Sunday, May 23 at 4:30 p.m. (First Congregational Church of Fairfield)

Missa Brevis by Zoltán Kodály; works by Pēteris Vasks, Arvo Pärt, and Franz Liszt

Organ virtuoso Andrew Henderson once again joins the Fairfield County Chorale for an intimate afternoon concert combining the Missa Brevis of Kodaly (1942-44), works by contemporary composers Pēteris Vasks and Arvo Pärt, and lesser-known choral works of Franz Liszt. All of these composers have looked to the heritage of their national folk music for inspiration. The Missa Brevis was composed and first performed while Kodály was in hiding from the Nazis, and carries a strong message of peace in a composition with wide-ranging musical references (Gregorian chant, Bach, Hungarian folk music, Liszt’s Organ Mass). Vasks’ works also nod to folk music and are known for their stunning, ethereal harmony, while ranging from delicate, lyrical passages to intense dissonance and somber intensity. Pärt’s works are becoming beloved “standards” of the choral repertoire. Liszt choral works are less often performed than his orchestral and piano compositions, but during his lifetime they were popular with the German singing societies that were then in vogue. This is a concert that will bring the transcendent joy of choral singing together with the awe that is inspired by the finest organ performances.

Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Messa da Requiem, by Giusseppe Verdi

A towering masterpiece of the choral repertoire, Verdi’s Requiem was composed in 1874 to honor the Italian writer and poet Alessandro Manzoni and fuses the explosive, theatrical drama of Verdi’s operas with the solemnity of the Catholic funeral mass.  This is the second concert of our two-year collaboration with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, and will include a choral collaboration with the singers of the Stamford Chorale. We are thrilled to welcome as soloists the renowned soprano, Kathryn Lewek, and tenor Zach Borichevsky.

Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Saint Nicolas, Op. 42, by Benjamin Britten
British Christmas songs and carols

A cantata on a text by Eric Crozier, Saint Nicolas was completed by Britten in 1948. It covers the life of Saint Nicolas, Bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern-day Turkey) in a dramatic sequence of events. Staging by Malena Dayen; featuring young singers from the Norwalk High School Chamber Chorus and the Fairfield County Children’s Choir; and including audience participation. The delightful Saint Nicolas will be combined with other British works for the Christmas season, including traditional carols and modern works inspired and inflected by British folk traditions.

Our Silent Auction is LIVE!

View our auction items and place your bids now!

Align your business with one of Fairfield County’s premier arts organizations!This season, take advantage of program sponsorship opportunities for our December and March concerts. Additional sponsorships for our 2026 collaboration with the Norwalk Symphony will be announced soon—stay tuned! Any questions, please contact Jennifer Romano at Ads @ fairfieldcountychorale.org For more information, visit our Sponsors […]

Join the Fairfield County Chorale as we kick off our 2025/26 season with our annual September Sing. “If you love to sing, please join us! September Sing is a wonderful tradition. We have a chance to warm up our voice, introduce the new season and welcome new members. What could be more joyous than singing […]

Experience the power and passion of Mendelssohn’s Elijah, performed by the Fairfield County Chorale in collaboration with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. This stirring oratorio tells the story of the Old Testament prophet with vivid drama, sweeping melodies, and breathtaking choral writing.

Magnificat & Majesty invites you to a stirring evening of sacred choral works spanning centuries of musical devotion. The program features Francesco Durante’s luminous Magnificat, Camargo Guarnieri’s expressive Missa Diligite, Franz Schubert’s vibrant Magnificat in C, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s triumphant Coronation Mass, K. 317.

Together, these masterpieces weave a rich tapestry of faith-inspired music—from the grandeur of the Baroque to the elegance of the Classical and beyond.

Featuring soloists:
Pascale Beaudin, soprano
Malena Dayen, Mezzo-Soprano
Luke Norvell, tenor
Christopher Grundy, baritone

Join us for Eternal Light, a radiant choral journey exploring peace, praise, and spiritual reflection through some of the most expressive music of the 20th and 21st centuries.

From the shimmering invocation of Nadia Boulanger’s Lux Aeterna to the powerful rhythms of John Rutter’s jubilant Gloria, this program offers a moving experience of musical light and serenity.

We begin with the bold and stirring Psalm 24 by Lili Boulanger, one of the first great female composers of sacred music, whose intensity and conviction shine through every note. The quest for peace continues with Pēteris Vasks’ Da Pacem Domine, a meditative plea for inner and global harmony by Latvia’s most revered contemporary composer.

The evening culminates with Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms—a vibrant, theatrical, and deeply heartfelt setting of Hebrew texts that only Bernstein could create, blending Broadway flair with spiritual depth.