With a New Director Holding the Baton, Rutgers University-Newark Chorus Plans Fall, Winter Concerts

For the first time in nearly four decades, a new director will lead the Rutgers University-Newark Chorus through its fall and winter concerts.

Dr. Brian Preston Harlow, the new director of the student-alumni chorus, took the baton this semester from Dr. John Floreen, who retired after 36 years as head of the chorus. The assistant conductor, Dr. Susan McAdoo, also retired.

Harlow is a distinguished organist, choral director and music teacher who had a longtime, close working relationship with Floreen and McAdoo before their retirements. Harlow even accompanied the chorus on piano and organ for several years and toured Germany with the group in spring 2014.

The Rutgers University-Newark Chorus was founded in the summer of 1947, only a year after the University of Newark became the Newark campus of Rutgers University. It has made several international tours and released at least six CDs.

The chorus will give the following performances:

Saturday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m., Essex County Choral Festival, Alexander Kasser Theater, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair, Montclair State University; free.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m., St. Mary’s Abbey Church, 528 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (next to St. Benedict's Preparatory School, at the corner of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and William Street); $5 seniors, $10 general admission, $25 preferred seating.

Monday, Dec. 14, 11:45 a.m., campus concert, Robeson Gallery, Paul Robeson Campus Center, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; free.

“The December concerts will be very much in the tradition of past years’ concerts under Dr. Floreen, including a few pieces the chorus has sung in the past as well as new pieces, including two settings of poems by Robert Frost, and holiday music in Chinese, Youruba, Hebrew, German, and Latin,” explains Harlow.  “The concert will begin with an arrangement by Dr. Floreen followed by one that I composed especially for this concert.”

Harlow holds three degrees from the Yale University School of Music: doctor of musical arts, master of musical arts, and master of music. Harlow also earned the bachelor of music degree with high distinction from Indiana University School of Music.  He has received a number of prestigious awards from both schools and the American Guild of Organists, is a member of the board of the Metropolitan New Jersey chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is the instrumental music reviewer for the Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians.

Media contact: Carla Capizzi, capizzi@rutgers.edu

Photo: Dr. Brian Preston Harlow