The Poetic Notion Chorus

 Is a group of constantly inspiring vocalists and led by

Rob Darnell, Choral Director.

The chorus started in 1994 and has performed at University of the Streets, St. Peter’s Church, The Nuyorican Poets Café, and HERE Arts Center. The Chorus recorded its first CD  "Floating Pretty Fine On Cloud Eighteen…and Other Cosmic Stories" in 2000 and is currently recording it’s next CD called "Songs From The Pen".  'Blissed' out over the May 6^th and 7^th 2006 performances of "The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword… a funk opera", at University of the Streets, the chorus is recording the songs and anticipating more performances in the fall of 2006.

Rob Darnell (b. 1954) is a Composer, Pianist, Vocalist. He is currently the director of The Poetic Notion Chorus,  and The Kew Gardens Community Chorus. Rob started his musical training in The Queens Boro-wide Chorus in 1969 when he was 15 and sang with them on their Salute To Music recording, which was performed at Queens College. In 1971 he sang with the All City High School Chorus under the direction of John Motley. That year, the chorus performed at Avery Fisher Hall and in June of that year, recorded Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson?s Fredome?Freedom. That same year Rob also sang and performed in the Long Island City High School production of Finian?s Rainbow, permanently ingraining his love for music. That summer, Rob participated in Teen-Age  Performing Arts Workshop at Manhattan School of Music, and started to form his songwriting skills there with it?s easy assess to Steinway Pianos.

While in college and the subsequent years following, Rob maintained his love for music by being a DJ, crafting his songs, and being in Funk bands that performed in the dives of lower Manhattan. But it wasn’t  until Rob met Bebop master Barry Harris and joined the Barry Harris  Jazz Ensemble in 1989 did his musical journey take off from where he left it in the 70’s. Rob’s musical knowledge grew a lot while learning Barry’s music and participating in two of Barry’s Concerts in 1989 and 1996, both conducted by Coleridge Taylor- Perkinson. Rob joined The City College and Community Chorus after that which was directed by John Motley, So at this point Rob had come full circle and was trained vigorously in all aspects of music by Motley, Phil Bingham and David Brandon, and. being a participant in two concerts with The Concord Baptist Church’s version of Handel’s Messiah, under the direction of Phil Bingham and a concert dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. under the direction of Max Roach and John Motley.