Newark vocalist going to Beijing
with Oratorio Society

The Rochester Oratorio Society is in for an historic opportunity - singing as part of the pre-Olympic cultural activities in Beijing leading up to the games. Marie Burnham, a member of the Rochester Oratorio Society, will be singing with the group in China. Marie lives in Newark with her husband Scott and children, Matthew and Allison. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and DeMay Living Center.

Out of 80 choirs from around the world selected to perform in the 2008 China International Choral Festival in July, five were selected for keynote spots in the opening and closing performances. ROS has a spot in the top five as the only volunteer, community choir in the festival.

The group will give a send-off concert with the full China program on July 9, 7:30 p.m., at Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 North Plymouth Ave. in Rochester. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students; children under 12 are free.

ROS also will become the first non-Chinese choir to perform in the Great Hall of the People. Other venues will be a solo concert at the Forbidden City Concert Hall and a closing concert at China's Great Wall.

ROS will represent not only the Rochester area, but the entire U.S.; it is the only U.S. choir invited to sing in the festival.

Music Director Eric Townell has put together an international program with music sung in Spanish, Latin, German, English and Mandarin.

The group is selling Olympic-style commemorative pins available from any ROS member. To order a pin from Burnham, call her at 332.2273.

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