DCINY to Present UNDER THE WESTERN SKY at Carnegie Hall, 6/22

Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents a family-friendly afternoon of lively music for treble voices, including the world premiere of a new Latin American-inspired Gloria by Cristian Grases, who also conducts, and a beautiful selection of music of faith performed by guest ensemble Utah Voices, directed by Michael Huff called Hometown Praise. Under the Western Sky takes place on Sunday, June 22 at 2:00pm at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium.

Cristian Grases leads the world premiere of his Gloria performed by the Distinguished Concerts Singers International, comprised of youth and children's choirs from six states as well as Honduras, Australia, and Norway. In his joyful and playful Spanish-language setting of the Gloria, Grases uses a different Latin American folk rhythm in each of five movements, from the Colombian Cumbia to the Bomba, an energetic dance of Puerto Rico, to the celebratory Cuban Son.

Grases will also conduct several additional works including two by his own mentor, Venezuelan composer Alberto Grau: El Viento (The Wind), a work which involves imitating the wind in various ways, with the participation of the audience, and La Cucaracha (The Cockroach), a traditional Spanish folk tune that became very popular in Mexico. We also hear composer Larry Farrow's Jamaican Market Place, which features a memorable Reggae tune that whimsically describes a day in a marketplace in Kingston, Jamaica, and two additional works by Grases: Tottoyo, a musical mischief that describes a scene in the life of a young boy playing on a Caribbean island; and his take on the traditional Calypso, a highly rhythmic musical style heard throughout the Caribbean, with rhythms originating in West Africa.

In the second half of the afternoon concert, Dr. Michael Huff leads his acclaimed ensemble, Utah Voices, in Hometown Praise, a program celebrating both Utah's rich history and its deep faith. Works include Mack Wilberg's setting of the anthem Saints Bound for Heaven from "The Southern Harmony", a hymn book used by American church-goers during the 19th century; Kurt Bestor's Prayer of the Children, a poignant plea for peace in a troubled world; The Lord's Prayer in a setting by Leroy Robertson, one of Utah's best-known 20th century composers; and Mack Wilberg's setting of the Christian hymn, How Firm a Foundation. Utah Voices will also perform excerpts from Promised Valley, the Mormon answer to Oklahoma by Utah composer Crawford Gates, and Come, Come, Ye Saints, a hymn much-loved by today's Latter-day Saints by William Clayton. Completing the program is Michael Huff's setting of America, the Beautiful, giving voice to Utah's "hometown pride." Performing alongside Utah Voices are The Legacy Brass Ensemble and pianist Carrie Morris.

On Friday, June 20th, DCINY will co-present a special in-store preview performance of Under the Western Sky at New York City's American Girl Place. Select choir members from Spokane Area Youth Choirs, with their director Sarah Hopkins, will present a short musical set in the center of the store for patrons and the general public. A group of American Girl patrons and their dolls will also join DCINY at Carnegie Hall in June 22nd. American Girl and DCINY will be raffling off two official American Girl Dolls via an online contest. Follow DCINY on Facebook for contest details.

Founded by Iris Derke (General Director) and Jonathan Griffith (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor), DCINY is driven by passion and unwavering commitment to create unforgettable audience and performer experiences.

Tickets $20 - $100 at www.carnegiehall.org (direct link) or by calling 212-247-7800 or at the Carnegie Hall Box Office. For more information, visit www.DCINY.org.

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