Musica Plenti

The award-winning vocal chamber ensemble Musica Plenti is celebrating its 21^ST season by co- hosting with Audubon Greenwich the First Annual Winter Solstice Festival to be held at the Audubon Center on the first two week-ends in December 2009,

The group, which has been described by critics as “versatile,” “exuberant,” and characterized by “sensitive ensemble singing,” gave its first concert at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Darien in May, 1988.

Over the years, Musica Plenti, which now consists of twelve singers, has presented programs entitled“OperAlive!” (duets, trios and ensembles from major operas);“AmericAlive!” (a panorama of American music);In Our Own Backyard” (works featuring outstanding regional composers including Alma Hamilton, Robert Puleo, John Velonis and Constance Walton); and a recent favorite,“Much Ado About Shakespeare” (madrigals old and new, opera excerpts and Broadway hits, all based on Shakespearean texts and themes). Such programs keep alive the rich heritage of vocal chamber music usually not performed by large choral groups.

The group has performed extensively at major concert venues in Fairfield and Westchester counties, including concert series at area museums, libraries and churches. It has also brought numerous programs to senior living centers over the years, including Edge Hill and Atria (both in Stamford), and the Rosenthal Hospice at Stamford Hospital.

Musica Plenti has received a number of prestigious grants and awards. The Connecticut Commission on the Arts awarded the group a major matching grant for its holiday blockbuster,“Artaban the Stargazer: The Story of the Fourth Wise Man”, with original music by Robert Puleo, Constance Walton and John Velonis (a CD is available). The National Federation of Music Clubs presented the group with an award for "Excellence in the Presentation of American Music." The New England Foundation extended a grant for the performance of Constance Walton’s "Revelations."
Its repertoire has also been enriched by two remarkable oratorios composed by its artistic director Robert Puleo: “Outcasts” highlights those in our society who have faced discrimination and prejudice; and“Cry of the Children” is a moving testament on war and peace, based upon poetry written by children who attend the United Nations International School in New York City.
Musica Plenti will close the Winter Solstice Festival with “Turning Point”, a concert consisting of works celebrating what the ancient Romans called the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. It will feature a new piece composed for this occasion by Alma Hamilton as well as an original work by Constance Walton, who has written many choral compositions for Musica Plenti over the years.

The members of Musica Plenti reside in the Fairfield/Westchester area and include:

Sopranos: Marsha Cirulli, Port Chester, NY; Sylvia Corrigan, Westport, CT; Katherine Humphrey, Riverside, CT; Natalie Lucia, Bridgeport, CT.

Altos (Mezzo Sopranos): Martha Alward, Easton, CT; Jodi Maxner, Stamford, CT; Jacqueline Steiner, Norwalk, CT.

Tenors: Erik Paul, Bridgeport, CT; Robert Puleo (Musica Plenti’s Artistic Director), New Rochelle, NY

Basses: Joseph Humphrey, Riverside, CT; Frank Paine, Stamford, CT; John Verel, Rowayton, CT

Piano Accompanist: Justine Macurdy, Stamford, CT.

Guest Artistic Director: Alma Hamilton