TOPSHAM — Emily Isaacson, a native of Brunswick, has been chosen as music director for the Oratorio Chorale. Isaacson succeeds Peter Frewen, who retired after 27 years with the chorale.

 Isaacson brings a diverse background to the podium, including orchestral and choral conducting, chamber and large ensembles in early to contemporary music.

She recently directed the Grammy-nominated ensemble Seraphic Fire, the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Chorus, and the inner-city youth choir Boston City Singers. Isaacson attended Williams College in Massachusetts, and majored in Political Science and Art History. Upon graduating, she attended Edinburgh University, Scotland, on an award from the St. Andrews Society Fellowship, and earned a Masters in Musicology.

In creating the 2013-2014 Oratorio Chorale program Isaacson titled the fall program  “Musical Fireworks.” It features a brass quintet, organ, strings and percussion, and a soprano soloist. For the winter season the chorale will present “Shakespeare in Concert,” with scenes and songs from the Bard’s comedies and tragedies. The spring program will include the Brahms Requiem with soloists, and Brahms’ own four-hand piano arrangement.

Auditions for this new season are set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, and from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Midcoast Presbyterian Church, 84 Main St.

All voice parts are welcome. To schedule an audition, call 207-329-5708 or email members@oratoriochorale.org. For more information, visit www.oratoriochorale.org.

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