"Laß mich kein Lust noch Furcht von dir"
(Now let no joy nor fear from thee)
Aria from BWV 177, Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesus Christ.
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Boubacar Diallo, cello
Florence Jowers, portative organ

Ich furchte nicht des Grabes Finsternissen
("I do not fear the darkness of the grave")
Duet from BWV 66, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen
Charles Humphries, countertenor
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Fiona Khuong-Huu, violin
Boubacar Diallo, cello
Florence Jowers, portative organ

Bach Chorales with audience participation
Sheila Dietrich, soprano
Charles Humphries, countertenor
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Adrian Smith, bass

Hailed as “a strikingly gifted tenor, with a deeply moving, unblemished voice” (sfmusicjournal.com), Brian Thorsett is excelling in opera, oratorio and recital across the world. Since taking to the operatic stage, he has been seen and heard in over 100 diverse operatic roles, ranging from Monteverdi to Britten, back to Rameau and ahead again to works composed specifically for his talents. As a concert singer Brian fosters a stylistically diversified repertoire of over 250 works, which has taken him to concert halls across the US and Europe. Future engagements include Evangelist and soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Mass in B minor,  and several cantatas, Handel’s Messiah, the Requiems of Mozart and Verdi, Haydn’s Creation, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Part’s Passio and the world premiere of Serj Tankian's Invocations. LEARN MORE

Charles Humphries began his vocal career in the United Kingdom as a 7-year-old chorister at Salisbury Cathedral. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, he was honored with the letters ARAM (Associate Royal Academy of Music) for his services to music. Known for his intelligent interpretations of Baroque and Renaissance music, he has been one of the most sought-after countertenors worldwide for the past thirty years. He has collaborated with the likes of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Richard Hickox, Paul McCreesh, Robert King, Rinaldo Allessandrini, Nicholas McGegan, James O’Donnell, Trevor Pinnock, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Harry Christophers and Scott Allen Jarrett. As a consort singer and soloist, he has made over fifty recordings, and his solo album of Bach Cantatas by J.S. Bach continues to create much attention on the Claudio label with Naxos worldwide distribution. Sharing his time between the UK and the US, his career continues to flourish on both sides of the water. Humphries is in high demand as a vocal coach, teacher and mentor nationwide and runs a private voice studio as well as visiting universities and schools giving masterclasses. During the pandemic, Humphries turned to direction and has been Director of Music at Ware Episcopal Church, Virginia, and Director of Music in Yorktown. LEARN MORE

Canadian soprano Sheila Dietrich is a versatile and in-demand performer whose style and vocal technique shine in both concert and operatic roles. Ms. Dietrich has appeared as a concert soloist with ensembles across Canada including Les Violons du Roy, the Calgary Philharmonic, The Menno Singers, Nota Bene Baroque Players, The Toronto Classical Singers, The Elora Festival Singers and The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Guelph Chamber Choir, and The Bach Elgar Choir. Operatic roles include Rose (Ruddigore | Sullivan), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors | Menotti), Pitti-Sing (The Mikado | Sullivan), Belinda (Dido & Aeneas | Purcell), Venus (La Dafne | Gagliano), Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Britten), Abigail Williams (The Crucible | Ward) and La Petite Chaperon Rouge (La Foret Bleue | Aubert). An Ontario native, Ms. Dietrich received her Bachelor of Music Performance and Opera Diploma from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied with Victor Martens. In 2015, Ms. Dietrich made her Carnegie Hall debut as a featured soloist in an evening devoted to the music of Purcell under the direction of Richard Egarr. She was also a finalist in the 2015 New York Oratorio Society Solo Competition and was awarded the Johannes Somary Prize. Sheila is also a member of Capella Intima, an Ontario based ensemble, which specializes in performing vocal chamber and operatic music of the 17th century in exciting concerts of rarely-heard gems. The ensemble recently finished recording their third CD called “Music in the time of Plague” featuring the music of Heinrich Schütz and the music popular during his time in Venice. She currently in Staunton, Virginia, with her husband, her cats, and several overly full bookshelves. LEARN MORE

Hailed for his “big bronze voice” and commanding stage presence, baritone Adrian Smith has garnered acclaim for performances across the country.  Of his Count Monterone in NC Opera’s Rigoletto, critics said "Adrian Smith's Monterone poured out imposing tone in his outrage against the Duke." Of a performance of La fanciulla del West, critics hailed “Adrian Smith’s well-voiced Larkens was memorably affecting.” ​Mr. Smith’s recent performances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in a return to Lynn Conservatory, as well as Schubert's beloved Winterreise in recital.  He also rounded out his repertoire of J.S. Bach's solo bass cantatas with BWV 158, Der Friede sei mit dir.  Additional engagements include appearances with the North Carolina Opera as Count Monterone in Verdi's Rigoletto along with the roles of Ethan and Owens in the North Carolina premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain, based on the epic civil war novel of the same name. A native of Hickory, NC, Mr. Smith holds degrees from Lenoir-Rhyne University and Boston University.  He was a prize winner in the Heafner/Williams Vocal Competition, the Shreveport Opera Competition, the Birmingham Opera Vocal Competition, and in 2016, received 1st Place in the South Carolina District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. LEARN MORE