The SummerSings Series
2026-08-17 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-08-10 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-08-03 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-20 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-13 19:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-06 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | First Church of Christ, 366 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT, 06475, United States
Since 1991 the annual program of SummerSings, co-sponsored by Con Brio and Cappella Cantorum, has provided an opportunity to enjoy choral works without the pressure of preparing for performance. It offers the experience to work with acclaimed conductors and professional soloists. The 2025 season was tremendously successful with over 500 singers participating. Note that the Brahms Requiem (July 6) will be sung in German, as composed: Ein deutsches Requiem (Edition Peters).

Con Brio Spring Concerts 2026
2026-04-19 16:00, 2026-04-17 19:00 | Valley Regional High School, 156 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, CT, 06417, United States
Con Brio presents two glorious, uplifting, at times somber, rousing, and patriotic concerts to celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday (1776-2026). These concerts feature a special program of All-American music with full orchestra and augmented brass section.
Stars & Stripes Forever
A choral celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday
Featuring over 110 performers, with the Con Brio Chorus, the Con Brio Festival Orchestra, and with special guest Soprano and Tenor soloists, conducted by Dr. Chris Shepard on April 17, 2026 at 7 PM and April 19 2026 at 4 PM, Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River CT 06417.
March
The Stars & Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa, USMC (orchestra)
The National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner, Smith, words Francis Scott Key, arr. Hayes (chorus and orchestra)
The Testament of Freedom, Randall Thompson, words from Thomas Jefferson, (chorus and orchestra)
I. A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)
II. and III. Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms (July 6, 1775)
IV. Letter to John Adams, (September 12, 1821)
The Mansions of the Lord, Glennie-Smith, arr. Harlan & Rickets, words Wallace, (chorus and string orchestra)
Battle Hymn of the Republic, Steffe, arr. Wilhousky, words Howe, (chorus and orchestra, with audience)
INTERMISSION
Will the Circle be Unbroken, Trad. Appalachian, arr. Moore, Words Rose, Winter & Taylor (a cappella chorus)
Precious Lord, Take My Hand, Dorsey arr. Sevier (a cappella chorus)
The Circus Band, Ives (chorus and 4-hand piano)
An Aaron Copland Suite
Old American Songs arr. Copland
At the River, words and music by Rev. Robert Lowery (1865),(chorus and orchestra)
The Little Horses, Trad. (soprano solo and orchestra)
Zion’s Walls, Revivalist Song, words and music by John McCurry (1821-1886, (baritone solo and orchestra)
The Tender Land
The Promise of Living Copland, words Everett (soprano & baritone soli, chorus and orchestra)
Make Our Garden Grow, from Candide, Bernstein, words Wilbur (soprano & baritone soli, chorus and orchestra)
Finale
God Bless America, Irving Berlin, arr. Martin (chorus and orchestra, with audience)

Con Brio Christmas Concerts
2025-12-12 19:00 | Valley Regional High School, 156 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, CT, 06417, United States
In celebration of Sir John Rutter’s 80th birthday, Con Brio presents Sir John Rutter’s Christmas. In the words of the New York Times, “John Rutter is the composer who owns Christmas”
Con Brio’s Christmas Concerts with the Con Brio Festival Orchestra, and Con Brio Chorus, will be conducted by Dr. Chris Shepard. The guest soprano soloist is Louise Fauteux.

Friday December 12, 2025 at 7.00 PM
Sunday December 14, 2025 at 3.00 PM

Save the date! Tickets are $40 or $15 for students. Tickets will be available in September. Patrons are advised to purchase tickets early, as concerts sell out. The performance runs for about 2 hours, including intermission.
The concerts feature the Rutter Magnificat, and many of Sir John’s best-loved carols, as well as traditional carol arrangements. This will include carols with audience participation.

PROGRAM
Fanfare: A Christmas Overture
Magnificat, with Louise Fauteux, soprano
INTERMISSION
Carols Set I
Christmas Night
Shepherd’s pipe carol
Nativity carol
The Twelve days of Christmas (with audience)
Fancies, with Louise Fauteux, soprano
Fancies is a cycle of six brief choral settings, created around whimsical themes and based on text from poets such as Shakespeare, Thomas Campion (1567–1620), Edward Lear (1812–1888) and others.
Carols Set II
Candlelight Carol
What Sweeter Music
Joy to the World (with audience)

ANNOUNCING A NEW CONCERT VENUE
Con Brio has had the distinct privilege to perform at Christ the King Church for the last 19 years and is enormously grateful for all the support received. We shall be very sad to leave, but it is now time to move to a larger venue to accommodate our growing number of singers, as well as space for larger orchestras. Also, Con Brio’s concerts have been consistently selling out, so we wish to offer additional seating to satisfy our loyal Patrons.
Valley Regional High School’s beautiful auditorium fulfills all these needs. It offers over 580 very comfortable theater-style seats, unobstructed sight-lines, stage lighting, good acoustics, a large lobby and extensive on-campus parking. VRHS is compliant with all ADA requirements. Many Patrons will already be familiar with the auditorium, which has been home to the popular Essex Winter Series concerts for many years.
Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River, CT 06417. The school is conveniently located with easy access from Routes 9, 80 and 154, and just a few miles north of I-95/Rt 9 junction.
