Classical Movements

Classical Movements (Alexandria, VA) is a touring company, specializing in concert and travel arrangements, primarily for orchestras and choruses of the world. Classical Movements is the only company working with adult orchestras as well as youth orchestras, conservatories and very fine choral ensembles of all types and all ages. They have the ability to make travel arrangements worldwide, have a vast knowledge of repertoire and can facilitate educational and exciting collaborations in magnificent concert venues around over the world.

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In 2011, Classical Movements began celebrating its 20th year, arranging tours on 6 continents in 135 countries for over 42,000 clients

Classical Movements’ clients include:

• Children’s Choirs: Young People’s Chorus of New York City, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, San Francisco Girls Chorus, Children’s Chorus of Washington, Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, Toronto Children’s Chorus, Miami Children’s Chorus.
• Boy Choirs: Pacific Boychoir, Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale, Drakensberg Boys’ Choir, Florida Singing Sons Boychoir
• Adult Orchestras: National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, YouTube Symphony Orchestra*
• Collegiate Choruses: Yale Glee Club, University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, University of Maryland Chamber Singers, Smith College Chamber Singers, George Washington University Singers
• Conservatories & Youth Orchestras: Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Curtis Institute of Music, Yale Symphony Orchestra, El Camino Youth Symphony, St. Louis Youth Symphony Orchestra, Peabody Youth Orchestra
• Symphonic Choruses: Yale Alumni Chorus, Choral Arts Society of Washington, VocalEssence, Dallas Symphony Chorus, Smith Alumnae Chorus, Lexington Singers, Washington Chorus

Since its beginning in 1992, Classical Movements has established four choral festivals around the world in South Africa (Ihlombe! South African Choral Festival), South America (Melodia! South American Music Festival), Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague (Rhapsody! Children’s Music Festival), and its latest in the USA (Serenade! Washington D.C. Choral Festival). These festivals present a people-to-people exchange for international children and adult choruses from all over the world.

In 2011, Classical Movements began celebrating its 20th year, arranging tours on 6 continents in 135 countries for over 42,000 clients.

International Music Festivals

Classical Movements owns and produces four annual international music festivals:

• Ihlombe! South African Choral Festival (Since 2009) is the largest choral gathering in South Africa and hosted in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Soweto as well as a Safari. Concerts with 10-20 South African choirs, workshops, African drumming and dancing.
• Melodía! South American Music Festival (Since 2006) features individual concerts in Brazil and combined choir performances with orchestra for youth choirs conducted by the Guest Conductor in Argentina. Cultural exchanges, Latin American music workshop, sightseeing and outreach opportunities. Venues have included the word-famous Teatro Colón Opera House in Buenos Aires and Candelária Church in Rio de Janeiro.
• Rhapsody! Children’s Music Festival: Vienna, Salzburg & Prague (Since 2002) features individual and combined choir concerts in three of Europe’s most musical and historical cities. Venues have included St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna, St. Andrä Church in Salzburg, St. Simon and Judah Church, Smetana Hall and the Dvořák Hall - Rudolfinum in Prague.
• Serenade! Washington, DC Choral Festival (Since 2011) provides an international festival experience within the United States. Cultural and musical exchanges with national and international choirs, workshops, excellent venues and historic sites. Venues have included Strathmore Music Center, George Washington Masonic Memorial and New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

History

Previously known as, Blue Heart Travel, Inc, the company was established in 1992. It started with tours to Russia and Ukraine and soon added several newly emerging destinations such as Croatia and Eastern Europe, or countries where tourism for Americans was just blossoming like Turkey, South Africa and Cuba. In the very first few years destinations were added rapidly. From Asia to South America and also Africa and much of Europe.

The needs and cultural connections in these countries meant they had a high inclusion of cultural activities and people to people exchanges. The great love for choral and classical music very soon lead to organized tours for musical groups and in a few years the word of mouth publicity lead to the company growing into a company mostly organizing tours for musical groups. A new division called Classical Movements was started to manage all music tours.

Leadership

Jacques Vallerand-Parisi (Co-Founder) 1992 – 2008

Neeta Helms (Co-Founder) 2008 – Current. Since 1992, Helms has built Classical Movements into one of the premier music touring companies in the world, certainly the most diverse offering services to world class orchestras, choruses, youth orchestras and bands as well as numerous celebrated institutions.

Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program

In 2005, Classical Movements established the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program. A multitude of pieces have been commissioned for several long-standing clients by composers of diverse nationalities. These works have been premiered at Classical Movements choral festivals and elsewhere by valued clients. Completed commissions to date include:

Commissions through the Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program:

• 2012: Canadian Aaron Jensen - TBA - for Serenade! Washington DC Choral Festival 2012 Celebration Concert – World Premiere 1st July 2012 by Festival Choirs
• 2012: American Ken Berg - The Cremation of Sam McGee - for Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir in honor of their 35th anniversary - World Premiere TBA by Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir
• 2011: Finnish Olli Kortekangas - Three Studies - for Children's Chorus of Washington in honor of their 15th anniversary - World Premiere May 2011 at National City Christian Church, Washington, DC by Children's Chorus of Washington
• 2011: Cuban-American Tania Leon - Rimas Tropicales - for San Francisco Girls Chorus - World Premiere June 2011 at Chorus America Conference in San Francisco, USA by San Francisco Girls Chorus
• 2011: American David Rimelis - OrchKids Nation - for Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in honor of Marin Alsop - World Premiere March 2011 at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore, USA by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop
• 2010: South African Mokale Koapeng - Letlang Bana - for Ihlombe! South African Choral Festival - World Premiere July 2010 at the Regina Mundi RC Church in Soweto, South Africa by Imilonji ka'Nthu Choral Society
• 2009: South African Stephen Carletti - Evening Canticles - in honor of Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir visit during their SA tour - World Premiere September 2009 at St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town, South Africa by St George's Cathedral Choir
• 2009: Mexican Jorge Cordoba Valencia - Tu - for Yale Alumni Chorus' tour to Mexico - World Premiere August 2009 at Sala Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico City by Yale Alumni Chorus
• 2008: American Daniel Brewbaker - El Angel - for Melodia! South American Music Festival - World Premiere July 2008 at La Plata Cathedral, La Plata, Argentina by 2008 Festival Choirs
• 2006: Argentinean Oscar Escalada - Eulogy to Childhood - for Melodia! South American Music Festival - World Premiere July 2006 at Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires by 2006 Festival Choir