Twenty-four years of Seraphic Fire have led to this moment.
A new Artistic Director. A new season. And tomorrow night, an exciting new chapter begins.
From October 15–18, Florida's only GRAMMY-nominated professional choir opens Season 24 with Serenade to Music, welcoming GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Dr. James K. Bass to the podium for his inaugural concert as Artistic Director.
Featuring 16 professional singers and instrumentalists from South Florida, the program brings together four extraordinary works spanning more than 300 years. Each will be performed by Seraphic Fire for the first time.
And behind the music are some fascinating stories.
A Piece Written for Friends
At the heart of the program is Ralph Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music, a work inspired by Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and written to celebrate music itself.
When Vaughan Williams composed the piece, he had 16 singer friends in mind. He even included their initials in the original score, identifying the musical lines intended for each performer.
That personal connection resonates with James.
Seraphic Fire's artists have performed together for years, building the kind of musical relationships that allow an ensemble to communicate almost instinctively.
James first discovered Serenade to Music while listening to a recording in high school. He was immediately captivated by its beauty and has carried an affection for the work throughout his career.
Now, he has the opportunity to conduct it with an ensemble he knows intimately.
With 16 singers, three more than Seraphic Fire typically features, the performance will allow audiences to hear the individuality of each voice alongside the remarkable beauty of the full ensemble.
For James, it is a particularly meaningful way to begin his tenure.
Four Works, Three Centuries, One Remarkable Program
The remaining works reveal another side of James's artistic vision: his interest in connecting music across centuries while exploring the extraordinary expressive possibilities of the human voice.
Eric Whitacre's When David Heard is among the most emotionally powerful selections on the program.
Based on the biblical account of King David mourning the death of his son Absalom, the unaccompanied work explores profound grief through intricate harmonies, repeated musical phrases, and the expressive power of the human voice.
The result is a deeply moving musical experience that asks audiences to listen closely.
The concert also features a fascinating connection between two composers separated by approximately 350 years.
Dieterich Buxtehude's "Ad Manus," from his larger work Membra Jesu Nostri, is a Baroque meditation whose title translates to "to the hands."
Contemporary composer Caroline Shaw drew inspiration directly from Buxtehude's music when creating To the Hands.
James has chosen to perform the two works without interruption, allowing audiences to hear how musical ideas from centuries ago can inspire something entirely new.
It is a beautiful example of how classical music continues to evolve, connecting composers, performers, and audiences across generations.
Be Part of Opening Weekend
For Seraphic Fire, Serenade to Music represents an important artistic milestone.
James has been part of the ensemble's story for many years. Now, as Artistic Director, he begins shaping its future while building on the extraordinary musical legacy established over the past 24 seasons.
This opening program offers a glimpse of that future: familiar musical traditions, new discoveries, and the exceptional artistry that audiences have come to expect from one of the country's leading vocal ensembles.
Join us for one of four performances:
- Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 PM | Moorings Presbyterian Church, Naples
- Friday, October 16 at 7:30 PM | First United Methodist Church, Coral Gables
- Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 PM | All Saints Episcopal Church, Ft. Lauderdale
- Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 PM | St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, Boca Raton
Arrive one hour early for a complimentary Pre-Concert Conversation exploring the music and its historical context.
Whether you've attended Seraphic Fire concerts for years or are considering your first performance, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience the start of Season 24.
Tomorrow night, the music begins.
Reserve your seats at SeraphicFire.org or call our friendly and helpful staff at 305.285.9060.
We look forward to celebrating this new chapter with you.
