Emily Isaacson is new Music Director of Oratorio Chorale

Emily Isaacson, a native of Brunswick, Maine, is the new Music Director of the Oratorio Chorale. Isaacson succeeds Peter Frewen, who retired after 27 years with the chorale. The Chorale was started in 1974. Isaacson brings a diverse background to the Oratorio Chorale podium, including orchestral and choral conducting, chamber and large ensembles in early to contemporary music.

She recently directed the Grammy-nominated ensemble Seraphic Fire, the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Chorus, and the inner-city youth choir Boston City Singers. Isaacson attended Williams College in Massachusetts, and majored in Political Science and Art History. After graduating, she attended Edinburgh University, Scotland, on an award from the St. Andrews Society Fellowship, and earned a Masters in Musicology.  Isaacson is also Assistant Music Director for Juventas New Music Ensemble in Boston, Massachusetts.

In creating the 2013-2014 Oratorio Chorale program Isaacson titled the fall program  “Musical Fireworks.” It features a brass quintet, organ, strings and percussion, and a soprano soloist. For the winter season the chorale will present “Shakespeare in Concert,” with scenes and songs from the Bard’s comedies and tragedies. The spring program will include the Brahms Requiem with soloists, and Brahms’ own four-hand piano arrangement.