WSU’s Madrigal choir singers. View a video here.
PULLMAN, Wash. – The Vocal/Choral program at the Washington State University School of Music will present the 26th annual Vocal Extravaganza at 7 pm on Nov. 11 in the Bryan Hall Theatre as part of the celebration of Dad’s Weekend events.
Opening the concert will be the WSU Madrigal/Chamber Singers performing Renaissance and Contemporary selections of Spanish and English compositions. Featured will be “Espiritu de Dios” and “Yemaya Asesu” arranged by Brian Tate, “De los Alamos vengo” by 16th century composer Juan Vasquez, “Drop, drop, slow tears” by David Ashley White, and “Have I Found Her?” by English Renaissance composer Francis Pilkington. The 18 member ensemble includes singers from various majors across the WSU campus and is conducted by Dr. Lori Wiest.
The WSU University Singer’s portion of the program will begin with the two selections “He Watching Over Israel” and “And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth” from Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah. The University Singers will close their portion of the concert with Roy Ringwald’s arrangement of “Precious Lord” and Moses Hogan’s arrangement of the spiritual “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Till the Spirit Moves In My Heart.”
WSU’s Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Lori Wiest, will open their performance with the epic work “The Stars Stand Up in the Air” by Minnesota composer Eric Barnum, currently a doctoral conducting student at University of Washington. The lush music and haunting poem leads the listener through a multitude of emotions that contemplate whether knowing a beautiful love, now lost, is worth the pain. Claude Debussy’s “Beau Soir”, originally composed for solo voice, is appropriately set for choir and pianist as the singer explores the beautiful night and the experience of appreciating every moment in life while you can. Concluding their performance will be “Laughing Song” by David Dickau set to the famous Blake poem, featuring flutist Christine Rushton. All three selections will be accompanied by graduate piano student Merrill Merchant.
WSU Opera Workshop will be performing scenes from the great operas “La Cenerentola,” the story of Cinderella, by Gioacchino Rossini and “Falstaff,” based on Shakespeare’s character of the same name, by Giuseppe Verdi. The cast of 18 is directed by Dr. Julie Anne Wieck, Associate Professor of Music and accompanied on the piano by Dr. Karen Savage, Assistant Professor of Music. The full program will be presented on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall Theatre.
The evening’s concert will close with VoJazz, directed by Dean Luethi, performing an eclectic mix of music for small vocal jazz ensemble. Their set will open with the traditional Irish air and reel “Dobbin’s Flowery Vale,” and the Kaempfert/Gabler favorite “L-O-V-E” popularized by Nat King Cole. VoJazz will conclude its performance with the New York Voices arrangement of “Open Invitation” and Randy Crenshaw’s arrangement of Toto tune “Africa.”
Tickets for the event will be available on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 between 10am and 2pm in the lobby of Kimbrough Music Building and on the night of the performance beginning at 6 pm in Bryan Hall prior to Kimbrough Music Building and on the night of the performance beginning at 6 pm in Bryan Hall prior to the 7 pm performance. Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and students with ID, and free for children 12 and under. Cash and checks are accepted. All proceeds go directly to the student ensembles for music, performances/productions, and tours.
Sourcet:
Lori Wiest, 509-335 5647, lwiest@wsu.edu
Sandra Albers, 509-335 4148, sandra_albers@wsu.edu
Lori Wiest, 509-335 5647, lwiest@wsu.edu
Sandra Albers, 509-335 4148, sandra_albers@wsu.edu