Cor Cantiamo to perform at Bethany Lutheran Church

Cor Cantiamo will perform at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., Crystal Lake. Cantiamo is a professional, 24-voice touring choral ensemble based at Northern Illinois University, founded with the mission to perform and promote contemporary choral music and foster new composers for the art form.

Since its inception in spring 2009, the choir has emerged as an energetic and accomplished vocal ensemble, receiving accolades for its performances. Led by founding director, Eric Johnson, D.M.A., the group has been nationally acclaimed for its premieres and performances.

The concert features James MacMillan’s “Cantos Sagrados,” a powerful work from 1990 for chorus and organ, which sets poems by Ariel Dorfman and Ana Maria Mendoza on the subject of political repression in Latin America combined with traditional religious texts in Latin. The performance will use Bethany’s magnificent pipe organ.

Also featured will be the second performance of a new piece commissioned by Cor Cantiamo in celebration of its 10th anniversary season. Titled “Verdad” by Libby Larsen, it will be a 15-minute work dealing with immigrant families at the U.S.’s southern border. In addition, several patriotic selections will be performed in honor of Veterans Day. There is no admission charge, but a free-will offering will be taken.

An intermission and refreshments will be included. For information, visit the Bethany Lutheran Church Facebook page or its website at BethanyCL.com.