni Choir, Calvin Campus Choir, the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and the St. Cecilia Youth Chorale. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and earned advanced degrees at the University of Illinois (MM) and Michigan State University (DMA). He is editor of a multicultural choral series for Earthsongs Publications and co-editor (with John Ferguson) of the revised St. Olaf Choral Series for Augsburg Fortress Publishers. In June 1998, he began his tenure as founding conductor of the Oregon Bach Festival Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy. Dr. Armstrong currently serves as Chair of the National Board of Chorus America and has returned to serve on the National Board of The Choristers Guild.
During the 2023-24 season Anton Armstrong will lead choral festivals at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY and Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville, TN. He will also serve as a guest lecturer and clinician at the University of Illinois, Duke University and Baylor University. In October 2023, he will return as President of the Jury of the Busan International Choral Festival in Busan, South Korea. Additional guest conducting appearances will take place in Charlotte, NC, Nashville, TN, Santa Fe, NM, and Manassas, VA. In June 2024 he will lead the St. Olaf Choir on their first tour to South Africa.