BHS Choir to Perform The Prayer Cycle at Woolsey Hall

On Sunday, April 28, the Branford High School choir, led by director Cathyann Roding, will make history as the first-ever group to perform Jonathan Elias's The Prayer Cycle in its entirety.

Elias and his family are flying in from California for the performance, which will be held at Yale's Woolsey Hall. WTNH's Chris Velardi will host the event, that not only features the 150-member BHS chorus, but a 50-member professional orchestra as well.

According to a press release, "The Prayer Cycle, originated from a series of poems set to music for choir, orchestra, and soloists, has become a global nondenominational prayer for peace. The work was originally recorded to great acclaim and released with James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Alanis Morissette, and more in 1999."

Roding is honored to be leading this performance, which also includes representatives from Branford’s religious ministry, who will read the poems between all nine of the orchestral and choral movements. The clergy will include Rev. Keane (First Baptist Church), Rev. Woody (St. Stephen’s AME Zion Church), Berenadette DiGiulian (Elder Care Chaplin), Fr. Ford (St. Mary’s Church), Rev. Jackson (United Methodist Church), Rev. Gracen (Trinity Episcopal Church), Rayzl Feuer (P’nai Shore-Sandy Creek), Rev. Murtha (First Congregational Church), and Rev. Allen (Shoreline Community Church). 

"The music and poetry is thought-provoking, meditative and, in the end, brings about a sense of hope," said Roding. "Recent events – not only around the world, but in our country, particularly in Newtown and now Boston – make me feel that it is urgent that people come together to offer each other love and support." 

The events in Newtown inspired the BHS choir to sign on to and dedicate the performance to the Sandy Hook Promise, which reads, "I Promise to honor the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  I Promise to do everything I can to encourage and support common sense solutions that make my community and our country safer from similar acts of violence."

Roding said that she and the students are very proud to be signing the promise and the choir will be making a donation to the Branford community through Branford Cares in the spirit of the promise.

It is the hope of Roding and her students that their performance will give members of the community something very special as "my students and I have poured our hearts and souls into this music and this project."

Roding has seen her students connect with the poetry and musical movements and hopes the performance has the same effects on the audience.
 
"They have been inspired in knowing that, as musicians and artists, we have a vehicle to communicate with the world that is sometimes much more effective than just words," said Roding. "I am so proud of my students for being socially conscious and willing to put all of the grueling work in that makes a performance like this a success. They hope that their concert inspires people to take action in making the world a better place."

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For tickets ($10), call 203-315-7998 ext. 2500. In addition round-trip transportation from the high school to Woolsey Hall is available for $3 and can be booked when purchasing tickets. For more information, visit www.thechoirlobby.com.