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Our Review

If you love well-executed choral music for the holidays, and women's voices particularly tickle your fancy, then Christmas Joy may be exactly your cup of holiday cheer. Directed by Dr. Dawn Willis, Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont is a relatively new (formed in 2004), but already acclaimed, group of 45 auditioned voices that shine on Christmas Joy, a gently joyful combination of seasonal selections that include carols, spirituals, folk songs, and classical pieces such as Brahms' Ave Maria. The overall mood is more thoughtful than exuberant.

Christmas Joy opens well with a trilogy of lovely traditional numbers: The Sussex Carol, Masters in This Hall, and Wexford Carol. Presented with beautifully-controlled harmonies, these three pieces nicely set the stage. My favorite track is the longest one; The Moon of Wintertime opens in unison before splitting into delicate harmonies. Christmas Joy provides a strong finish; Ave Maria and Magnificat evoke a simple elegance.

The liner notes are substantial, presenting all lyrics and additional information regarding the performers. With one exception, Bella Voce enjoys accompaniment from assorted instrumentalists, although the emphasis is definitely on the women's fine vocals.

The women of Bella Voce are indeed talented. Their Christmas Joy is a pleasing choral offering that kept me entertained on a brisk November night in Minnesota. Well done!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

...The chorus of 45 auditioned singers performs existing and newly-commissioned sacred and secular works for women's voices, often in compination with instrumentalists. The chorus includes singers from four counties in northern Vermont, many of whom also sing in a variety of school, church, and community choruses across the region. Bella Voce has presented concerts and participated in festivals throughout New England and recently performed in several locations in Ireland.

Dr. Dawn O. Willis: Music Director and Founder of Bella Voce Women's Chorus; also serves as the Assistant Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Glory Reinstein: Assistant Manager
Shirley Smith: Accompanist
Xiudan Lin: Assistant Accompanist
Chelsie Henderson: Conducting Intern

Christmas Joy (notes from the Director)

The celebration of Christmas has inspired a vast array of beloved musical traditions throughout the ages. Christmas Joy features classic selections for women's voices which range from Brahms' Ave Maria and Britten's This Little Babe to arrangements of carols and spirituals that hold a revered place in the rich tapestry of Christmas choral music.


From the Website:

Burlington, VT, October 6, 2008 - Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont announces the release of their commercially available CD - Christmas Joy - a selection of twenty Christmas carols and other works including Mary Had A Baby - a Suite of Christmas Spirituals commissioned especially for Bella Voce by Robert DeCormier.

Bella Voce Women's Chorus burst onto Vermont's classical music scene in March of 2004 and each subsequent year has brought the group and its Founding Director Dr. Dawn O. Willis great acclaim by area music critics and colleagues. This past summer the group embarked on their first international tour to Ireland and were warmly received by audiences in Dublin, Wexford and Killarney. ***

Just in time for the Christmas season Christmas Joy is available starting October 1 in area stores and online as well as at all their concert venues.

Bella Voce's CD Christmas Joy was made possible by grants from: The Argosy Foundation Contemporary Music Fund and the Alfred Nash Patterson Foundation for the Choral Arts Fund from Choral Arts New England, and the Vermont Arts Endowment Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation.

Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont was founded in March of 2004 by Dr. Dawn Willis and debuted their first full concert in May of that same year. The chorus of 40-45 auditioned singers performs existing and newly-commissioned sacred and secular works for women's voices throughout Vermont and the Northeastern United States. Our name, Bella Voce, is an Italian phrase meaning "beautiful voice" and we strive to achieve this artistic goal at all times. A non-profit organization, Bella Voce is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors guided by Director Dr. Willis' artistic vision.

Our Mission Statement

The purpose of the Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont is to promote choral music of quality through performances of high artistic value; provide members with the opportunity to enhance their musical knowledge and skills; enrich the quality of life of members and audience; serve as role models to women singers of all ages; and promote the value of singing as a life-long avocation.

Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont

Christmas Joy

Artist link

Track List