Voices of Ascension, the acclaimed professional chorus and orchestra conducted by Dennis Keene. will bring its 15th anniversary concert season to a close with "A Bach Celebration" on Tuesday May 17, 2005. The concert, which will feature the chorus and orchestra in Magnificat in D, is scheduled for 8:00 PM at The Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue at 10th Street, New York City.

"There can be no better way to close our 15th anniversary celebration than with this mini 'Bach Fest!'" said Dennis Keene, Artistic Director of Voices of Ascension. "We begin with two of Bach's extraordinary motets for two choirs and two groups of continuo instruments, and between them will be a selection of Bach's beautiful songs for solo voice and continuo instruments."

The motets to be performed are Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf and Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, and the concert will conclude with Magnificat in D, the first performance by Voices of Ascension in nearly 15 years. Maestro Keene commented that "Bach lavished on this relatively compact work an elaborate orchestration and elevated ceremonial style that place it along with his larger works, such as the Mass in B Minor."

Voices of Ascension was founded at The Church of the Ascension in Greenwich Village in 1990. Since its founding, Voices of Ascension has evolved into one of the most esteemed professional choruses in the world, and conductor Dennis Keene has been hailed as the leading choral conductor of his generation. Highlights of the ensemble's fifteen years include its recording relationship with Delos International, begun in 1993, which has produced nine recordings including the chart-topping Beyond Chant, the critically acclaimed Duruflé Album, and the massive Berlioz Te Deum. The most recent recording, Hear My Prayer, with soprano Hei Kyung Hong, was released in 2004. Guest appearances for the ensemble have been with the San Francisco Symphony, EOS Orchestra, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center.

Tickets for A Bach Celebration are $45, $35, $25, $20 and $10 (half price for students with valid ID) and are available from Voices of Ascension by phone at 212-358-1469 or on the web at www.voicesofascension.org. This concert concludes the 15th Anniversary Season of concerts by Voices of Ascension. The 2005-2006 season will be announced in late summer, 2005.