Brooklyn's 'It' chorus

By Meredith Deliso

The Brooklyn Youth Chorus is, how you say, having a moment.

In just the past few months, the Grammy Award-winning group performed in Mark Morris’s “The Hard Nut” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, held its own at the Ecstatic Music Festival, joined in the Leonard Bernstein tribute at Lincoln Center, and belted it out in a live accompaniment to “The Lord of the Rings” at Radio City Music Hall. (And let us not forget past collaborations with the likes of Lou Reed, Elton John and Grizzly Bear.)

This week may trump them all, though, as the group presents its biggest undertaking yet — the collaborative, commissioned work “Tell the Way,” which makes its world premiere at St. Ann’s Warehouse from Feb. 10 to 12.

At the heart of the multi-movement show, which is loosely based on medieval and colonial English travel narratives, are three meditative collaborations between composer Nico Muhly and guitarist Bryce Dessner (of The National fame), sitarist Bishi and banjo/fiddle player Sam Amidon. An ensemble of strings, percussion, piano and flute will also accompany the 45-person choir in this propulsive, genre-defying piece.

“With ‘Tell the Way,’ the Brooklyn Youth Chorus seeks to challenge the common perception of the ‘angelic voice’ children’s chorus,” said Dianne Berkun, artistic director of the chorus. “Muhly and St. Ann’s are the perfect partners not only to help break the mold of a traditional children’s chorus, but also to help us evolve programmatically.”

As if those recent credentials haven’t done that already.

“Tell the Way” at St. Ann’s Warehouse [38 Water St. between Dock and Main streets in DUMBO, (718) 254-8779]. Feb. 10 at 7 pm and Feb. 11-12 at 8 pm. Tickets $35-50. For info, visit www.stannswarehouse.org.

Photo: The Brooklyn Youth Chorus in rehearsal. Photo by Stefano Giovannini