New Jersey Composer R. Wayne Walters 'Requiem In D Minor' Receives Pennsylvania Premiere

New Jersey composer R. Wayne Walters revised "Requiem in D Minor" will premiere in Milford, Pennsylvania with the Delaware Valley Choral Society and the Boonton New Jersey based Clarum Sonum choir with orchestra and guest soloists under the baton of Jeffrey Fornoff this Saturday May 19 at 2PM at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium.

R. Wayne Walter's sacred work written for chorus, orchestra and two soloists is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, America's first native-born citizen to be proclaimed a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Soprano Elena Bird and mezzo soprano Patricia Ruggles (who first sung the work in 2007) will sing the solo roles.

Of his inspiration to dedicate his Requiem in D Minor in Seton's honor, Walters said that " I was inspired to explore the independence and accomplishments of Elizabeth Ann Seton and to incorporate them into a sacred work which celebrates her life.  Elizabeth was born in New York to the well-established Episcopalian Bayley family.  When Elizabeth was just three years old her mother died, leaving Elizabeth and one surviving sister.  After her father remarried, his busy life as a skilled surgeon and public health official kept him from home and his growing family.   Elizabeth continued to experience the challenges of loss and separation throughout her life.  Even after a good marriage and five children, Elizabeth faced the decline of the family assets, the loss of her home, and the serious illness of her husband which prompted a move to Italy for his health.   Following her husband’s death the widowed mother of five returned to New York searching for her own spiritual truth.  After much prayerful study and consideration she converted to Catholicism in 1805.  Through her association with a visiting priest who had opened a school for boys in Baltimore, she became interested in the education of young women and seized the opportunity to open a school for girls.  “Mother Seton” pronounced her vows in 1809 and moved the small school to Emmitsburg, Maryland.   The Sisters of Charity, with Elizabeth as the first superior, became the first native religious community in the United States.  Elizabeth continued to grow in her faith and to educate, lead, and minister until her death in 1821.

Composer R. Wayne Walters, a well-known bass-baritone, music educator, conductor and composer of choral and instrumental music has performed in concert, recital, oratorio, opera and musical comedy throughout Europe and the eastern United States, and with many musical organizations. He is founder and former music director of the acclaimed Morris Choral Society, now in its 45th season.

Delaware Valley Choral Society present

'Masses of Peace and Light Eternal'

Featuring "Requiem in D Minor" by R. Wayne Walters, Franz Schubert's Mass in G and Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aterna."

Delaware Valley High School Auditorium at 2 p.m. on

Saturday, May 19 at 2PM

Tickets: $15 for adults; $10 for children available at the door.