Nashoba Valley Chorale to host Chariot Jubilee in celebration of Black composers

Founded in 1976, the Nashoba Valley Chorale has long celebrated the art of music. Now, they are set to recognize some of history’s more marginalized composers as part of their upcoming concert, “The Chariot Jubilee.”

In a recent press release, the Chorale announced the two-day concert as a celebration of Black composers. Music by 18th century Brazilian composer José Maurício Nunes Garcia and several contemporary writers will be featured.

Colombian tenor David Rivera Bozón will also take part, as will an ensemble from the Groton Hill Music Center and winners of the Chorale’s annual Emerging Artists program.

Chorale Director Anne Watson Born shared her excitement for the concert and the return of collaborative music in a “post-pandemic world.”

“We are thrilled to be making music together again,” Born said. “We’ve overcome the struggles of singing in a post-pandemic world and are looking forward to presenting a varied and beautiful program of music by historically-marginalized composers, including Missa Abreviada by the Brazilian Classical-era composer José Maurício Nunes Garcia and The Chariot Jubilee by the early 20th century composer Nathaniel Dett.”

The concert will be held at separate venues: the Acton Congregational Church on Saturday, Feb. 4 and the Groton Dunstable Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets for Saturday’s performance will be available to purchase for $30 each or $25 for students and seniors, while those that attend Sunday’s performance will only be asked to pay what they can.

Tickets for either performance can be purchased online in advance at nashobachorale.org. Advanced purchase is recommended, according to the press release.

The Chorale also thanked several local cultural councils for their financial support through grant programs, including Ayer, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and others.

For more information on the Chorale, visit nashobachorale.org.