By Mark Ambrogi
VOCE managing director Eric Wickens describes his chamber choir’s upcoming performance as calming experience.
“Even though it sacred music or classical, I find an opportunity to kind of sit and mediate and take in the music that the group is producing,” said Wickens, a bass baritone from Fishers. “You feel some comfort and mediation from it and hopefully some joy.”
VOCE will present a free concert at 3 p.m. on May 17 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1402 Main St., Carmel.
VOCE, which stands for Voices of Choral Excellence, is under the direction of Dr. Madlen Batchvarova, who is choral director at Hanover College. The chamber choir, made up of mostly Indianapolis-area residents, will be presenting “A Sacred Journey.”
In addition to Vivaldi’s Gloria, the program will feature music coupled together by the same text but written by composers from different centuries and musical styles. The concert will take the audience through music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic and Contemporary eras from the United States, Germany, Italy, Norway and Bulgaria.
The series is part of St. Christopher’s Music on Main Fine Art Series.
“We invite ensembles or groups, sometimes from afar but usually local groups,” said Robert Richter, the church’s music director.
Richter said VOCE performed at St. Christopher’s several years ago.
“In exchange for their performance, they have been hosting many of their rehearsals at the church,” Richter said. “Many of the singers come from north Indianapolis suburbs.”
Brenda Iaocca is a soprano for VOCE, St. Christopher’s member and Carmel resident.
VOCE has been reorganizing following the retirement of its founder Charles Goehring in 2013, Wickens said.
“I’m trying the shoot for six performances a year but we’re still in the growing process,” said Wickens.
The group has five bass singers, four tenors, five altos and four soprano performers. One soprano will be out of town and miss the concert, Wickens said.
“Our long time goal is to get a group of about 24 (singers),” Wickens said.
Wickens, who also performs as a soloist, frequently sang the national anthem at the Indy Fuel hockey games at Fairgrounds Coliseum.
