Author: Charleston Men's Chorus

Personent Hodie
Let youthful voices resound today joyfully praising Him who is born for us,
Who is given unto us by the most high God, and brought forth from a Virgin.

He is born in the world, is wrapped in swaddling cloths, and placed in a manger in a stable of beasts.
He is the ruler over all things. (The prince of darkness thus has lost his pray!)

Three wise men come, bearing gifts. They have found the babe by following a little star.
Adoring the Lord, they offer Him gold, incense and myrrh.

Let all the young choristers now sing as did the angels,
praising Him who has come into the world: Glory to God in the Highest

Ave Maria
The Angel of the Lord announced to Mary
And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

And the Word was made flesh
And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary …

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

O Tannenbaum
O fir tree, o fir tree, How faithful are your branches!
You’re green not only in the summertime,
But also in winter when it snows.
O fir tree, o fir tree,
How faithful are your branches!

O fir tree, o fir tree,
You can very much please me!
How often at Christmastime
A tree like you has delighted me!
O fir tree, o fir tree,
You can very much please me!

O fir tree, o fir tree,
Your dress has something to teach me!
Hope and constancy
Give comfort and strength at all times.
O fir tree, o fir tree,
Your dress has something to teach me!

Noël Nouvelet
Christmas comes anew, O let us sing Noel!
Glory to God! Now let your praises swell!
Sing we Noel for Christ, the newborn King.

Angels did say. “O shepherds, come and see,
Born in Bethlehem, a blessed Lamb for thee.”
In the manger bed, the shepherds found the child;
Joseph was there, and the Mother Mary mild.

Betelehemu
We are glad that we have a Father to trust.
We are glad that we have a Father to rely upon.
Where was Jesus born? Where was He born?
Bethlehem, the city of wonder.
That is where the Father was born for sure.
Praise, praise, praise be to Him.
We thank Thee for this day, gracious Father.
Praise, praise, praise be to Thee, Merciful Father.

Charleston Men’s Chorus holds new member auditions

Charleston, SC

Attention all male chorus singers!  The Charleston Men’s Chorus (CMC) will hold new member auditions for its new season starting on Monday, September 10, 2018. CMC strives to continually improve the quality, caliber, and diversity of the Chorus and ensemble groups through new members and invites all qualified male singers to apply for an audition. Prospective members should be able to read music and, ideally, have choral singing experience. To be considered for an audition, please apply online at www.charlestonmenschorus.org.

Charleston Men’s Chorus was founded in 1990 to fill the need in the Lowcountry arts community for the distinctive harmonies of a male chorus. The non‐profit group is an auditioned choir of approximately 70 members. CMC is directed by internationally renowned countertenor and director Ricard Bordas and distinguished musician Pamela Nelson serves as the chorus’s piano accompanist. While their annual Christmas and Memorial Day concerts define the group’s theme and choice of repertoire, the Spring concert offers CMC an opportunity to explore different themes and selections written for male choirs, including folk, theater or operatic pieces. Many of CMC offerings are by American composers, but musical traditions from around the world are also explored, from the madrigal and motet to folk song and anthems. Each year the Chorus is proud to award scholarships to vocal performance or music education majors at the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.

CMC’s scholarships and the emerging John J. Kerr Memorial Scholarship program are among the most important and rewarding elements of the Charleston Men’s Chorus. Using proceeds from our annual concerts, we award a total of $10,000 in music scholarships each year to students pursuing a degree in vocal music or choral conducting at the College of Charleston and Charleston Southern University.

We are particularly proud of William “BJ” Bennett, one of the first CMC scholars, and all that he has achieved in his still-young career. BJ is the director of choirs at Cane Bay High School in Summerville and was nominated for the 2015 Grammy Music Educator Award for making a “remarkable impact on students’ lives.” Bringing things full circle, one of BJ’s former students, Chris Prohaska, is currently a CMC scholar. BJ spoke at our Spring 2015 concert about how the CMC scholarship impacted him. A huge THANK YOU to all of our supporters who have helped us to make a profound impact in young men’s musical lives.