More Information About Songs of Life Festival

Description

A Melancholy Beauty was composed by the award-winning Bulgarian composer Georgi Andreev, who combines classical choral-orchestral music with traditional rhythms and folk styles that are rarely encountered today! The original lyrics composed by librettist Scott Cairns and contributing author Aryeh Finklestein will be conducted by Maestro Henry H. Leck, founder and artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.

The performing choirs include the Indianapolis Children’s Choir; the Philip Kutev National Folklore Ensemble, Bulgaria; KHORIKOS Choir, New York; and The Victor Valley College Singers and Master Arts Chorale, California. These choirs will be accompanied by the renowned National Philharmonic as they perform the oratorio in celebration of a poignant historical moment. The Festival will also premiere the motet Whosoever Saves a Single Life, composed by internationally renowned cantor and composer Charles David Osborne, for mixed choirs.

In addition to the world premiere of A Melancholy Beauty, the participating choirs will each feature an a cappella program specially selected by the Festival conductors: Henry H. Leck, Jesse Peckham, Thomas Miller, and artistic director Georgi Andreev.

Founders Kalin and Sharon Tchonev launched Songs of Life first as a tribute to the Bulgarian people, which rescued the entire Jewish population from the Nazis. Sharon’s maternal grandparents were among the survivors. Inspired by the heroic acts of the Bulgarian people who risked their lives for their fellow citizens, their second mission was to champion the principles of tolerance in the midst of diversity and bravery in the face of prejudice.