"Looking Back and Looking Up" is a sumptuous, 2-CD collection by the three talented branches of the New Orleans Children's Chorus, the Youth Chorale, Chamber Ensemble and Concert Chorus, all directed by Cheryl Dupont, with piano accompaniment by Kevin Caparotta. The Chorus is delighted to celebrate their 25th season, in spite of a 4-month hiatus due to Hurricane Katrina. There are 52 selections here on the two discs, impressive not only for the number, but for the difficulty and maturity of the pieces and the quality of the performances by this veteran Chorus. Attempting to choose favorites is not easy, for instance, disk one begins with David Elliot's joyous "When I Sing," Mozart's wonderful "Laudate Dominum," and Leslie/Calvert's heartstring-tugging "Song for the Mira;" each of these is a stone winner. We absolutely enjoyed Andre Thomas' "Rockin' Jerusalem," Bela Bartok's "Don't Leave Me," Imant Raminsh's "Song of the Stars," John Rutter's "Gaelic Blessing," Jule Styne's "Never, Never Land" and Z. Randall Stroope's "Inscription of Hope." On disk 2, we find S. Hatfield's "Nkose Sikeleli/Freedom is Coming," Rupert Lang's "Spirit of the Child," Ella Fitzgerald's "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," Randall Thompson's "A Girl's Garden," Schubert's "Lebenslust," Valerie Shields' "Eliyahu Hanavi," Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing Me to Heaven" and pianist Caparotta's "May the Road Rise to Meet You." A beautiful, sublime collection from this outstanding American children's chorus!

Songlist: When I Sing, Laudate Dominum, Song for the Mira, Kyrie from Missa Brevis, Pie Jesu from Requiem, Rockin' Jerusalem, Lift Thine Eyes, Don't Leave Me, O Aula Nobilis, Cantate Domino, Good Ale, Hiney Ma Tov, Song of the Stars, Old McDoodle, Tantum Ergo, Winter Under Snow is Weary, My Heart's Friend, Noel Des Enfants, The Gift to be Simple, Gaelic Blessing, Winter Changes, Never, Never Land, Cape Breton Lullaby, When I Set Out for Lyoness, Inscription of Hope, Do I Not Love Thee, Neighbor's Chorus, The Lord Bless You and Keep You, Nkose Sikeleli/Freedom is Coming, Spirit of the Child, and more

Cheryl Dupont is the Artistic Director of the three divisions of the NOCC, the Youth Chorale, Chamber Ensemble and Concert Chorus. The piano accompaniment for these 23 songs is provided by Kevin Caparotta. Some of our favorites are the title tune by the masterful Moses Hogan, Mark Patterson's "This Shall Be For Music," Bob Chilcott's "The Lily and the Rose" and "Be Simple Little Children," Cesar Franck's "Panis Angelicus, John Rutter's "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind," Paul Basler's "Gloria from Missa Kenya," Nick Page's Thula S'Thandwa," Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and the Scottish Folk Song "Auld Lang Syne" by the combined choirs. Every cut here is wonderful, inspirational music from one of America's finest children's choruses!

Songlist: Psalm 100, Kyrie from St. Francis in the Americas, The Lily and the Rose, Metsa Telegramm, Music Down in My Soul, Praise His Holy Name, Panis Angelicus, Herbstlied, The Child, The Water of Tyne, This Shall Be for Music, Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler on the Roof, Be Simple, Little Children, Happy Land, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, Hey Ay, Gloria from Missa Kenya, Thula S'Thandwa, Tres Cantos Nativos dos Indios Krao, Vigil, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Auld Lang Syne, May the Road Rise to Meet You