PULLMAN, Wash. – Vocal/choral music faculty will work with high school choirs from Washington and Idaho as the Washington State University School of Music hosts the 19th annual Educational Choral Festival on Saturday, Oct. 20. The program provides an early, motivational opportunity for musical growth in a non-competitive, positive learning environment.
All activities are free to the public in Kimbrough Music Building. The final concert, also free, will be at 5 p.m. in Bryan Hall Theatre.
The concert will open with the WSU Madrigal/Chamber Singers, conducted by Lori Wiest, in traditional Renaissance costume performing English and Italian madrigals and a French chanson. Four high school choirs selected based on their performance/workshop participation will be followed by the WSU Concert Choir.
Also conducted by Wiest, the ensemble will perform music based on the theme “Journeys” and inspired by musical selections, including “Tangueando” of Oscar Escalada; “No Time,” a traditional camp meeting song arranged by Susan Brumfield; Robert Schumann’s “Ziegeunerleben,” which describes the journey of gypsies as they come to camp singing, dancing and telling stories late into the night before they move on at morning’s light; “Lay Me Low,” a Shaker song arranged by Kevin Siegfried; and “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” arranged by Emma Lou Diemer.
Each choir will have performances and workshops throughout the day. Directors meet with WSU music faculty in private consultations regarding goals and objectives for their choirs. Participants will hear performances by the WSU Opera Workshop, directed by Julie Anne Wieck, and University Singers and VoJazz, directed by Dean Luethi. Other WSU faculty clinicians will be Sheila Converse and Brian Carter.
Participating choirs include Shadle Park High School Highlanders from Spokane, Moscow (Idaho) High School Choir, Mead High School Concert Choir, Moses Lake High School Concert Choir and Treble Choir, Richland High School Treble Choir and Chamber Choir, Othello High School Chamber Choir, West Valley High School Chamber Choir from Yakima, Post Falls High School Select Women’s Choir and Timberline High School Symphonic Choir from Lacey.
For more information visit: http://libarts.wsu.edu/music/areainfo/voice/festival.htm.