New Hampshire Friendship Chorus with VOCA

New Hampshire Friendship Chorus & VOCA
Thursday, April 22, 2026 | 6:45 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 VOCA, conducted by Nathalie Camilleri and Lara Bonnici.

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 John Rutter’s "For the Beauty of the Earth." Audiences will also enjoy the world premier of "I Hear You" by Tim Steiner and Ricardo Baptista

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

Donations collected at the concert will go toward young Zach fighting Joubert Syndrome.

"Proclamation" | Ēriks Ešenvalds

"If Ye Love Me" | Thomas Tallis

"For the Beauty of the Earth" | John Rutter

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

"Peace Flows" | Jacob Narverud

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

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

"I Hear You" | Tim Steiner and Ricardo Baptista - World Premier

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

VOCA is a group of fun loving, professionally minded, singers and musicians, who share a love for song. Since its inception, VOCA have made it their primary mission to be not just a “choir,” but a choir with a difference. Today VOCA’s repertoire ranges from spiritual and worship music, to musicals and contemporary pop music, although VOCA’s distinguishing forte is Gospel music making them one of the top Maltese Gospel Choirs performing both in Malta and overseas.
​The majority of VOCA’s members are seasoned musicians, choristers and soloists with extensive experience in the field. This is clearly reflected in the distinguishable tight harmonies, dynamic sounds and soulful interpretations making every VOCA performance a joyous musical roller coaster.

Music has been Nathalie's passion for as long as she can remember. She started taking piano lessons at the age of five and continued her studies under the tuition of several teachers, until in 1979, at the age of fifteen, she obtained her LTCL and ATCL Diplomas in Pianoforte. In 1980, under the tuition of Miss Giovanna Bascetta and Mrs Anna Scicluna, Nathalie obtained her LRSM Diploma, also in Pianoforte. During her career she has also taken part in several Musicals and stage Representations.

Being a Music teacher by profession brought Nathalie more in touch with the joy that Music brings to our everyday life. In 2004, Nathalie decided to join 'Voices' and this opened up a series of events which eventually led to the post she holds today.

Becoming the Choral Director of a choir like VOCA never crossed Nathalie's mind. Having formed part of the choir since its formation, she was happy singing and mingling with her fellow choristers. Becoming VOCA's Choral Director has helped her enhance her musicality and for this she is very thankful.

Nathalie never fails to take the opportunity to thank the Lord for providing her with the gift of Music, her family for their support and the choir members for their commitment and dedication towards the choir. She truly believes that Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from Heaven to the Soul.

Lara Bonnici’s passion for music began at a young age, studying piano, guitar, vocals, and theory from the age of seven. She continued her training for over a decade, inspired in part by her mother, a music teacher.

She has performed extensively as a chorister and soloist with groups such as EnKor, VOICES, and VOCA, appearing both locally and abroad, including in Holland, Ireland, Milan, and Brussels. Lara is also a member of the vocal ensemble KORO, where she contributes to musical arrangements and vocal development.

Trained in musical theatre, Lara holds both ATCL and LTCL diplomas with distinction from Trinity College London. She has performed in major productions and events, including The Phantom of the Opera, Rockestra, and the Malta Eurovision Song Contest, and has worked with leading Maltese artists such as Ira Losco and Ivan Grech.

Alongside performing, Lara is an experienced music teacher and vocal coach, having taught at St. Monica School and Masquerade Theatre School.

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