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Directed
by Dr. Peter Eklund and Stephen Todd, and choreographed by
nationally acclaimed choreographer April James, Big Red Singers
is comprised of thirty-eight singer/dancers and ten instrumentalists.
The ensemble is one of the most recent additions to the choral
area at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and features
some of the university’s finest musicians. Outstanding
performers from all over the university that represent a
variety of different majors from Music Education to Engineering
to Psychology as well as students involved in the Greek system,
work together in the development of entertaining, high-energy,
fully choreographed shows. The ensemble’s repertoire
is chosen from a wide variety of popular music as well as
music from Broadway.
Although some performances
occur in the fall semester, most performances are scheduled during the spring
semester. The first semester is utilized to develop ideal performance habits.
One of the ensemble’s main objectives is to build advanced stage presence,
and professionalism while continuing to foster healthy singing. Big Red Singers
seeks to represent the very best in show choir while providing numerous cross-curriculum
benefits. While maintaining their show choir status, Big Red Singers is also
active in the world of classical music performing as opera chorus and recital
choir for several conductors. Within the ensemble is an atmosphere of collegiality
among its musicians, and it provides the young professional with useful tools
for future careers on stage. Big Red Singers functions as an ambassador of
the School of Music, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the choral area.
It is designed to provide the university singer with guidance in performing,
performance opportunities, experiences, and leadership skills.
In 2004, Big Red Singers performed
at the National MTNA Conference in Kansas City, MO, hosts and to performers
in exhibition at Fame’s World Show Choir Championships & Expo in
April, 2005 in Branson, MO, and opera chorus for UN-L’s fall production
of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.