Inspirations

Saturday, May 18th, 2024

Church of St. Clare
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Featuring:
Sacred and secular works by Romantic masters, including Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt, and by favorite contemporary composers Dan Forrest and Ola Gjeilo.

Brahms’ Neue Liebeslieder Walzes, in the NY Premiere of Marina Alexander’s new English Singing Translation

Voice Activated!

Saturday, April 6th, 2024

Hemsley Hall
4 Arthur Kill Road
Staten Island, NY

The Workshop, Voice Activated:
. . . was very well-coordinated event. I personally benefitted a lot and can’t wait to put the tools to work…

. . . was absolutely wonderful and so much fun!! I learned so much.

. . . was very informative, with wide-ranging, valuable and helpful information on voice techniques that I can bring back to my choir.

. . . Totally delightful and uplifting

. . . one of the best!

. . . instructive to hear some technique taught using different terms — I found ‘tongue push-ups’ a helpful new exercise.

Great tools to improve vocal production in the long-run . . . to navigate what we learned and apply the knowledge to all my singing. Thank you for this workshop!

Learned several wonderful new techniques for enhancing vocal skills.

I’m very grateful for this presentation. It was extremely educational, helpful and inspiration

Cailin Marcel Manson, Master Teacher:
. . . exhibits a wonderful and expert outlook on music and the voice.

. . . is an excellent clinician, entertaining and colorful.

Cailin’s ability and energy kept us all engaged. He offered us many practical techniques to make our ‘instrument’ much more efficient.

Celebrating The Psalms

Saturday, December 9th, 2023

Church of St. Clare
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Featuring Mozart’s Solemn Vespers

Including Contemporary Settings of Psalm 23, 42, & 102, RCS’s Traditional Holiday Sing-Along, and Handel’s “Hallelujah” Chorus.

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Wonder Women

Saturday, May 20th, 2023

Church of St. Clare
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Music of Female Composers

Including the works of Fanny Mendelssohn, Clara Schumann, Gwenyth Walker, Amy Beach, and contemporary composers like RCS’s own Marina Alexander.

Diana Claps

Thursday, May 11th, 2023

Presented by: The Music Program of The Department of Performing And Creative Arts

Recital Hall Center For The Arts
Mezzo Soprano
Accompanied by
Joseph Vaz, piano

Discover Your Best Voice!

Saturday, March 25th, 2023, 9am

New Dorp Moravian Parish House
2205 Richmond Road
Staten Island, NY

Sing Gloria!

Saturday, December 10th, 2022, 8pm

Church of St. Clare
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

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All You Need Is Love

Sunday, May 22nd, 2022 @ 4pm

Church of St. Andrew
40 Old Mill Rd
Staten Island, NY

An evening of love song selections from the Victorian era through the 1960s, including The Beatles, Carole King, The Association, and more!

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Vocal Tips and Tricks for Singers

Saturday, April 30, 2022, 10am – 4pm

Knights of Columbus Columbian Hall
397 Clarke Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Full-day workshop including morning session, “Music & Meaning: Becoming the Words,” led by Marina Alexander and afternoon session led by baritone ​Tim Krol, former member of the Grammy-award winning ensemble Chanticleer and established voice teacher.​

Highlights can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/QYLGuFI_KWQ

Glorious Dawn

Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Ave
Staten Island, NY

River and Tree

Spring 2021

Virtual Performance

A virtual performance by members of RCS and Arcadian Chorale of Marina Alexander’s original musical composition.
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“I wrote this piece last spring (2020) on a delightful text by American poet Margaret Sangster. It celebrates the idea that, once we take the time to connect with another individual, even someone who on the surface seems quite different from ourselves, we may be surprised by our commonalities and mutual regard.” — Marina Alexander

‘Tis The Season

December 2020

Virtual Performance

A collaboration between Richmond Choral Society and students from the College of Staten Island for the 2020 socially distant holiday season.

Eternal Light

Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Richmond Choral Society (NYC) sang Thomas Gabriel’s jubilant Lightmesse (Light Mass), plus the U.S. premieres of two outstanding contemporary works: Venit lumen by Slovenian composer Damijan Mocnik, and The Canticle of the Sun by Norwegian composer Kristian Hernes. The group also performed Marina Alexander’s poignant Sun of Righteousness, based on the Byzantine Hymn of the Nativity.

Mozart and the Moderns!

Saturday, May 18, 2019 at @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Richmond Choral Society’s (NYC) Spring 2019 program featured Mozart’s beautiful Litany, K. 243, and then works by contemporary composers James MacMillan and Karl Jenkins, plus a special performance of the rarely heard Te Deum by Vincent Persichetti. With chamber orchestra, including a special appearance by Simply Strings.

Move to the Music!

Saturday, April 6, 2019, 10am-3pm

Christ Church
76 Franklin Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Marina moderated a special workshop exploring musical rhythm through movement, led by Dr. William Bauer, Executive Director of the Dalcroze Society of America.

Winter Wonders!

Saturday, December 15, 2018 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Richmond Choral Society (NYC) explored the magic of the winter season with works by Ola Gjeilo, Dan Forrest, Michael Gandolfi, and Mark Hayes. With a special appearance by Simply Strings Chamber Ensemble, performing Vivaldi’s “Winter” concerto from The Four Seasons.

Vocal Colors

Friday, May 25, 2018, 7pm

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
Carnegie Hall

Ms. Alexander and her ensembles were featured at Carnegie Hall, performing in “Vocal Colors,” a special program produced by Distinguished Concerts International NY (DCINY).

The Arcadian Chorale (NJ) and Richmond Choral Society (NYC), combined forces to sing two wonderful pieces, both by Scandinavian composers. They opened with Kim Andre Arnesen’s delightful Norwegian Alleluia, presenting the World Premiere of its new orchestration for strings. Then they presented Otto Olsson’s Te Deum, an overlooked Romantic period masterpiece.

The performance was met with a standing ovation!

Northern Lights

Sunday, May 20, 2018 @ 4pm

St. Peter’s RC Church
53 St. Mark’s Place
Staten Island, NY

Works by Scandinavian composers! This concert featured Ola Gjeilo’s beautiful Sunrise Mass, Kim Andre Arnesen’s Norwegian Alleluia (with the World Premiere of its new orchestration for string orchestra), ​plus Otto Olsson’s glorious Te Deum.

Voice Journey Workshop

Saturday, Apr. 21, 2018, 10am-3pm

Christ Church
76 Franklin Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Marina acted as Moderator for a very special workshop sponsored by Richmond Choral Society. “Voice Journey” explored the mind-body connection in singing. It was held fat Christ Church, 76 Franklin Ave., Staten Island.

The clinician was Stephanie Rooker, founder of the Voice Journey Sound Center in NYC.

The workshop was offered thanks to a special initiative and funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the NY City Council.

Holiday with Brass!

Saturday, December 16, 2017 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Choral music with brass! The main works included Pinkham’s much loved Christmas Cantata, plus Hovhaness’ seldom heard and mystical holiday work, Glory to God, Op. 124.

Bach to Broadway!

Saturday, May 20, 2017 @ 8pm

Zion Lutheran Church
Staten Island, NY

Choral settings of popular songs by ABBA, the Beatles, John Denver, plus Swingle Singers settings of Bach, and Broadway hits by Bernstein, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Gershwin.

Realms of Glory

Saturday, December 10, 2016 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

“Realms of Glory!” featured one of Joseph Haydn’s final masterworks, his Theresienmesse of 1799 and the US premiere of Christus Natus Est, a cantata of medieval carols by British composer Cecilia McDowall. The ensemble also sang Gwyneth Walker’s Star of Night (based on “we Three King,”) and the world premiere of a special orchestration by Gary Fry of his beautiful arrangement of O Holy Night.

Mainly Mozart

Saturday, May 21, 2016 @ 8pm

St. Clare’s RC Church
110 Nelson Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Richmond Choral Society celebrated its 65th Anniversary with a program revisiting past favorites, including Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, K. 339, Faure’s beautiful Cantique de Jean Racine and Verdi’s jubilant Hymn of the Nations. A nod to the future was given via contemporary works by NY composer Chris DeBlasio, and Ola Gjeilo.

Verdi Messa da Requiem

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 @ 8pm

Church of St. Paul the Apostle
W. 60th St & Columbus Ave.
New York, NY

Marina lead a special performance of Verdi’s masterwork as Guest Conductor with the NY Symphonic Arts Ensemble. The concert celebrated that ensemble’s 25th Anniversary, and Verdi’s 200th birthday. Both Arcadian Chorale and Richmond Choral Society participated, with the NY Festival singers, and a cast of exceptional soloists.

Puccini’s “La Boheme”

Sunday, April 21, 2013 @ 3pm

Springer Concert Hall, Center for the Arts
College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd. SI, NY

In collaboration with the Staten Island Philharmonic, Richmond Choral Society sang a concert version of Puccini’s masterpiece, with professional soli. The performance was be led by Maestro Alex Guzman.

Mozart – “Great” Mass in C minor, K. 427

Saturday, May 12, 2012 @ 8pm

St. Peter’s RC Church
53 St. Mark’s Place
Staten Island, NY

Marina’s choral ensembles came together to sing one of Mozart’s greatest yet unfinished works, his Mass in C minor, the “Great.” The performance offered the Pan-American Premiere of a new completion of the piece by German scholar-conductor, Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs.

The National Anthem at MSG

January 2013

Madison Square Garden

RCS January 2013 performance of The National Anthem at Madison Square Garden before the start of the NY Knicks game.

“Choral Classics” 60th Anniversary Concert & Gala Reception

Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 4pm

St. Peter’s RC Church
53 St. Mark’s Place
Staten Island, NY

Read the review in the Staten Island Advance

Bringing great music to the community of Staten Island for 60 years, the Richmond Choral Society marked its anniversary with a program of choral masterworks, featuring excerpts from the repertory’s most beloved and beautiful works. This included the Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Requiem settings by Brahms, Verdi, Mozart & Faure, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Haydn’s Creation, and Handel’s Messiah. The Richmond Choral Youth Chorus was also featured, singing Britten and Vivaldi, and a gala reception followed.