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January 02, 2012

North Park University Choir, Chamber Singers to Tour Northern Illinois

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North Park University Choir, Chamber Singers to Tour Northern Illinois

North Park University Choir

The 2012 University Choir Tour is October 19-21, and will include performances throughout northern Illinois.

October 19-21 tour includes performances in Naperville, Batavia, and Rockford

CHICAGO (October 4, 2012) — North Park University's Chamber Singers and University Choir will perform in northern Illinois congregations in Naperville and Rockford, and at an Evangelical Covenant Church retirement community in Batavia, Ill., during their Fall 2012 tour. "A Choral Celebration" will feature performances of choral works by several international composers.

Performance dates and locations are:

 

"The performances include a wide variety of choral repertoire," said Dr. Julia Davids, University director of choral activities, and holder of the Stephen J. Hendrickson Endowed Chair in Music, School of Music. "If you're someone who has heard some choral music before, you will likely recognize some of the music to be performed during the tour."

The 14-member Chamber Singers will perform a capella "Suite de Lorca," a set of poetic pieces by Spanish poet Garcia Lorca, set to music by a Finnish composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara. The Chamber Singers will also perform works such as "If Ye Love Me," by English composer Thomas Tallis; "Ain't Got Time to Die," by American composer Hall Johnson; "Longing," by Matthew Emery, a young Canadian composer; and other compositions. Emery's piece is an unpublished composition that the Chamber Singers have been granted rights to perform, Davids said.

The University Choir will feature a performance of English composer John Rutter's "Te Deum," which Davids characterized as "a great text of praise." The 41-member choir will also perform compositions such as William Byrd's setting of Ave Verum Corpus, and a similar setting by Edward Elgar; "Keltic Song" by Canadian composer Allan Rae, and other compositions. University organist Margaret Martin is featured on some selections, Davids said.

One unusual piece the 41-member choir will perform was written by American composer Gregg Smith, based on Psalm 23. The piece was written for three choirs. "We have three different choirs singing this Psalm in three different keys at one point. On the last page it breaks into 13 parts for the end, and the choir stands in a big circle," Davids commented.

During the tour, the University Choir and Davids will visit Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville October 19 to lead a workshop and perform with the school's choral ensembles. In addition, Davids and the choir will attend the Illinois American Choral Directors Association convention in Naperville October 20. Davids will speak to the conference on vocal technique for choral conductors and singers, and the University Choir will also perform as part of an interactive presentation. Davids recently published a new book on the subject with Stephen LaTour, Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers.

The Fall 2012 University Choir Tour is made possible by North Park University. Staff with the University's School of Music will accompany the choir and make recruiting visits. Choir members will stay with host families throughout the tour.

 


Use @npunews to follow North Park University News on Twitter. For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News, via email or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more about North Park University.

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