Choral Society adds community concert to 2008-09 schedule

The Hilton Head Choral Society is adding a new community concert to its 2008-09 schedule: this season's Festival Invitational will bring together select members of the group's Full Chorus with some of the area's top vocalists.

"We wanted to do something different, something that brought really gifted singers together for a community outreach event," said choral society artistic director Tim Reynolds. "It's comfort music for the current climate."

The 33rd season will open on Labor Day weekend with its all-pops "Music for a Summer Night." The premiere Festival Invitational -- "Songs of Faith and Inspiration" -- will follow Oct. 24. In December, the Full Chorus, accompanied by orchestra and the Youth Choir, will perform "Sounds of Christmas." And in January, the acclaimed British group the Swingle Singers will perform.

The Choral Society's spring Musical Masterworks concert, "Classics for Everyone," will feature the Full Chorus, a solo quartet and orchestra performing Franz Schubert's Viennese-inspired "Mass in A Flat" and Randall Thompson's musical settings of "Frostiana" by Robert Frost.

Closing the season is "America Sings!", a Memorial Day concert of Americana classics.

For information or subscriptions, call 843-341-3818 or go to www.hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.