We Are Love

Program Notes

original text by Melissa Studdard (all info coming soon)

Recording

(see video above)

Text

View/download the full text of We Are Love here: WE-ARE-LOVE-Final.pdf

Special Performance Requirements

We Are Love is a work designed for two types of choirs to perform together: a regular SATB chorus and a community chorus. While the community part can easily be covered by a dedicated group of singers within the SATB chorus, the intention of the piece is to build connection between traditional SATB ensembles and community ensembles.

Each choir is dependent on the other for their pitches, which is part of the philosophy of the piece, but which of course makes rehearsal of each separate choir slightly tricky. To that end, we have created a separate rehearsal part for the community chorus that will allow the choir to practice alone, and see only what is necessary instead of having to sing off the full score. (These materials will be delivered along with the full score upon purchase)

Premiere/Performances

We Are Love was commissioned for the 2022 Joyfully Together Choral Festival by the Wolftrap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the Washington Chorus; Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director. It was premiered on September 18, 2022 at the Wolftrap Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia.

The work was premiered by 700 singers from the following choirs:

• Alexandria Harmonizers | Joe Cerutti, Jr., Artistic Director
• Children’s Chorus of Washington | Margaret Nomura Clark, Artistic Director
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts Concert Chorale | Greg Watkins, Director
• Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC & GenOUT | Thea Kano, Artistic Director
• The Heritage Signature Chorale | Stanley Thurston, Artistic Director
• Towson University Singers | Diana Sáez, Director
• The Washington Chorus | Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director
• WPA Children of the Gospel Choir | Michele Fowlin, Artistic Director
• WPA Men and Women of the Gospel Choir | Theodore Thorpe III, Artistic Director

Press/Reviews