First Presbyterian of Marietta Musical Director Ed Schneider directs his adult choir group Sacre Voci during a dress rehersal for the group's Christmas performance.
Staff/Todd Hull
Staff/Todd Hull
Ed Schneider directs his adult choir group Sacre Voci during a dress rehearsal for the group's Christmas performance
During the Christmas performance, the female members split from the group and sing a piece from the church's balcony. From left, Rebekah Plowman, Susan White, Linda Bush and Ann Stoskopf.
Sam Ainsworth of Marietta sings with his Sacre Voci choir members during a recent dress rehearsal for the Church's Christmas performance.
“We specialize in Renaissance music,” said Ed Schneider, founding artistic director of Sacre Voci (Sacred Voices). Schneider also serves as director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta where the group was founded.
“I like finding gems from the past that are undiscovered,” said Schneider, who uses the Internet to find works that have never been performed.
Sacre Voci has premiered several overlooked pieces. One such piece is a mass written in 1550 by 16th century Spanish composer Rodrigo de Ceballos, discovered in the Cathedral of Guatemala.
“I found the work (by de Ceballos). It was put on the Internet, and no one had ever done anything with it,” he explained.
“The music is special because we are digging up these gems from the past that have not been heard probably since they were written hundreds of years ago,” the Kennesaw resident said.
Though Sacre Voci started as part of the FPC, with the church’s permission in 2007 the group obtained 501 (c) 3 status as an independent non-profit chamber choir. The group continues to rehearse at FPC.
The group, made of professional and amateur singers with strong musical backgrounds, performs throughout the Marietta area, including FPC where they often perform in the historic sanctuary.
“(The old sanctuary) makes the perfect setting for pieces of antiquity,” said Schneider, a native of Los Angeles, who moved to Marietta in 2003 for employment after receiving his doctorate at University of Cincinnati in choral conducting.
Membership in Sacre Voci is by audition.
“Sacre Voci is not going to be for every singer. It is for those really interested in chamber works of the Renaissance and contemporary works for chamber choir,” Schneider said.
“We sing highly spiritual music. By listening to this music myself I become a better person. It’s music that reaches into your soul and makes you look at life in a very different way,” Schneider said.
To learn more visit www.sacrevoci.com. Contact Schneider at edschneider@fpcmarietta.org
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