PULLMAN, Wash. — The annual Washington State University Vocal Extravaganza, featuring six vocal/choral ensembles, is planned as part of Dad’s Weekend activities Oct. 30 on the WSU campus.
The concert, highlighting the Madrigal Singers, University Singers, Concert Choir, Opera Workshop, VoJazz and Crimson Company, is planned for 8 p.m. at Bryan Hall Auditorium. It is open to the public without charge.
The program opens with the Madrigal Singers, conducted by Lori Wiest. The 20 singers, dressed in Renaissance costumes designed by Alice Spitzer, will perform madrigals by Michael East, Hans Leo Hassler, John Dowland and John Bennet. The performance will be a preview of the group’s upcoming appearance at the Dec. 4-5 Madrigal Dinner set for the WSU Compton Union Building.
The University Singers, directed by Sheila Converse, represents members from nearly every academic department on campus. They will perform choral selections by Jean Berger, Aaron Copland, Franz Schubert and Paul Christiansen. The ensemble is accompanied by Amy Bland, piano.
The Concert Choir, conducted by Wiest, is a select group of 49 singers. Its performance will include two a cappella selections by Maurice Ravel that tell folk-like stories — first about a young “little red riding hood” type of character skipping through the woods and meeting a wolf, a soldier and a wealthy old man. Second is a tale about why one shouldn’t go into the woods because of all the creatures who live there. The choir will continue with a selection by Swedish composer Thomas Jennefelt, “Warming to the Rich”; an arrangement of “Danny Boy” by Flummerfelt; and “March Zulu” by Moscow, Idaho, composer Dan Bukvich and featuring the WSU Percussion Ensemble, directed by faculty member David Jarvis.
Excerpts from “Nine” by Maury Yeston, “Company” and “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim, and “The Secret Garden” by Lucy Simon will be performed by the Opera Workshop, directed by Julie Wieck. Accompanists for the selections will be Michelle Mielke and Hsiao Ling Lee. A full production by the group is planned for Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall Auditorium.
The vocal jazz ensemble, VoJazz, is directed by Horace Young, a performing/recording artist on both saxophone and flute.
A Crimson Company performance will conclude the program. Selections from the show choir include songs from “Footloose,” “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and Cougar favorites. The ensemble is directed by Roger Kelley.
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