We’ve told you all about Carmina Burana, and our prep for it. We’ve told you about how people showed up out of the woodwork to sing just this one concert with us. And we’ve told you about how it’s the biggest show we’ve done, ever. (Yes, we checked. We’ve done large works in the past, but never anything with this many people or large moving parts, from the music to the props.)

It’s been amazing and exciting. But we’ve been holding out on you. We haven’t shared how bittersweet these last few rehearsals have been. Because this is Maestra Jennifer Rodgers’ last concert with us.

After six and a half years with us, Ms. Rodgers is moving west. In the fall, she begins a new professional chapter in the DMA program of the University of Washington, Seattle. Needless to say, sad as we are to see her go, we are happy for the future Dr. Rodgers and wish her the very best.

The choir has enjoyed this time with her. Under her artistic leadership and vision, we have gone from a choir that nearly closed doors in 2009, to a thriving organization whose wall of sound has encouraged singers to dream big. And boy, are we ending this season, and our time with her, on a big bang! To paraphrase her a bit from program notes that you’ll see on show night, this is a “Cecille B. DeRodgers!” show.

We can’t tell you more about that. You’ll just have to see for yourself. Let’s just say this concert will be a feast for eyes and ears. And for those of you who want to learn a bit more about Carmina before we sing it, Ms. Rodgers will do a rare pre-concert talk.

Between all the players—especially the kids from Mosby Woods Elementary School’s choir—and their friends and family, we expect a very full house. We’ll have tickets at the door, but we encourage you to buy yours well ahead of time.

Tickets are available online until 11:30 pm, Friday, May 20, 2016. Tickets are $25/adults, $20/Seniors(65+) and Students (15-18). Youth aged 14 and younger attend  for free if accompanied by a paying audience member. Tickets are also available through VCS singers. 

The box office will open at 6:15 pm. Doors open for the pre-concert talk at 7:10 pm. We sing Carmina Burana at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Vienna Baptist Church (541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180). 

Please come! You don’t want to miss this. And you don’t want to miss the energy in the room when we are directed by Ms. Rodgers one last time.