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About Kairos

Photo:
Michael Nelson ©2008.
The name
KAIROS comes from the Greek word for cyclic time, as
opposed to chronos, or linear time. It denotes the state
of mind we hope to achieve in our music, a time-out-of-time in
which past and future merge with the present in the listener's
experience.
KAIROS: A Consort of Singers was formed in 1994 by
Brother Randall Horton, a member of the
Holy Cross Episcopal Monastery
in West Park, New York. The group originally focused on
medieval and Renaissance repertoire, interspersing Gregorian
chant with movements of masses by Palestrina, Josquin, Byrd, and
other 16th and 17th century composers. The group quickly
established a loyal following and performed several times a
year.
In 1996 the group was reorganized under its present Artistic
Director, Dr. Edward Lundergan. Ed brought a new focus
to Kairos, and the group has blossomed and matured under his
direction. Repertoire such as Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia
and Five Flower Songs, Poulenc's Un Soir de Neige,
and J. S. Bach's Singet dem Herrn are just some of the
demanding and complex works that the group regularly performs.
The group performs at various venues in the Hudson Valley, and
has also performed with instrumental groups such as the Hudson
Valley Philharmonic, the Bach Festival orchestra, and members of
the Hudson Valley Philharmonic String Quartet. In 2005
Kairos became artists-in-residence at Holy Cross Monastery
and performs concerts in the wonderful Chapel throughout the
year.
In the spring of
2006 Kairos expanded its mission and repertoire by creating a Bach
Cantata Series, with performances of four cantatas in
2006 and six cantatas in 2007. Community
response to the Bach Cantata Series has been
overwhelming, and Kairos plans to present six cantatas in the
series' third year. For more information about the
Cantata Series,
click here.
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