In the Boston Children’s Chorus (BCC) season-opener, their Young Men’s Ensemble presents a concert entitled, “We Are…,” with selections that seek to redefine and broaden the definition of what it means to be a man. This ticketed show is open to the public and is presented as part of the Gardner Museum’s Sunday Concert Series, on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.
Lead by BCC Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King, D.M.A., the Young Men’s Ensemble (YME) consists of 40 singers ranging in age from 12 to 18, and representing different neighborhoods in Boston. This premier performing group offers a stimulating, comprehensive and demanding choral repertoire requiring an advanced level of musical skill, and participates in local, national and international tours.
“The Young Men’s Ensemble is a unique group in Boston because we’ve made it part of our social mission to provide an outlet for young men to express themselves artistically and emotionally,” said Dr. Anthony Trecek-King. “Our primary focus is to train our students to be artistically excellent so that their voice can be heard, but through our musical selections we hope to inspire the audience to have conversations around different social topics. I’m proud that in my eleven years at BCC, this ensemble has grown from just three singers the first year, to more than 40 today.”
Scott Nickrenz, Abrams Curator of Music at the Gardner, first invited BCC to perform at the Museum four years ago. “I was immediately impressed when I heard the Boston Children’s Chorus and knew that they would be a perfect addition to our Sunday Concert Series,” said Nickrenz. “The energy and joy they bring is infectious and their talents and reputation in Boston have helped expand our audience.”
During the concert at the Gardner, Dr. Anthony Trecek-King will lead an interactive dialogue about the experience with the audience, performers, and BCC alumni singers in attendance. One of pieces the Young Men’s Ensemble will perform is Libertatum, composed by Jim Papoulis, which talks about liberating oneself and what it means to be free. “One of the reasons this piece fits in well with our whole season⎯which we’re calling “Listen. Love. Learn.”⎯is how it addresses being trapped in your own or in the social construct of masculinity,” added Dr. Trecek-King. “We are questioning traditional ideas about masculinity that label us in childhood and go on to shape young men in adulthood.”