The Bagaduce Chorale is made up of 90-plus auditioned singers from the Blue Hill Peninsula, Deer Isle/Stonington, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Surry, Lamoine and Orland. The Bagaduce Chorale performs twice a year, in early December and in late April/early May, accompanied by piano, organ or a small instrumental ensemble.

at both the Grand Theater in Ellsworth and The Reach Performing Arts Center on Deer Isle.

Elijah is one of the great masterpieces of oratorio literature for good reason. Since it’s 1846 debut at the Triennial Festival in Birmingham, England, Elijah has been an audience favorite.

It is also a favorite of Chorale Founder and Director Emerita Mary Cheyney Gould who says “Elijah has some of the most beautiful choral music ever written. The story is powerful but the music is glorious!” The Chorale last performed Elijah in 1988, under Mary’s direction.

The theme of an oratorio is meant to be weighty, portraying larger-than life characters in dramatic situations. And Mendelssohn delivers in his telling of the Prophet Elijah’s trials and triumphs. Oratorios by tradition deal with sacred topics. Elijah transcends religious denomination or theology in it’s telling of a man led by his passionate faith to transform himself and his people.

“This is an immense undertaking,” remarks director, Bronwyn Kortge. “The scope of this work is beyond our common undertakings, and we're going to pull out all the stops!” Ms. Kortge plans to use organ accompaniment, augmented with several brass and wind players to add color and dimension to the accompaniment.

The soloists will also be guest artists, including the title role of Elijah which will be performed by Joshua Miller, a young Maine artist from nearby Mount Desert Island. “I met Joshua as a middle school student, ten years ago at Southwest Harbor’s Summer Festival of the Arts,” remembers Bronwyn. “He had the most gorgeous young voice and impeccable intonation. Of course, at the time I think he liked riding his bike and skateboarding as much as he liked singing.”

Joshua Miller was a chorister under Bronwyn’s direction at Mount Desert Island High School. He was a member of the Maine All State Chorus, and earned the Best Male Vocalist award his senior year, at the Maine State Jazz Festival for his solo performance in the Show Choir category.

“I am delighted that Josh has continued to cultivate his vocal talents. He was always a good soloist. Now he is amazing. I’m thrilled to be able to offer Joshua this opportunity to debut in a major work.”

The Chorale will perform the work in English. Originally written in German, Mendelssohn himself, who spoke fluent English, worked tirelessly to perfect the English version.

In order to accommodate the increased personnel, the Chorale will take the performance to The Grand Theater, in Ellsworth and to The Reach Performing Arts Center, on Deer Isle. “I believe that Blue Hill will always be our home, but I feel like we need to stretch our legs a bit,” explains Ms. Kortge. “I want enough room for the soloists to appear distinct from the Chorale, and for the brass and winds to have a little elbow room.”

Last December the Bagaduce Chorale presented a musical celebration of the feminine divine: Mary, Queen of Heaven.

The centerpiece of this celebration was Mozart’s “Coronation Mass.” This missa brevis was performed with founder and director emerita Mary Cheyney Gould at the organ, with strings and tympani accompanying.

The Chorale was joined by a quartet of string players led by Anatole Wieck, professor and music director at the University of Maine in Orono. Also appearing was Sascha Zaburdaeva, BSO principal and private teacher who has studied with both Masao Kawasaki and Itzhak Perlman.

“This is an amazing work,” said musical director Bronwyn Kortge. “It is bright and effervescent and lovely. It’s no surprise that it is one of Mozart’s most popular works!”

The other selections on this program related to Mary, the spotless rose, extolling her divinity, and imagining her tender maternal sympathies.

On tap was the sophisticated and delicious Ave Maria, by Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Ms. Kortge is an aficionado of contemporary composers, and the Chorale’s program will feature several such compositions. Among these works are an Ave Maria by Spanish composer Javier Busto; Splendid Jewel by New Jersey composer Sephen Paulus.

“I’m particularly excited about these works, including This Christmastide by British-born Chicago composer Donald Fraser,” says Ms. Kortge. “It shares such beautiful images of peace and hope born in the simplest of settings.”

Also on the program were two stunning original compositions by British composer John Rutter, who is a perennial favorite of director Bronwyn Kortge, members of the Chorale and audiences.

More traditional selections included Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming, I Saw Three Ships and Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella, and a very nontraditional arrangement of Ballulalow by Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE – better known as “Sting” -- of both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame.

According to Ms. Kortge, it can take years to find the right selections to complement one another on a program such as this. “Over time I have found so many ravishing works that extol the Virgin Mary, and I have so many gifted vocalists among our altos and sopranos.” Ms. Kortge intends for many of December’s selections to feature some of the divine voices of the soprano and alto soloists among the Chorale members.

“I decided it’s time to put two and two together, and feature our lovely roses as we sing of The Lovely Rose.”