Released: February 21, 2011
Lincoln, Neb. - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts announces the Combined Choir Concert featuring the UNL University Singers and the touring premier choral ensemble from Iowa State University, Thursday, February 24 at 7:00 pm at First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D Street, Lincoln. This event is FREE and open to the public.
It will be a very unique opportunity to hear two of the Big XII's most acclaimed ensembles. UNL's University Singers have appeared at Carnegie Hall twice this decade on prestigious Sunday evening concerts, performed at numerous MENC regional and national conventions, and have partnered with many Nebraska arts organizations to perform major works of all types. Numerous luminaries in the choral field are alums of UNL, including two past ACDA presidents, William Hatcher and Morris Hayes who earned all of their degrees there.
The choirs will perform music by Paul Halley, David von Kampen, Alessandro Scarlatti, Tomas Victoria, and an arrangement by Moses Hogan. Two of the pieces were written especially for them this academic year. They will be joined on the Lied organ by First-Plymouth Minister of Music, Tom Trenney. The ensemble is conducted by Dr. Peter A. Eklund.
The 69-voice Iowa State Singers will perform a varied program of a cappella choral music, including works by early composers Josquin, Monteverdi, Mendelssohn, and Brahms, along with contemporary music by Ko Matsushita, Eric Barnum, Aaron McDermid, Stephen Paulus, and Stacey Gibbs.
The Iowa State Singers has been a featured choir at the 2005 and 2009 National Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. In 2006 the choir toured in China, singing to critical acclaim, and will embark on a tour to Korea this spring. The ensemble is conducted by Dr. James Rodde, Director of Choral Activities at Iowa State. The concert is free and the public is cordially invited to attend.
Dr. Rodde and Dr. Eklund were classmates at the University of Iowa where they both earned their Masters and Doctorates in Choral Conducting and Pedagogy. Both have conducted numerous All-State and regional honors choirs.
Contact information: Mike Edholm, UNL Public Relations and Publicity Coordinator, UNL School of Music, medholm2@unl.edu or (402) 472-6865. The UNL School of Music website is www.unl.edu/music.