NEW YORK CITY, NY (December 18, 2012) Internationally acclaimed dramatic soprano Beverly Hill will share her joy and vocal talents once again at The Prelude to Christmas Concert at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest located at 2 East 90th Street (90th and Fifth Avenue) in New York City. The pre-service concert begins at 10:30 p.m. followed by the annual Christmas Eve Festival Holy Eucharist at 11:00 p.m. Ms. Hill, who has become one of the favorite performers at the annual event, will sing Geistliches Wiegenlied (Spiritual Lullaby) with viola by Brahms and Wiegenlied by Max Reger. Other church soloists include Tawnya Popoff, viola, Andrea Reichenbach, Jacquelyn Penfold, sopranos; Erin Kemp, mezzo soprano, Victor Ziccardi, tenor, Joshua Jeremiah, baritone.
“It is a great joy to again take part in this annual holiday celebration and to share the wonderment of the season with family and friends,” says Ms. Hill. “It’s also gratifying to know that church members and visitors look forward to hearing us each year so that we, the singers, have become part of the tradition.”
Also known for her humanitarian interests, Ms. Hill has partnered with the church in other endeavors. Having founded an organization named in honor of her parents, The Grover and Lula Mae Hill Choraliers, for which she helps provide scholarship opportunities for children ages seven to 13, she brought a group of children from Milledgeville, Georgia to sing at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, offering them an extraordinary opportunity to see New York City and sing at this noted place of worship.
She continues to imbue the young members and their families with her enthusiasm for community leadership, healthful living habits and performance opportunities. She is also a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity, lending her voice to the organization’s fundraising efforts through concerts. Such efforts have earned her recognition from a number of advocacy groups.
Known for her dazzling performances of opera, oratorio, and motivational music, Ms. Hill has garnered worldwide applause and praise for her performances with an array of prestigious opera companies. Hailed as the “talk of the town” upon her Vienna debut, Ms. Hill has also taken other cities by storm, with performances in opera festivals such as with the Kammerensemble Berlin, Kitzbuhel Opera and More Televised, Gala Festival in Salzburg, the Richard Wagner Society in Vienna and as the first American soprano to sing with the historic Shaliapin International Opera Festival in Kazan, Russia. She has also made guest artist appearances at the Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Richard Tucker Metropolitan Opera Stars Gala.
For additional information, visit www.heavenlyrest.org, email [email protected], or call (212) 289-3400.