Posted on October 7, 2022 by Devon Beck

Vox Philia Performs Annelies

Story written by David A. McConnell

Vox Philia Performs Annelies

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, Vox Philia presents the local premiere of English composer James Whitbourn’s “Annelies.” Setting Melanie Challenger’s text based on the diary of Anne Frank, this is the work’s first complete performance in Berks County. The performance takes  place at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom in Wyomissing.

Challenger decided on a work about Anne Frank when she was working on a music project with children from war-torn Bosnia. She approached Whitbourn and they worked intensely together for almost three years. Whitbourn writes: “From the outset, we were clear that Anne’s remarkable observations would form the basis of this work. Squabbles within the Annex, teenage romantic encounters and the like were all put aside, and the diary distilled into this sequence of beautiful, spiritually charged texts.”

In a November 2021 concert, members of Vox Philia joined with singers from Immanuel UCC, Shillington and Grace Lutheran, Lancaster in performing selected movements from the work. Artistic Director David McConnell explains that “it was immediately clear that this is a substantial and deeply impactful work, and that we need to perform all of it.” “We must continually share and re-share Anne Frank’s story as a warning to never allow such a horrific tragedy happen again.”

The performance takes place on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 7:30 pm at Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, 555 Warwick Drive in Wyomissing. Admission is $15/Adult & $5/Students. Tickets are available at the door and online at https://buytickets.at/voxphilia/750079.

Vox Philia, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chamber choir serving the Reading and Berks County communities. To learn more, visit www.voxphilia.org.

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