New Hampshire Friendship Chorus with Amadeus Chamber Choir

New Hampshire Friendship Chorus & Amadeus Chamber Choir
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Free Admission

Join the New Hampshire Friendship Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Dan Perkins, for an inspiring evening of choral music in collaboration with the Amadeus Chamber Choir, conducted by Mro. Brian Cefai.

The program features the luminous harmonies of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ "Proclamation" and the timeless beauty of Thomas Tallis’ "If Ye Love Me," to beloved works such as Stephen Paulus’ "The Road Home" and John Rutter’s "For the Beauty of the Earth." Audiences will also enjoy moving spirituals, contemporary choral works, and a touch of Maltese heritage with L-aħħar Bidwi f’Wied il-Għasel, arranged by Maestro Cefai.

Join us for an unforgettable night of heartfelt music in one of Malta’s most historic settings.

"Proclamation" | Ēriks Ešenvalds

"If Ye Love Me" | Thomas Tallis

Psalm 23: "The Lord to Me a Shepherd Is" | Jean Berger

"Peace Flows" | Jacob Narverud

"The Road Home" | Stephen Paulus

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" | arr. Mark Hayes

"When We Are Singing" | Mexican Hymn arr. Padworski

"The Storm Is Passing Over "| arr. Barbara Baker

"Until I Reach My Home" | arr. Brandon Boyd

"For the Beauty of the Earth" | John Rutter

"L-ahhar Bidwi f'Wied il-Ghasel" | arr. Brian Cefai

The New Hampshire Friendship Chorus' (NHFC) mission is to foster international friendship, understanding, and goodwill by sponsoring concert tours to other countries. Singers of all ages, genders, belief systems, and ethnicities eagerly participate, seeking areas of the world that have fewer opportunities to meet choirs from the United States. We encourage collaboration and participation through joint concerts with local groups, and we endeavor to engage through informal gatherings with other singers and audience members alike.

The Friendship Chorus was the vision of Philip Wei, co-founder and long-time president of the Chorus. Originally created for a single tour to China in 1988, the Friendship Chorus continues to provide opportunities to share music, friendship, and culture with people from around the world. Since its inception in 1988, the Friendship Chorus has performed worldwide in concert tours to Australia, Austria, Armenia, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Columbia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Korea, Latvia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam. This marks NHFC’s first visit to both Malta and Sicily.

To learn more about the NHFC, visit https://www.nhfriendshipchorus.org/.

Dan Perkins is Professor Emeritus at Plymouth State University, where he was professor of music and director of choral activities for 29 years and in 2007 was honored with the Stevens-Bristow Distinguished Professorship. Dr. Perkins is also music director of the Manchester Choral Society and has served as the principal guest conductor of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet in Hanoi, New Hampshire Music Festival, guest conductor of the Dartmouth Concertato Singers, Dartmouth Handel Society, and as the music director of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra and New Hampshire Friendship Chorus. Perkins’ choirs have performed and studied in Canada, England, Peru, Chile, Vietnam, South Africa, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Austria, South Korea, Brazil, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Bulgaria, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Ireland, Georgia, Armenia, Spain, Iceland, and throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

A passionate advocate for new music, Perkins’ ensembles have premiered over 30 works by composers including Jonathan Santore, Oliver Caplan, Michael Bussewitz-Quarm, John Ratledge, and Kim Andre Arnesen.

He holds degrees of Musical Arts and Master of Music in Choral Music from the University of Southern California, and Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Brigham Young University. He continued his studies as a Fulbright scholar in Helsinki, Finland. While there, he worked as the associate conductor of the Finnish Chamber Choir and associate conductor of the Savonlinna Opera Festival Chorus

Founded in 1990 by Mro. Brian Cefai, the Amadeus Chamber Choir is one of Malta’s leading SATB mixed choirs, known for its versatile repertoire from 16th-century polyphony to contemporary music

Maestro Brian Cefai is a distinguished Maltese tenor and conductor, recognized both locally and internationally. He trained with leading Maltese and foreign voice teachers, earning the Accademia del Mediterraneo award in 1984 and later completing advanced studies in voice, pedagogy, and conducting in Europe. He holds a fellowship in singing and teaching with honours.

Cefai has performed extensively across Europe, debuting in London at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1986 and appearing at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. His wide-ranging repertoire spans lieder, oratorio, and opera, with leading roles in works such as La Bohème, La Traviata, and Tosca. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Katia Ricciarelli, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras, and performed at major international events and state occasions.

In 1990 Brian founded The Amadeus Chamber Choir and has been its director ever since. Amongst the most important works under his baton, he has conducted thirty-two editions of the concert ‘A Prelude to Christmas’, and conducted the Orchestra of the Academy of Teatro Massimo di Palermo with the participation of his choir and foreign soloists in Mozart’s Requiem at the prestigious Cathedral of Monreale. Brian has conducted many major choral works, orchestral concerts, pantomimes, musicals, English operas and many important private concerts. In November 2013 Brian celebrated his 30th anniversary as a Tenor with a classical concert ‘Voce della Vita’. In October 2022, Brian was honoured with the award of ‘Ġieħ San Ġiljan’ by the St. Julian’s Local Council for his contribution to society.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Classical Movements