Voices United
ABOUT 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 will open in January 2024.
Pre-registration is highly recommended, but you may also bring your registration and payment to one of the preliminary rehearsals.
TO REGISTER:
Online Registration – not yet available
Hardcopy Registration Form – not yet available
TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD:
Online Registration Payment – not yet available
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:
TBD
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 Manassas Baptist Church. 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
Our 2024 Voices United Festival Choir clinician is Dr Anton Armstrong. Dr Armstrong is the Tosdal Professor of Music at St Olaf College and the conductor of the St Olaf Choir in Minnesota. He is committed to sharing the experience of making truly beautiful choral art with others, and his work has influenced thousands of singers. He leads choral workshops and festivals throughout the world and is a frequent guest conductor of choirs with singers ranging in age from young children to senior-aged choristers.