Reunion Concert

Eugene Branstrom, M. M.

Eugene Branstrom, currently in his nineteenth year as conductor of the Cantate! chamber ensemble, has been directing choirs and training singers in Michigan for over 57 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University and his Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan. Honored as the 1983 Michigan High School Honors Choir Director, Mr. Branstrom taught in the New Haven and Birmingham public schools. His high school choirs consistently won first division honors at the advanced level; they also toured to the British Isles and Europe, including private concerts in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, the Duomo in Florence, and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice..

Mr. Branstrom is a Member Emeritus of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association, for which he served as a full board member for many years. He has also directed the New Haven Community Chorus and the Bel Canto Choral Society in Southfield, as well as numerous area church choirs. The students in his private voice studio regularly receive first division ratings at state festivals, and many former students are currently professional singers and performers or music teachers throughout the United States, the British Isles and Europe.

Cantate!

Cantate! is a 14-voice chamber ensemble dedicate to the exploration and performance of a cappella chamber music ranging from Renaissance to the Baroque to contemporary choral literature. The group's versatility broadens its appeal to audiences through a wide range of selections from sacred motets and madrigals to carols, folk songs and vocal jazz. Members are also featured in solo and small ensemble performances.

Originally established in 1985 as the David Jorlett Chorale, Cantate! is in residence at Advent Episcopal Church in West Bloomfield, where it presents a regular schedule of holiday concerts at Christmas, and two performances featuring motets, madrigals, and love songs in the spring. Cantate! specializes in warm and intimate presentations that include audience participation in seasonal sing-alongs.

In addition to its own popular concerts, the group is available to entertain at corporate, civic, cultural and private functions throughout the metropolitan area. Singers represent the greater Detroit community. Membership is by audition.

David Jorlett, M. M.

David Jorlett, founding Artistic Director of the Northern Pines Vocal Institute and conductor of the David Jorlett Chorale, received his Bachelor of Music degree from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and holds the Master of Music degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. He has been a choral conductor at the middle school, high school, college and adult levels for the past 43 years. He is a clinician and guest conductor at state, regional, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association. Mr. Jorlett has traveled to Australia and New Zealand on numerous occasions as a visiting artist.

Mr. Jorlett has been named a Fullbright Scholar to further his work with choral and vocal music at all levels. Currently, he is the choral director at the Trinity School at River Ridge in the Twin Cities area and maintains a private voice studio as part of the Northern Pines Vocal Institute.

The David Jorlett Chorale

The David Jorlett Chorale is a semi-professional chamber ensemble founded in 2008 as part of the Northern Pines Vocal Institute. The Chorlae performs a cappella and accompanied music from all periods as well as larger chamber works. The men of the Chorale and the women of the Chorale also sing more specialized pieces from the TTBB and SSAA repertoire. Last summer, the Chorale toured Germany and Austria, and future plans include a tour to England, Wales, and Italy in the summer of 2011.

David Jorlett Reunion Choir

This reunion was planned to celebrate David's 43 years of working with choirs by joing the forces of his new David Jorlett Chorale in Minnesota, with Cantate!, the former David Jorlett Chorale in Michigan, now directed by Eugene Branstrom. This musical celebration gre to include former singers from the Southfield Public Schools, the Schoolcraft College Community Choir, the Madrigal Chorale of Southfield, and the Univeristy of Michigan. The Reunion Choir, which will combine to sing four favorite pieces from David's years in Michigan (1970 - 1990), is made up of more than 100 singers from the above groups who have come together in celebration of fine choral music.

Updated Thursday, June 24, 2010 2:08 PM